Councillor tries to cut through the spin on projected budget tax increase in Ontario city

The ‘spin’ used by the City of Oshawa to explain the projected tax increase from the 2026 budget has some residents confused and one Oshawa councillor trying to set the record straight.

The Mayor’s Budget, which was delivered to council and interested taxpayers last Friday, is projecting just a 1.97 per cent tax increase on the city portion of the taxes.

But the real tax hike is much higher and represents a 4.68 per cent increase, noted Regional Councillor Brian Nicholson, and when you add in the Region of Durham portion the increase rises to 5.47 per cent.

Nicholson said there have been “numerous attempts” to explain the tax impact this week, which serves only to “increase confusion.”

“I want to make it clear the actual projected impact on the property taxes you will have to pay if these proposed increases are approved.”

The Region of Durham has established a property tax increase target of 6.5 per cent on the regional portion of taxes representing a direct impact on the Oshawa property tax bill of 3.5 per cent, making a combined tax hike – if approved – of 5.47 per cent.

“To put these projected increases in real dollars,” Nicholson explained, “if you are currently paying property taxes of $5,000, your 2026 property taxes will rise by $273.50 for a total of $5,273.50.”

Around the region, Whitby and Pickering are each looking at a combined tax increase of 4.79 per cent. Clarington’s projection is for 4.49 per cent and Uxbridge at 4.78 per cent. The other Durham municipalities have not yet released their projections.

“Please do not shoot the messenger,” Nicholson said.

The 2026 Operating and Capital Budget and Nine-year Capital Forecast features $44.4 million in new infrastructure spending, in addition to ongoing commitments related to the multi-year $40 million reconstruction of Conlin Road East from Ritson to Townline and the $50 million investment to modernize the Tribute Communities Centre committed earlier this year by council.

Oshawa is also investing more than $5 million to try and address health and safety challenges from housing, homelessness, mental health, addiction and social services initiatives, which are supposed to be the responsibilities of Durham Region under provincial legislation those challenges.

Those initiatives include a specialized Fire Response Unit (known as the Rapid Response Unit) that responds to more than 3,000 medical calls yearly and a boost in funding in the city’s operations team to help clean up discarded items such as human waste, used syringes, garbage and the removal of graffiti.

The proposed budget is now available for public review on the Budget Documents webpage.

Taxpayers were invited to speak to council on November 14, with delegations heard in-person, virtually, and through written correspondence.

Members of Council may propose budget amendments at a second special meeting on November 28. The meeting is open to the public, but no public delegations will be heard.

Visit www.Oshawa.ca/Budget2026 to learn more about the budget process.