Township of Blandford-Blenheim Council is expected to adopt its 2026 budget on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
Having met on Wednesday, January 21, to discuss the budget, Denise Krug, the Township’s Director of Finance, presented the final numbers for the 2026 draft budget at the Wednesday, February 4, 2026 meeting.
During initial discussions, staff presented to Council a proposed tax levy increase of $677,754 over the 2025 budget, representing an 8.98 per cent increase over 2024.
At that time, staff were expecting the residential tax rate to increase from 0.00531741 to 0.00572963 in 2026, meaning there would be a 7.75 per cent increase based on current tax ratios.
Krug estimated the average residential property, assessed at a value of $323,500, would see an annual tax increase of $133.35.
Following several hours of discussion, as well as further adjustments made before the February 4 meeting, the proposed figures were reduced.
The draft budget now shows proposed tax levy increase of $388,298 over the 2025 budget, or a 5.14 per cent increase over 2024.
Under the revised plan, the residential tax rate now shows an increase to 0.00552802 in 2026, resulting in an estimated annual increase of $68.13, or 3.96 per cent, for the average residential property.
“It’s Important to note, that number comes alongside with continuing on with Council’s commitment to properly fund the reserves,” said CAO Josh Birck. “We’ve maintained that, and we haven’t taken any major shortcuts this year.”
During the February 4 meeting, Krug said that with Oxford County’s 5.80 per cent increase ($98.14) to the tax rate, residents will see an overall rough increase of 4.26 per cent, or $166, on the average residential property.
“Overall, it’s 3.96 per cent to the Township and 5.80 per cent to the County, for an overall increase of 4.26 per cent, or $166, to the average residential assessment of $323,500, for a monthly increase of $13.86,” she said.
After her presentation, Councillor Nancy Demarest, who was absent during the initial budget deliberations, said she was pleased with where the Township ended up.
“I’m really pleased with where we landed,” she said. “I’ve been through it pretty thoroughly, and I really can’t see anywhere else where we could make any changes.”
The draft budget was then received as information, and a by-law to adopt the estimates will come forward for approval on Wednesday, February 18.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
