Owen Sound’s 2026 municipal budget, presented by Mayor Ian Boddy on December 22, 2025, has officially come into force after being adopted by council without any changes.
Prepared under the province’s Strong Mayor powers introduced earlier in the year, the budget was shaped through targeted discussions between the mayor, individual councillors, the director of corporate services, and the city manager.
According to a statement from the city, the financial plan underscores the municipality’s effort to manage the rising costs of providing core services while maintaining a long-term, sustainable fiscal outlook. It also continues the city’s push to reduce the disparity between Owen Sound’s residential tax rate and the Grey County average.
City officials said the approved budget prioritizes operational efficiency, prudent asset management and restrained spending, all while preserving essential services for residents. Although several development projects began construction in 2025, those initiatives did not translate into growth in the city’s tax base for 2026, resulting in an overall budget increase of 5.5 per cent.
The mayor has described the document as a negotiated balance intended to serve the entire community, noting that Owen Sound’s median household income is lower than that of many comparable municipalities and that affordability remained a key consideration throughout the process.
Municipal leaders have continued efforts in recent years to keep taxes competitive with surrounding communities, and the 2026 budget is framed as an attempt to strike a middle ground between fiscal restraint and service delivery.
The budget sets the city’s total municipal levy at $39 million, an increase of 5.2 per cent over the previous year. When combined with Grey County and provincial education levies, homeowners are expected to see a total property tax increase of approximately 4.72 per cent.
For the average Owen Sound home assessed at $230,000, this translates to an estimated annual increase of $214, or about $18 per month.
“This budget reflects a careful balance between maintaining essential services and respecting the financial realities of our community," said Mayor Ian Boddy. "It’s a responsible compromise that keeps Owen Sound moving forward while remaining mindful of residents on fixed incomes.”
