Delivering services with balance the focus of Waterloo Region’s 2026 budget
Posted Nov 12, 2025 04:00:00 PM.
Last Updated Nov 13, 2025 05:50:30 AM.
The Region of Waterloo is firmly in the public consultation phase of budget talks, a little less than a week before debate begins in council chambers.
570 NewsRadio had an opportunity to speak with the staff involved in drafting the 2026 Plan and Budget to get an update on how the process is going and to get an idea of what the document might contain.
Regional Councillor and Budget Committee chair Michael Harris told 570 NewsRadio that budgets are all about finding balance: but the job is getting harder.
“This year’s plan and budget tried to do both: delivering services people expect while keeping tax increases at an affordable rate. We think the mandate given to staff earlier at under five per cent, delivers upon that, and we’ll look forward to council’s deliberations of that budget starting next week.”
Harris was asked about how staff were able to meet that five per cent target. He said they simply prioritized delivering key services.
“There are not many, if any, net new investments here in the community. We’re going to continue to deliver the paramount services that people expect today that we’re delivering, while rolling back some of the non-critical aspects to keep us in line and to keep our taxes at an affordable rate.”
Harris spoke about the impact the offloading of service expenses from the provincial and federal governments has had on the municipal budget process. He said often times when it comes to spending, their hands are tied.
“It’s something that a lot of people don’t actually know about, how many programs we are mandated by other levels of government to actually deliver and require payment from other levels that we just don’t get that the local taxpayer has to fund. So, we don’t have the luxury of saying no, we can’t deliver X-Y-Z service, we have to do it.”
A public consultation session will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Woolwich Memorial Centre. Registration is not required but suggested.
Regional council will hold two public input sessions in council chambers on Nov. 18 and Dec. 3. They both begin at 6 p.m. and delegates must register ahead of time.
