The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority approved its 2026 budget and new fee rules on February 24, 2026, to fund essential environmental services in Stratford, Ontario. This plan covers the costs for watching river levels to prevent flooding, maintaining local parks, and managing building permits for the coming year.
The budget follows a specific instruction from Mayor Martin Ritsma that required the conservation group to keep its funding request from the city at or below a 3.5 percent increase. This limit helped the city reach a final tax rate increase of 3.19 percent for 2026, which is the lowest increase for residents since 2021.
According to the conservation authority, the money will be used for stewardship programs and daily operations at local conservation areas. It also supports planning and permit services, though the new policy includes updated fees for people applying for land-use permits or visiting the parks.
The approval comes just as the watershed flood status returned to normal on February 25, 2026, after water levels rose earlier in the month. The 2026 budget includes money for repairing and maintaining flood-control equipment to ensure it remains reliable during future seasonal weather changes.
