County council approves budget

County council approves budget

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The County of Simcoe says, following collaborative discussions and careful consideration, council approved a $1.042 billion budget on Nov. 25, maintaining existing service levels while delivering strategic, fiscally responsible investments that support growth, modernization, and community well-being.

“This budget reflects council’s steadfast commitment to fiscal responsibility and prudent stewardship of taxpayer dollars while facing rising demand for the County’s critical services,” said Warden Basil Clarke. “By balancing the need to invest in critical infrastructure, housing, and community supports with careful financial management, this responsible approach positions Simcoe County to grow sustainably while protecting the services and supports that matter most to our communities.”

Recognizing its impact on more than 530,000 residents, the budget includes key investments across 20 vital service areas, including infrastructure, housing, emergency services, and community supports.

Key investments include:

  • Major road construction projects (CR 4, CR 21, CR 22), bridge upgrades; • Continued implementation of the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport Strategic Plan, including the Runway Extension project;
  • Launch of the new 10-year strategy with funding for rental units, supplements, secondary suites, and supportive housing;
  • Simcoe County Housing Corporation developments in Barrie, Collingwood, and Wasaga Beach, alongside continued support for third- party affordable housing projects;
  • Further work on the Simcoe Village Campus Redevelopment in Beeton;
  • Continued rollout of Community Paramedicine and Models of Care;
  • Implementation of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, supporting the creation of 978 new licensed childcare spaces through a cost-based funding model.

The approved budget includes a 3.5 per cent increase (2 per cent for operating and capital and a 1.5 per cent for asset management) on the County portion of their municipal property taxes in 2026. This represents an impact of approximately $10.86 per $100,000 across the region, based on the 2016 property assessment. Of the county’s $745.1 million operating revenue budget, $237.4 million comes from Simcoe County residential property taxes and the remaining amount from other revenues and funding streams.

The county’s strong financial position is reflected in its AA+ long-term issuer credit rating from S&P Global Ratings, a leading provider of independent credit assessments and market insights.

2026 Budget Highlights include:

Total county operating and capital expenditures for 2026: $1.042 billion ($745.1 million operating and $297 million capital)

  • LTC homes and seniors services, $216 million
  • Paramedic services, $89 million
  • Community support and wellbeing, $101 million
  • Community housing, $114 million
  • Housing and homelessness, $69 million
  • Early learning and child care system management, $151 million
  • Transportation and engineering, $82 million
  • Solid waste management, $83 million
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