2026 Strong Mayor's Budget

January 9, 2026 – Strathroy-Caradoc -The 2026 Strong Mayor’s Budget has been released and is now available for public review. Council will meet on Tuesday, January 13th at 5:00pm, to which the proposed budget will be presented. Over the next 30 days, Council members may review the budget, provide input, and propose amendments before final approval.

The proposed budget includes a property tax increase of 4.53%.

The proposed 4.53% tax increase for 2026 applies only to the municipal portion of your property tax bill. In 2025, municipal taxes made up about 55% of the total bill, with 32% going to the County and 13% to Provincial education. These shares are expected to stay about the same in 2026. The Province has confirmed that the education portion will not increase, and Middlesex County has proposed a 3.78% increase to its portion.

Ratepayers in Strathroy-Caradoc would see an increase of $36.42 per every $100,000 of assessed value. For example, $145.68 on a $400,000 house, or $364.19 on a $1,000,000 farm property.

While the Strong Mayor framework shifts formal responsibility for the budget to the Mayor, the Mayor remains committed to an open and transparent process. By working collaboratively in the weeks ahead, Council and staff will ensure the final budget aligns with strategic priorities, supports essential services, and delivers value for residents.

“I look forward to working with Council to arrive at a budget that is fair to the taxpayer while continuing to move ahead in our commitment to enhance service. Two of my objectives in preparing the proposed budget were first, minimizing any further debt and second improving many of our parks and recreational facilities.” said Mayor Grantham.

Council may propose amendments during the 30 day review period. The full budget document is available for public review at www.strathroy-caradoc.ca/2026budget  and residents are encouraged to review the document and stay informed as Council considers potential amendments.