Draft 2026 Budget Presentation

Peterborough, ON – City Council received a presentation on the City of Peterborough’s Draft 2026 Budget that currently reflects an operating budget increase of 2.93%, a 2.18% increase for infrastructure and capital needs, a 0.53% increase in the sanitary sewer fee, and a 1.79% increase related to external agencies that are funded by the City, during its General Committee meeting on November 3, 2025.

The 2.93% increase in the operating budget would maintain existing levels of service.

When combined, the 7.43% all-inclusive rate increase, including the municipal, education, and sanitary sewer surcharge rates, would equal about $32.03 per month for the median or typical residential property.

The Draft 2026 Budget is posted at peterborough.ca/budget.

The 2026 Budget is anticipated to be adopted on December 8, 2025.

The Draft 2026 Budget includes $433.7 million in spending on municipal services and $140.5 million in capital investments.

The $433.7 million is funded by revenues of $232.7 million from non-municipal property tax sources such as user fees, grants from other governments, recoveries, interest from investments, and service charges, resulting in a tax requirement of $201 million.

Capital projects include items such as the police station renovation and expansion, Lansdowne Street West between Spillsbury Drive and Clonsilla Avenue, Wastewater Treatment Plant revitalization, extending a taxiway at the Peterborough Regional Airport, road paving, purchasing transit buses, and water service distribution infrastructure.

After the printing of the Draft 2026 Budget book, the City received updated information on benefits costs for employees, which were reduced by $665,000 from what was included in the draft budget documents, and on a $269,000 increase in the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund grant compared to what was included in the draft budget when printed. The current proposed all-inclusive rate change was updated to reflect the new information.

A public information session with a brief presentation on the Draft Budget followed by an opportunity for residents to speak with City staff will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 in the Banquet Hall at Healthy Planet Arena, 911 Monaghan Rd.

Council will hear from certain local boards and agencies on their 2026 Budget requests to the City during a General Committee meeting that starts at 3 p.m. on Monday, November 10, 2025 in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The meeting is open to the public and can be watched online at peterborough.ca/WatchCouncil.

There will be an informal drop-in opportunity to speak with City staff about the Draft 2026 Budget from 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. on Monday, November 10, 2025 in the main foyer of City Hall, 500 George St. N. There will not be a staff presentation at this session. It is an opportunity to drop in to speak with the City’s budget team in an informal setting to ask questions and share comments ahead of the formal meeting of City Council’s General Committee later that evening.

Residents can register to speak to Council about the Draft 2026 Budget during Council’s General Committee meeting that will start at 6 p.m. on Monday, November 10, 2025 in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Visit peterborough.ca/delegations or call 705-742-7777 ext. 1820 to register as a delegation.

Council is expected to review and discuss the Draft 2026 Budget during its meeting on November 17 and 18, 2025. The meetings are open to the public to attend and can be watched live at peterborough.ca/WatchCouncil. There are no public delegations during this meeting.

Following Council’s review of the Draft 2026 Budget, the Mayor is expected to consider the recommendations from Council and table the Mayor’s 2026 Budget for the City of Peterborough at the Council meeting on Monday, December 8, 2025. It is anticipated that the budget will be adopted on the same date. There is another opportunity for registered public delegations to speak at this meeting. To register as a delegation, visit peterborough.ca/delegations or call 705-742-7777 ext. 1820.

The 2026 Budget process started in April 2025 with a community survey on budget priorities and a series of public meetings in June 2025.

Upcoming public meetings on the Draft 2026 Budget

• Public meeting, brief presentation and opportunity to ask questions, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at Banquet Hall, Healthy Planet Arena, 911 Monaghan Rd.
• General Committee meeting, presentations from invited local boards and agencies, no public delegations, starting at 3 p.m., Monday, November 10, at City Hall, 500 George St. N.

• Informal drop-in opportunity (no presentation), 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., Monday, November 10, in the main foyer, at City Hall, 500 George St. N.

• General Committee meeting, registered delegations presenting to Council, starting at 6 p.m., Monday, November 10, at City Hall, 500 George St. N.

• General Committee review, discussion and debate on the Draft 2025 Budget, no public delegations, November 17 to 18, 2025, at City Hall, 500 George St. N.

• Mayor tables the Mayor’s 2026 Budget for the City of Peterborough, anticipated adoption of the budget, registered delegations can present to Council, Monday, December 8, 2025.

-30-