Smiths Falls council saw the second draft budget Monday for 2026, with various changes.
The current proposed tax rate increase is 4%.
The biggest was the recent $13.3 million grant the town’s receiving from the province for their trunk watermain upgrades, priced at $15 over three years.
The current proposed tax rate increase is 4%.
Director of Corporate Services/Treasurer Paul Dowber said the town was looking to borrow that money, which would’ve put pressure on taxpayers.
Dowber said the $800,000 payment would’ve been made annually for 30 years.
He noted other adjustments were made based on council, staff, and public input.
$1.5 million was either cut or deferred in proposed capital projects for 2026, including replacing the windows at the Smiths Falls Public Library and redistributing the grants for the Lower Reach Play Structure.
Staff also proposed cutting Day Care funding entirely under Community Services. They put forth $101,596 in 2025 and proposed $106,136 in the first draft of 2026, but the second draft proposes an outright removal.
Economic Development saw a 22% cut, while Tourism saw a 9% slash in their proposed 2026 budgets. Councillor Chris McGuire reiterated his concerns of having nearly $860,000 dedicated towards those two departments with the Heritage House Museum.
He raised the same issue after the first budget saw a proposed $1.043 combined budget for the trio.
A special committee of the whole meeting will be held next week before the budget moves to council for a first and second reading.
Story by Grant Deme
