Thank you for taking the time to review Kingsville's 2026 Draft Budget project page for Kingsville. The proposed budget reflects our commitment to building a stronger, safer, and more vibrant community.

Given the financial challenges in this year's Draft Budget, Administration is recommending no new staffing positions are added in 2026. However, these steps will have an impact on service levels and future operating budgets as we attempt to right-size our staffing to meet growing service expectations from the community. Administration has also not included in this Draft Budget some requests by several departments for additional operational funding and capital projects.

Key Priorities

Investing in Infrastructure and Other Community Assets

We are allocating:

• $2.6 million for road reconstruction and resurfacing
• $1.4 million for bridge replacements and rehabilitations
• $270,000 for sidewalk replacements, and
• $898,000 in increased contributions to road, bridge, facility, and park lifecycle reserves to address historical funding deficits

Supporting Growth on the West Side

In 2025, the Town was fortunate to be awarded nearly $16.5 million in Provincial funding for the West Side Collector Road and Southwest Service Area Watermain. While this funding does not cover 100% of the project costs, the Town is contributing its share through a combination of development charge funded debt and reserves.

These projects will:

• Enhance water distribution to support development on the west side of Kingsville
• Provide an alternative traffic route to ease congestion in the downtown core

Enhancing Community Safety

We are investing $1.2 million to replace Engine 122, a key fire response vehicle. This upgrade ensures our emergency services remain reliable and responsive for years to come.

Maintaining Service Standards

To continue delivering high-quality services, the Town will replace its aging street sweeper, also known as "Pig Pen", which is overdue for renewal. This ensures we maintain current service levels that residents expect and value.

Preparing for Strategic Opportunities

While no decisions have been finalized regarding the future of the school properties, the proposed budget includes a $200,000 increase to the annual Property Acquisition and Development reserve contribution. These funds will enable the Town to respond to its strategic priorities as opportunities arise.

Key Challenges

Despite recent easing in inflation, many operating and capital costs remain elevated due to the high inflation experienced over the past few years. For example:

The Town's policing contract will increase by $333,000 in 2026

A new fire truck now costs two-times what it did three years ago

Additionally, slower development and a cooling real estate market are expected to result in reduced growth in property tax revenue - placing greater pressure on the existing tax base.

Proposed Tax Impact

The draft budget proposes an increase of $11.97 per month (or $143.63 annually) for the average household in Kingsville.*

This increase is necessary to continue delivering cost-effective services and to invest in strategic priorities that support the long-term fiscal health of our community.

*Based on MPAC assessment, the average household in Kingsville is assessed at approximately $250,000 (2016 assessment rates).

Did you Know?

• Kingsville has the 2nd lowest property tax rates and lowest combined water and sewer rates in Essex County? 2025 Comparative Tax and Water Rates
• Due to low tax and water rates, the Town is only funding 56% of the amount it should be setting aside for capital asset lifecycle replacements (AMP Financial Strategy Report)
• In response to this issue, the Town has increased its annual capital spending from $4.2 million to $7.7 million over the past 7 years (an 84% increase). Capital Spending Trend 2019-2026
• The 2026 Budget includes a 3.3% tax levy increase, dedicated to capital asset replacements.

We Want to Hear From You

Please review the full 2026 Budget Book and share your questions or feedback on our open forum. Your input is valuable in shaping the future of Kingsville.

Let's Talk Budget Video Series

There are many processes, plans and pressures the municipality considers when creating a budget. We hope you will take the time to learn more about these and better understand how we arrived at the budget proposed by watching our Let's Talk Budget Video Series.

Let's Talk Budget - A Financially Healthy Town

Let's Talk Budget - The Relationship Between Property Values and Property Tax

Let's Talk Budget - What is a Municipal Budget?