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Monday, November 17, 2025

OTTAWA DRAFT BUDGET 2026

Last week, the City of Ottawa tabled its Draft 2026 Budget.

The city proposes a $5.2-billion operating budget and a $1.9-billion capital budget, focused on emergency services, infrastructure, transit, and affordable housing.

The draft budget requires a net property tax increase of 3.75 percent which translates to an additional $166 per year for the average household in property taxes. In addition, property owners will pay $47.30 for water rates and an additional $24 for solid waste services, for a total increase of $237.30 annually. Rural homeowners will pay an additional $93 per year in property taxes under this proposal.

This 3.75 percent property tax increase includes an eight percent increase in the transit levy and a five percent increase to the Ottawa Police Service's budget, one of the largest funding increases for the service in the Ottawa’s history.

The Ottawa Police will receive $18.3 million in additional funding through the 5 per cent police tax levy increase. For the average homeowner,

The police budget increase will contribute approximately twenty-one dollars to the total $166 property tax increase. The police budget will grow from $447.5 million to $484 million and represents 9.2 percent of the net budget.

The 2026 Draft Budget also proposes $700,000 to expand the Alternate Neighbourhood Crisis Response (ANCHOR) program in 2026. Additionally, $1.6 million is allocated for ByWard Market streetscaping renewal to support revitalization efforts and improve safety and economic activity.

It includes substantial investments to:

road infrastructure, with $135 million allocated for roadway resurfacing and preservation.
sidewalk rehabilitation which would receive $25.4 million, contributing to the total cost of $65 million and representing a 77 percent increase.
Water infrastructure improvements will include $87.2 million for wastewater treatment renewal at the Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre, $12.7 million for the Storm and Surface Water Rehabilitation program, and $3.6 million for the Rural Ditching program.
priority transportation corridors as identified in the recently approved Transportation Master Plan, including Carp Road ($20.4 million), Greenbank Road re-alignment ($56.1 million), Brian Coburn Boulevard widening ($3.1 million), and Stittsville Main Street extension ($1 million).
Community centres and parks maintenance would receive $75 million, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure would receive 59.6 percent, new parks and parks improvements would get $39 million

The Climate Change Master Plan would receive $9 million including $3 million for enhanced winter operations, $2.3 million for tree planting, and $1.9 million in one-time funding for the 200th anniversary celebration of Bytown and the ByWard Market.

OC Transpo

The proposed OC Transpo operating budget is $938.7 million and includes the following components:

funding to operate the O-Train Line 1 extension to Trim Station,
introduce on-demand transit services,
maintain a reliable service and support safety and security initiatives,
$47.6 million to renew and replace the OC Transpo fleet, including zero-emission battery-electric buses.

Overall, the draft budget proposes a 2.5 percent increase in transit fares. Under this proposal, an adult monthly bus pass would increase by $3.50 to $138.50, while a senior pass would increase by $1.50 to $59.75. Single-ride adult fares paid by Presto or debit/credit would increase by $0.10 to $4.10, while cash fares would be $4.15.

Affordable Housing

The 2026 Draft Budget proposes $23.25 million to support the construction of approximately 350 affordable housing units in 2026, including Phase II of Rochester Heights and the Multifaith Housing initiative at LeBreton Flats.

An additional $2.8 million is allocated for yearly social housing investments, alongside $2.18 million dedicated to vital health and social support services for those in need. Furthermore, $400,000 has been allocated to the Youth Homelessness Action Plan, and $476,000 for food security programs.

Resident Participation

City Council is encouraging Ottawa residents to share their views as the budget undergoes review by Standing Committees, before its final consideration by Council on December 10.

Councillor Rawlson King is hosting two budget consultation sessions, on November 17 for Ward-specific consultation session via Zoom, and on November 25 which will be an open consultation session for all Ottawa residents within the Black and racialized communities. The hybrid session will be held in-person at Heartwood House, 404 McArthur Avenue, and also online via Zoom.

All residents may also provide input by contacting Councillor King’s office to register as a public delegate to present at Standing Committee meetings or engaging on social media using #OttBudget.

Additional budget information, including the full Draft Budget 2026 report and the forthcoming Budget Explorer tool, is available on the City's Draft Budget 2026 webpage at engage.ottawa.ca/budget2026.