Mayor Steven Del Duca tables 2026 Budget with 0% property tax increase

Delivering a safe, secure and affordable community for you 

Today, Mayor Steven Del Duca unveiled the City of Vaughan’s 2026 Budget, delivering no property tax increase while focusing on making life more affordable, prioritizing community safety and fighting traffic gridlock.

The City’s proposed 2026 Budget and 2027 to 2030 Capital Plan is now available online. Vaughan is the only municipality with a proposed or approved zero per cent tax rate increase in York Region and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

“Over the past year, I’ve heard from residents across Vaughan: many are feeling financial pressure in their everyday lives, and they expect their Council to stay focused on the right priorities while giving them a break,” said Mayor Del Duca.

“That approach is what has guided our 2026 Budget and 2027 to 2030 Capital Plan. That’s why there will be no property tax increase and no service cuts in this year’s budget. We are not adding to your burden. We’re staying focused on the issues that matter most to our residents and their family’s quality of life. This budget reflects our continued commitment to careful spending and long-term financial responsibility.”

Tabled under the authority of Ontario’s Bill 3, Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022, the proposed budget aims to keep taxes as low as possible while continuing to invest in essential programs, services and infrastructure, supporting Vaughan’s long-term growth and economic vitality.

Here is everything you need to know about the proposed budget:

Property tax-supported operating budget

The proposed property tax-supported gross operating budget for 2026 is $434.4 million. 

Capital budget

The proposed 2026 capital budget is approximately $290.5 million, and the capital plan for 2027 to 2030 is about $1.1 billion. 

The proposed 2026 Budget and 2027 to 2030 Capital Plan includes: 

• $659.9 million towards City-building capital projects that build a world-class city based on good planning and urban design principles, which foster community well-being.
• $503.9 million towards Transportation and Mobility capital projects that will improve the reliability and safety of Vaughan’s road network and infrastructure.
• $91.6 million towards Environmental Sustainability capital projects that protect the environment and foster a sustainable future through social and economic initiatives.
• $53.6 million towards Service Excellence and Accountability capital projects that provide exceptional resident-focused services through continuous improvement, innovation, transparent and accountable decision-making, responsible financial management, and effective administration and communication.
• $44.1 million towards Community Safety and Well-being capital projects that foster a high quality of life in Vaughan through safe and healthy communities.
• $25 million towards Active, Engaged and Inclusive Communities capital projects that ensure Vaughan is a vibrant, diverse, inclusive and equity-based community for all.
• $300,000 towards Economic Prosperity and Job Creation that ignite economic prosperity and advance Vaughan as an entrepreneurial City. 

Water, wastewater and stormwater budget

The water and wastewater rate and the stormwater charge-supported operating program budget for 2026 is $217.8 million in gross expenditures. That means:

• the combined 2026 rate increase for water and wastewater is $0.1777 per cubic metre, or 3.3 per cent, over the 2025 combined water and wastewater rate. The impact on a ratepayer that consumes 240 cubic metres per year will be $42.65 annually or $3.55 per month. 
• the 2026 stormwater charge will increase by an average of 9.5 per cent of the 2025 charge. The impact for a residential (low-density) property will be $3.05 per unit per year. 

Learn more in the City’s proposed 2026 Budget and 2027 to 2030 Capital Plan (PDF). 

BUDGET MEETINGS

Public meetings to discuss the 2026 Budget and 2027 to 2030 Capital Plan will be held at Vaughan City Hall on:

• Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. – Special Committee of the Whole (Budget)
• Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. – Special Council (Budget)

Meeting agendas can be found online at vaughan.ca/CouncilMeetings. You can also watch these meetings live online at vaughan.ca/LiveCouncil.

GET INVOLVED

As a resident or business owner, you’re invited to learn more about how the budget will set the stage for Vaughan’s promising future. There are many ways to get involved in the budget process:

• Have your say at a budget meeting by speaking to Council.
• Comment on social media using #VaughanBudget2026.
• Fill out the online feedback form.
• Leave a voicemail on the Budget Hotline at 905-832-8610.
• Email any questions or comments to budgeting@vaughan.ca.
• Learn more about the budget at vaughan.ca/budget.

QUOTE

“We have put forward a balanced budget that makes life more affordable, keeps our residents safe and builds a city that moves and works better for everyone. That’s why there will be no property tax increase and no service cuts this year – residents asked us to stay focused on the right priorities while easing financial pressure, and this plan delivers. It reflects our commitment to delivering a safe, secure and affordable community for you. I’m grateful for the trust Vaughan residents have placed in me, and with the support of Council and our dedicated City staff, we will keep delivering value, accountability and progress for everyone who calls Vaughan home.”

- Mayor Steven Del Duca

QUICK FACTS 

• The proposed 2026 Budget includes a zero per cent property tax increase. With this, Vaughan is the only municipality with a proposed or approved zero per cent tax rate increase in York Region and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

• Meetings to discuss the 2026 Budget will be held in the Council Chamber at Vaughan City Hall (2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.) on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. 
• The 2026 Budget aligns with the Government of Ontario’s Bill 3, Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022.
• There are many ways residents can get involved in the budget process, including speaking to Council during a budget meeting, commenting on social media using #VaughanBudget2026, filling out an online feedback form, leaving a voicemail on the Budget Hotline at 905-832-8610, and emailing questions and comments to budgeting@vaughan.ca.

LEARN MORE 

• City of Vaughan’s budget webpage.

• City of Vaughan’s proposed 2026 Budget and 2027 to 2030 Capital Plan (PDF).