KIM BURTON-SCHRAM
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER
North Glengarry Township council has approved a tax increase of 5.46 percent in municipal property taxes this year, or approximately $15 more per month per household.
Water and sewage rates are increasing by 2 percent while garbage taxes are rising from $165 per unit to $180 per unit.
“It’s a tough year, with lots of expenses,” Mayor Jamie MacDonald said at a special budget meeting.
The total municipal tax levy will increase to $7,536,593, compared to $7,146,198 in 2025. Of this increase, $327,152 can be attributed to higher salaries and benefits, according to information provided by treasurer Zoe Bougie.
Education taxes will remain unchanged for 2026, while the county share of the overall property tax bill will rise by 4.48 percent.
The capital budget is $19,924,156, up from $5,554,725 in 2025. The increase can be attributed to the $15,850,725 Alexandria sewage lagoon expansion.
While the project was provided a grant of $28 million from the provincial government in 2025, the costs will be also financed through wastewater rates, long-term debt of just over $4 million and a carry forward amount of $155,000.
The Township has a long-term debt of $9.2 million; $6 million is funded through water and wastewater rates with the tax base funding the additional $3.18 million. Payments on long-term debt rise from $850,242 in 2025 to $944,791 in 2026.
Among expenses this year, the municipality will buy a tandem truck for $435,000. Fire Services will spend $600,000 to replace its self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) equipment and finance a fire truck which was budgeted for in 2025.
Funding sources include over $2.6 million through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund, an increase of $217,000,
the Canada Community Building Fund which remains at $331,399 and the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund at $669,329, which decreases by $74,000 from 2025. As well, the Township is expected to receive $3.65 million through the Payment in Lieu funding, where crown corporations, exempt from paying taxes, such as the federal government and hospitals, are billed for services from municipal governments.
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