Draft 2026 Budget Out Now

Reminder, Council will deliberate the 2026 Draft Budget on December 4, 2025 starting at 10:00 AM. The meeting will be hosted at Lakeshore Town Hall (419 Notre Dame Street, Belle River) and streamed online at Lakeshore.ca/TV.

At the meeting on November 18, 2025, Lakeshore’s 2026 Draft Budget was presented to Council, with deliberations scheduled for December 4 (and December 5, if necessary).

The 2026 Draft Budget is now available to the public online using Lakeshore’s digital Budget App.

The Draft Budget proposes a 4% tax rate increase, which would have an average monthly impact of $6.33 for property owners. Increases to water and wastewater rates, which are based on usage, would add $9.75 per month on average.

A presentation to Council noted that Lakeshore continues to face financial pressures related to the ongoing global tariffs, delays to property tax reassessments, and the downloading of responsibilities from the Province of Ontario. The growing costs of emergency services were also highlighted, including OPP contract costs and higher call volumes for the Lakeshore Fire Department.

“Budget deliberations are one of the most important decision-making processes we undertake each year. The decisions we make have a direct impact on our communities and services.”
-Mayor Tracey Bailey. 

“We have seen incredible success in attaining funding from upper levels of government to support infrastructure investments, including the two largest grants in Lakeshore’s history just this year," Mayor Bailey added. "This budget aims to build on that success, and we hope community members will take the time to review what is being proposed and share their feedback. We welcome the opportunity to have these discussions, both around the Council table and throughout Lakeshore.”

Budget deliberations are scheduled to take place on Thursday, December 4, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The meeting will continue Friday, December 5 if needed. The meeting will be open to the public and streamed online at Lakeshore.ca/TV.

Watch the Treasurer's presentation of the Draft Budget to Council from the November 18, 2025, meeting.

Draft Budget Highlights

• Total Expenditures: $65.7 million, up from $64.1 million in 2025
• Tax Revenue: $44.6 million, up by $2.1 million from 2025

Draft Capital Budget Highlights

• Stoney Point Wastewater Treatment Plant Design
• Annual Roads Lifecycle Surface Treatment Program
• OCWA Capital System Repairs and Maintenance
• Amy Croft Widening and Intersection Improvements at Manning Road
• Wallace Road Reconstruction
• Watermain Replacements in Lighthouse Cove
• Scott Sideroad Watermain Connection
• Deep well garbage containers in parks and trails across Lakeshore
• Splash pad improvements at Lakeview Park, jet ski docks at Belle River Marina, and tennis/pickleball court replacement at Leffler Park.