At a General Committee meeting on November 11, 2024, Town staff will present the Draft 2025-2026 Consolidated Budget, which includes the operational and capital expenses for the Town for the next two years. This 2025-2026 Draft Budget represents the year-long achievements of the Budget Working Group and Town staff’s preliminary financial recommendations to Mayor & Council.
“I am particularly proud of our Budget Working Group and Town staff team, who have worked together in collaboration to develop a budget that respects the hard-earned dollars of our taxpayers by staying within the budget guidelines set by Council,” says Mayor Nancy Alcock. “As your mayor, I will continue to listen to the priorities that our residents hold dear. With this 2025-2026 Draft Budget, we have a clear path forward for the Town that will embrace and prepare for our future, while taking care of the very real, practical necessities of today.”
New this year, the Town has prepared budgets for the next two years. Having a multi-year budget allows the Town to effectively allocate resources over the longer term and makes it simpler for residents to see the future direction of taxes, municipal programs and services. For more information on the benefits of a multi-year budget, please see the Q&A Sheet on Huntsville.ca.
The Town conducted a 2025-2026 Budget Survey to gather input from the community on their opinions and priorities related to the municipal budget. The survey was open from September 3-30, 2024, and the results helped inform the budget process. Overall, respondents felt the value and quality of Town services were good, and the top service identified for improvement was roads.
Proposed Municipal Tax Rate Increase and Impact to Taxpayer
The proposed municipal tax rate increase outlined in the Draft 2025-2026 Consolidated Budget is 4.84% for 2025 and 4.87% for 2026. This proposed tax rate increase is less than the maximum increase of 4.99% set by Council in their budget guidelines. This translates to an estimated additional $107 in 2025 for the average household in Huntsville for Town, District and Education taxes (for a property assessed at $300,000).
“The budget being proposed for Huntsville results in competitive property tax rates within Muskoka as well as across Canada. There are many challenges that come along with preparing a budget in a time of cost increases, pressures on our services due to growth and new priorities. This draft budget continues to address investment in core infrastructure, helps provides a more stable tax rate for two years, and includes many projects relating to healthcare and affordable housing through the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT),” says Julia McKenzie, Director of Financial Services and Treasurer for the Town of Huntsville.
The tax dollars allocated during the Town’s budgetary process go to support municipal services such as: capital contributions to fund Town infrastructure, including municipal buildings, roads, bridges, sidewalks, emergency vehicles, maintenance vehicles, and many others; operations & maintenance of roads, sidewalks, bridges, & stormwater systems; recreation, arts & culture programs; parks & cemeteries; fire & emergency services; Huntsville Public Library; transit; economic development; and Town administration & governance.
Highlights of the 2025-2026 Draft Budget
The 2025-2026 Draft Budget proposes ‘A Roadway for Huntsville’s Today and Tomorrow’ by providing for the Town’s current needs, with funding for necessities like roads and fire services, as well as protecting the Town’s future through fiscal responsibility, balanced growth, and conservation of natural features. The proposed tax rate increase stays within the guidelines set by Council. Meeting today’s needs is a key spending priority in the Draft Budget.
Town Council and staff will continue to be innovative leaders on important initiatives that have a great impact on the lives of Huntsville residents, such as supporting improved access to local healthcare services and working with our partners to strive to meet our local housing needs. Utilizing the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) allows the Town to address these key priorities while not having a direct impact on property tax rates.
“As we move forward with our first-ever multi-year budget for 2025-2026, it will be my goal as CAO to ensure that the Town is prepared as an organization to continue to support Council directives in areas that are of great importance to our residents, while being cognizant of the financial pressures that our community is experiencing,” says Denise Corry, Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Huntsville. “This will include ensuring the right resources are in place to support the levels of service set by Council to meet our community’s needs. We must also ensure that our Human Capital remains strong so that we can continue to serve Council and the community to the best of our ability.”
In order for the Town to achieve our foundational Strategic Plan goal of being a ‘Stable, Trusted, & Engaged Community Partner,’ Huntsville is investing in Human Capital in the Draft 2025-2026 Budget, by implementing the results of the 2024 Market Review. As per the Town’s Salary Administration Policy, employee compensation was reviewed at the mid-term of this Council to determine if the organization’s salaries are competitive in the market (in line with comparable municipalities) for employee retention. In September 2024, Council provided the administration direction on employee compensation, and the results are incorporated into the draft two-year budget.
Stay Informed on the Budget
Watch live at Huntsville.ca, as the Draft 2025-2026 Consolidated Budget is presented to Council at the General Committee Meeting at 1pm on November 11. Discussions at this meeting will give direction to staff on any revisions required and will formalize timelines for ratification of the Draft 2025-2026 Consolidated Budget. To get updates please subscribe to Huntsville’s newsfeed or follow the Town on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
Frequently Asked Questions & More Information on the Draft Budget
For a Questions & Answers Sheet with more detailed information about the 2025-2026 Draft Budget, the budget process, and the impacting factors, please go to Huntsville.ca.
For a more detailed breakdown of the Draft 2025-2026 Consolidated Budget found in the Draft Budget Report, please visit the meeting agenda on Huntsville.ca or visit the Budget and Finances page on our website.
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