The Stratford City Council held its regular public meeting on March 23, 2026, to address local governance and ongoing community projects in Stratford, Ontario. Residents were able to attend the session in person at City Hall or watch the proceedings online through a virtual video link.
The meeting is part of the standard biweekly schedule for the city’s leadership, which consists of a Mayor and 10 Councillors. Mayor Martin Ritsma and the rest of the council are currently serving a four-year term that will lead up to the next municipal election on October 26, 2026.
Recent financial planning was a major focus, as the 2026 budget was recently finalized with a 3.19 per cent tax rate increase. This adjustment means that an average home valued at $317,000 will see a property tax increase of about $172 per year, or roughly $14 per month, to support city services.
Council members also discussed safety and development updates, including a new 40 km/h speed limit trial for the northwest area of the city near Huron Street and McCarthy Road. Additionally, the city is holding workshops to help decide what to do with the Grand Trunk Site, with a final decision expected this spring.
While the province granted the mayor’s office new administrative powers in 2025, the council previously voted to keep their traditional way of making decisions together. This ensures that all elected representatives continue to have an equal vote on how the community is managed and how local tax dollars are spent.
