Proposed Kawartha Lakes budget targets healthcare, infrastructure, and child care

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: Residents of Kawartha Lakes could see new investments in healthcare, roads, housing, and child care, under the proposed 2026 budget, presented at a Special Council Budget Meeting, on Wednesday, November 12th. The plan reflects months of public input and aims to balance community priorities while keeping taxes as low as possible.

Chief Administrative Officer, Ron Taylor and, Director of Corporate Services, Sara Beukeboom highlighted the budget’s main priorities, emphasizing the role of residents in the guiding of spending decisions.

“Between August 1st and 30th, more than 1,700 residents visited our 2026 Budget engagement page,” Ms. Beukeboom said. “Residents cast hundreds of votes and shared detailed ideas on where to invest additional funds. This feedback has been invaluable in helping us align the budget with community priorities.”

Key proposed budget increases include $154,000 for local health care, to support the Kawartha Lakes Health Care Initiative, which helps recruit doctors and operate after-hours clinics, ensuring families have timely access to care. The infrastructure levy would increase by $804,000, raising the levy from 1.5 percent to 2 percent, to maintain roads, buildings, and other city assets. Emergency response would receive an additional $100,000, added to the city’s Emergency Contingency Reserve, to prepare for unforeseen weather events.

Homelessness supports are slated for a $417,000 boost, involving funding for a new Integrated Care Hub run in partnership with the John Howard Society. The hub will provide 12 emergency shelter beds and drop-in services which connect individuals to housing, health, and social supports, addressing a critical need in the community. Tree planting would receive $117,000, to restore and expand the city’s urban canopy, while child care would see $90,000, to create 127 new licensed spaces for children aged 0 to 4.

Mayor Doug Elmslie said, the budget also aims to minimize the impact on taxes, directing the Budget Committee to lower the operating increase from 4 to 3.75 percent. The result for the average homeowner is an estimated $197 annually, based on a median home assessment of $267,000.

“While we’re investing in areas which matter most to residents, we remain mindful of affordability,” Mayor Elmslie said. “This budget reflects our commitment to maintaining essential services, supporting growth, and preparing for the unexpected. It’s about ensuring our community is resilient and ready for the future.”

Residents’ input highlighted healthcare, infrastructure maintenance, emergency preparedness, housing, and environmental initiatives as top priorities. Votes on where to allocate an additional one percent of the tax levy helped guide Council decisions, reinforcing the importance of community-led planning.

“Investing in core services isn’t just about numbers,” Mr. Taylor said. “It’s about making sure families have access to healthcare, children have safe spaces to learn and grow, and our community can thrive even in challenging times.”

The 2026 budget will be deliberated by Council, on November 25th and 26th, and residents can view the meetings via livestream, on the City’s YouTube Channel. Even with these investments, Kawartha Lakes’ residential taxes remain below those in Toronto, Vaughan, and Mississauga, though above some neighbouring municipalities. The City also expects $3.75 million in additional tax revenue from growth, while property assessments remain based on 2016 values, due to provincial delays.