MAPELTON – Council here has passed a $21.8-million 2026 budget with a tax levy increase of 3.1 per cent.
This is the levy adjustment council directed staff to base the budget on, to align with Statistics Canada’s inflation rate.
For an average residential property owner in Mapleton, it means an increase of about $60 for the township portion of their annual taxes – not including the taxes that go to Wellington County and the school boards.
The budget passed unanimously during a regular meeting of council on Nov. 25.
Mapleton is the first municipality in the county to pass next year’s budget, which puts them first in line to release bids for capital projects.
The budget includes $10.8 million in capital expenditures, $7 million in operating expenditures, $3.5 million in transfers to infrastructure reserves and $481,821 in long-term debt servicing costs.
Since the budget was tabled on Oct. 14, treasurer Patrick Kelly said the following adjustments were made, at the recommendation of council:
- adding the reconstruction of a bridge on Sideroad 6, just south of Highway 109, for $1.65 million;
- adding funding for the reconstruction of Conestoga Drive, which will connect to Green Street in the area of the new Drayton Catholic school ($690,000 is budgeted); and
- the overall value of the capital program went from $11.1 million in the draft to $10.8 million in the approved budget.
In order to keep the levy increase at 3.1%, Kelly said staff deferred service level increases, capital initiatives and program level enhancements, while also recalibrating previous budget allocations, avoiding non-sustainable revenue streams and adding to infrastructure reserves.
The budget includes assessment growth of 0.86%, totalling funding of $91,100.
“This funding is critical in supporting the continued investment in infrastructure reserve funds,” states a staff report to council.
There was a public information session about the budget on Nov. 3, and township staff say a small group of residents attended and “the feedback received was generally positive and supportive.”
Kelly thanked deputy treasurer Rachel Carter, asset and procurement manager Aman Bains and public works manager Jamie Morgan for their work on the budget.
“Each of them provided countless hours and inputs in the budget process to make to the final product what it is,” Kelly said.
Councillor Lori Woodham thanked staff for their work and called this year’s budget process straightforward and transparent, noting residents can look up capital projects on the township’s website.
Councillor Michael Martin asked about plans for the Drayton Fire Hall.
He noted there are plans to spend about $2 million on it over the next five years, though only $76,000 of that is budgeted for 2026.
He asked about the fire hall’s location near the Conestogo River and in a floodplain.
“Looking at that kind of money, is that considered a good return on investment?”
Fire Chief Chris Harrow said funds for the fire hall renovations are from development charges specifically designated for that project, and the plan is to look more closely at the area and figure out the best approach for the upgrades next year.
