Trent Hills Draft Budget Signals Higher Municipal Taxes for Residents in 2026
- Small Town Productions
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
Residents across Trent Hills are being asked to weigh in on the municipality’s 2026 Draft Municipal Budget, which proposes a municipal tax increase that will be felt per $100,000 of property assessment.
According to the draft budget presented to Council on December 18, 2025, municipal taxes are proposed to rise by $42.76 for every $100,000 of assessed property value. This represents a 4.63% increase at the assessment level, applying to municipal taxes only.
County of Northumberland and education taxes are set separately and are not included in this figure.
What the Increase Looks Like for Residents
Municipal taxes in Trent Hills aren’t charged as a flat amount per household. Instead, they’re based on property assessment, meaning the increase scales with the value of a home or property.
In simple terms:
For every $100,000 of assessment, municipal taxes would rise by $42.76
Homes with higher assessed values would see a larger dollar increase
Homes with lower assessed values would see a smaller increase, but at the same rate
The municipality also notes that each 1% change in taxation equals approximately $173,000 in revenue across the community, helping show how assessment-based increases add up overall.
Why Taxes Are Going Up
The draft budget shows that overall municipal spending is proposed to increase from $27,530,749 in 2025 to $30,349,986 in 2026, an increase of $2,819,238.
Some of the main cost pressures behind that increase include:
Higher day-to-day operating costs, which are rising by $839,254
Employee wages increasing by $360,111 and employee benefits increasing by $271,238
OPP policing costs increasing by $280,864
Capital spending funded by taxes increasing by $536,699, a 23.74% jump
Continued impacts from inflation, infrastructure needs, and required municipal planning work
To help cover these costs, total municipal taxation revenue is proposed to rise by $1,109,086, moving from $17,325,999 to $18,435,085, an overall increase of 6.40%.
Why This Matters to Households
Because the increase is tied to assessment, there’s no single dollar figure that applies to every resident. Still, municipal taxes are a fixed cost of owning a home, and even moderate increases can be felt more sharply when combined with rising expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, fuel, and childcare.
For families, seniors, and residents on fixed incomes, how and when these increases happen matters.
Council Review and What Happens Next
Under Ontario’s Strong Mayor Powers, Council has a limited window to amend the draft budget. If no changes are made within that timeframe, the budget will be deemed adopted.
Final approval is expected in early January 2026.
Have Your Say!
Before the budget is finalized, Trent Hills residents are encouraged to share their opinion, especially on how the $42.76 increase per $100,000 of assessment affects their household.
Residents can take part by:
Commenting publicly on the budget discussion
Filling out the municipality’s online budget feedback form
Contacting their Trent Hills councillor from their ward directly to ask questions, raise concerns, or express support
Municipal budgets shape local services and household costs, and public input can still influence final decisions.
Questions for Community Members
Is a $42.76 increase per $100,000 of assessment manageable for households in Trent Hills?
Do the proposed spending priorities justify that increase?
Are there areas where costs could be reduced or phased in?
Residents are encouraged to make their voices heard before the budget is finalized.
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