The Port Hope 2026 municipal budget is now in effect following council approval and the completion of the required amendment period under provincial legislation.
Mayor Olena Hankivsky presented the budget in January, following council deliberations and a unanimous endorsement at a special council meeting. The municipality says the budget reflects a balanced approach to funding priorities while limiting the impact on taxpayers.
The budget includes a 2.7 per cent increase to the municipal portion of the tax bill. Based on an assessed home value of $272,000, the increase is estimated to cost a typical homeowner about $139 annually, or approximately $12 per month.
Funding for the 2026 budget comes from a mix of municipal taxes, reserves, grants, and growth readiness funding. More than $20 million is allocated to projects supporting the municipality’s Strategic Plan and future growth.
Key investments include $1.9 million for fleet renewal to support fire protection, policing, transit accessibility, winter road maintenance, and parks operations. Parks and recreation projects receive $3.8 million, including upgrades to Rapley Park and Optimist Park, along with continued planning for Welcome Park and other open spaces.
The budget also allocates $4.5 million for road and infrastructure projects, including reconstruction and resurfacing, and $6.1 million for water, wastewater, and stormwater systems to improve long-term reliability.
In addition, the municipality is contributing nearly $889,000 toward reducing its infrastructure funding shortfall, which officials say has been reduced by almost 14 per cent since 2022.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
