Title
2026 BUSINESS PLAN AND BUDGET - CITY OPERATIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT FUNDING PORTIONS
Strong Mayor Budget
This report is being presented by the Finance Department on behalf of Mayor Alex Nuttall in accordance with Section 284.16 of the Municipal Act and Section 7 of Ontario Regulation 530/22.
Operating Budget Approvals
1. That the 2026 tax-supported base operating budget for City operations and the Infrastructure Investment Fund, with gross expenditures of $355.6M and a net property tax levy requirement of $214.5M, be approved.
2. That a Camp Access expense amount and corresponding revenue amount of $35,000 be added to the Recreation and Culture Program Budget for 2026.
3. That staff apply to the Province of Ontario for funding in the amount of $5 million for the purpose installing traffic safety/calming measures in the City of Barrie.
4. That Capital Project - Traffic Calming Measures be increased by an additional $500k (50k per ward) to be funded in the interim from the ASE Reserve pending receipt of any funding from the Provincial Government.
City Operations and Infrastructure Investment Funding
5. That the 2026 budget request for City Operations, with a net tax supported municipal funding requirement of $214.5M be approved. For the average assessed residential property this represents a 0% tax rate increase for City operations and a 2% increase associated with Infrastructure Investment Funding.
6. That the New Investment and Service Recommendations as outlined on page 15 of the 2026 Business Plan with a gross cost of $1.2M and a net property tax levy requirement of $73K be approved.
7. That the 2026 Water Rate base operating budget, with net expenditures of $37.4M and water rate revenues of $37.4M, and the proposed 2026 Water Rates as outlined in Schedule N of the “Proposed Fee Changes” section of the 2026 Business Plan be approved.
8. That the 2026 Wastewater Rate base operating budget, with net expenditures of $51.3M and wastewater rate revenues of $51.3M, and the proposed 2026 Wastewater Rates as outlined in Schedule N of the “Proposed Fee Changes” section of the 2026 Business Plan be approved.
9. That the 2026 Parking Rate base operating budget, with net expenditures of $2.5M and parking rate revenues of $2.5M, and the proposed 2026 Parking Rates as outlined in Schedule O of the “Proposed Fee Changes” section of the 2026 Business Plan be approved.
10. That pursuant to Ontario Regulation 284/09, this Staff Report serve as the method for communicating the exclusion of the following estimated expenses from the 2026 Business Plan:
a) Amortization expense - $69.5M;
b) Post-employment benefit expenses - $1.5M; and
c) Solid waste landfill closure and post-closure expenses - $200K.
Capital Budget Approvals
11. That, consistent with the Capital Project Control Policy, the 2026-2030 Capital Budget relating to new capital spending requests of $36.2M, $92.1M, $80.3M, $54.3M, and $31.5M respectively, be approved.
12. That any Industrial Development Charge Discounts in 2026 be funded by any year-end surplus, with any remaining balance funded from the appropriate capital reserve.
By-law Update and Forecasts Received for Information
13. That effective May 1, 2026, By-law 2025-024, as amended, be repealed, and replaced with a by-law incorporating the fees and charges presented in the 2026 Business Plan.
14. That operating forecast information for 2027-2029 presented in the 2026 Business Plan be received for information purposes only.
Council and Staff Authorization Requests
15. That the Executive Management Team (EMT) be authorized to add temporary non-complement positions to the end of the budget year utilizing existing approved funds to deal with any unforeseen circumstances that impact delivery of City Operations.
16. That the Executive Management Team (EMT) be authorized to implement the economic adjustment for the Non-Union Group (NUG) of employees (including full time, part time and students), effective January 1, 2026.
17. That staff be authorized to submit applications for grants that would reduce future capital expenditures, fund service enhancements, or enable capital projects to be advanced, and a report or memo be presented, as appropriate, prior to the execution of any agreement associated with the acceptance of such grant.
18. That the Director of Finance/Treasurer be authorized to make the necessary alterations to the transfer to and/or from reserves to reflect changes since the 2026 Business Plan’s publication on October 29th, 2025.
19. That the Director of Legislative and Court Services/City Clerk or their designate be authorized to prepare all necessary by-laws to implement the above recommendations.