Fort Erie approves 2026 budget with $55 tax hike for median household
January 29, 2026 at 4:28 AM
Sammy Hagar couldn’t drive it, but Fort Erie residents will have to pay it, as council has passed a 2026 budget that will see a $55 annual increase for the median household.
That’s the increase for the local portion of the tax bill in 2026. All told, the median household assessed at $200,300 will likely pay somewhere in the neighbourhood of $164 more this year, when the regional and education portions of their bills are included.
However, that number could come down if the Niagara Region reduces its tax increase, something Mayor Wayne Redekop suggested is likely.
Fort Erie councillors approved the budget at a Wednesday meeting with little discussion.
Despite a relatively painless meeting, Redekop said Wednesday’s meeting was just the final stop on a months long process. He credited staff for their commitment to crafting a responsible budget.
“This is the culmination of probably six or seven months of work by our staff,” he said. “I want to thank all of council, I want to thank staff for the work that they’ve put into this.”
The total base budget increase is 5.78 per cent, or 3.57 after taking into account the 2.21 per cent assessment growth.
“We’re very fortunate, because every year we’re able to come in with a budget that is reflective of what the needs of the community are,” Redekop said.
Staff presented a budget with limited supplemental requests, none of which will impact the levy. The first is a $500,000 grant for a joint project that includes the Public Bridge Authority and Niagara Parks to build an urban waterfront park in honour of the Peace Bridge’s 100th anniversary in 2027.
Two other supplemental items are for ditching master plan work–$250,000 for a new urban ditching master plan and $150,000 for an update to the rural ditching plan–and a final item is $125,000 for fire prevention leadership and development consultants.
All supplemental items will be funded from reserves.
The main drivers for the budget include roughly $1.6 million total for wages and benefits, which includes a $322,000 increase as part of a 2025 budget phase-in and funding for the upcoming municipal elections.
New provincial regulations are also forcing the town to spend $500,000 on stormwater pond infrastructure.
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About The Author
Luke Edwards
Luke Edwards is a longtime Niagara community journalist who has covered a variety of beats, including business, agriculture, the wine industry and politics. When not writing, there's a good chance he can be found at a baseball diamond or curling rink.
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