City Adopts 2026 Budget with 0% Increase to City Portion of Tax Levy and Increased Infrastructure Investment
City Council approved the City of Elliot Lake’s 2026 budget at its December 22nd meeting, adopting a plan which maintains service levels while keeping the City portion of the municipal tax levy at existing levels and increasing funding for capital reserves and infrastructure projects.
The approved budget includes a 0% increase to the City portion of the tax levy, meaning there will be no increase to the municipal share of property taxes in 2026. Property taxes will increase by 3.06% as a result of increases to the OPP, Algoma Public Health, and Algoma District Services Administration Board portions of the municipal levy. Council also approved a more than 60% increase in contributions to capital and reserves, which fund major projects and allow the City to more effectively address infrastructure requirements.
The increase in capital funding will help support a number of infrastructure projects both large and small. These include projects such as the ongoing refurbishment of the Rogers Arena, the secondary digester cover at the wastewater plant and improvements to cottage lot roadways. Ongoing projects such as continuing support and improvement for water control systems, repairs to existing City facilities and general City maintenance will also be supported. The budget also includes funding for a residential road project, marking the first residential road rehabilitation undertaken by the City in five years.
Capital contributions were able to increase while holding the City tax levy flat in part through operational efficiencies and cost containment measures implemented across municipal departments. These efficiencies and adjustments to operating expenditures, allowed the City to redirect funding toward long-term capital needs without increasing the municipal tax burden. This increase will help improve asset condition, reduce deferred maintenance, limit future liabilities, and lower the risk of sudden tax increases associated with emergency repairs or infrastructure failure.
The 2026 budget was developed following detailed review by Council and staff, and incorporated community input through a well-responded-to online engagement survey and a representative telephone poll conducted by Mainstreet Research.
