The County of Renfrew Council has finalized the budget for 2026 during their Budget Workshop on January 29. At the end of the meeting, Warden Jennifer Murphy expressed her gratitude to Corporate Services Vice-Chair Councillor David Mayville (left) and Chair Councillor Peter Emon for guiding the discussions throughout the workshop.
RELEASE DATE:
January 30, 2026
Budget strikes a balance between affordability and essential services
The County of Renfrew Council has approved its budget for 2026, a plan aimed at safeguarding vital services, addressing changing community needs, and advancing important County goals while acknowledging the real financial pressures faced by residents in the Ottawa Valley.
This year’s budget was created against a backdrop of increasing costs and rising service demands impacting municipalities across Ontario. The Council approached this process with a focus on preserving services that residents depend on daily while making responsible choices to ensure the County’s long-term sustainability.
For 2026, the County’s levy shows weighted assessment growth of 1.23% along with a levy increase of 6.68%. This translates to an increase of $28.71 in residential property taxes for every $100,000 in assessed value. With Renfrew County’s median residential property value currently at $217,000, an average homeowner would pay about $1,007 in 2026 for their portion of County taxes.
Warden Jennifer Murphy noted that developing the 2026 budget involved tough discussions and careful decision-making.
“This has been one of the most challenging budgets our County has ever faced. Balancing significant financial pressures with our responsibility to maintain the essential services our residents rely on required difficult conversations and thoughtful decision making,” she said. “I want to extend my sincere thanks to Council for their perseverance and leadership throughout this process, and to our dedicated staff for their expertise, hard work, and unwavering commitment to serving our community. Together, we have charted a responsible path forward in a demanding year.”
The Chair of the Corporate Services Committee, Councillor Peter Emon, highlighted the balance that Council was striving to achieve.
“This year’s budget was especially challenging as we worked to strike a balance between addressing our community’s concerns about affordability and ensuring residents continue to have equitable access to essential services,” he said. “At the same time, we must plan for services that need to be updated, retooled or newly developed as community needs evolve and best practices emerge across many sectors we support.”
The approved budget supports key responsibilities including Long-Term Care, Paramedic Service, Public Works, Housing and Homelessness Programs, Ontario Works along with employment supports, Child Care and Early ON Programs as well as Planning, Economic Development, and Corporate Services which facilitate front-line operations.
This budget also represents the County’s dedication to long-term financial planning with ongoing attention given towards infrastructure needs alongside asset renewal challenges affecting communities throughout Ontario.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig Kelley Chief Administrative Officer 613-735-7288
Daniel Burke Treasurer 613-735-7288
Property taxes make up about one-quarter of county revenues; other revenue sources are displayed in the chart below:
This graphic illustrates how tax dollars are distributed by department:
Source link
Source link
