Region approves 6.3% tax hike, Gilmore Road watermain work

Niagara Region council signed off on its 2026 budget on February 13, and Fort Erie taxpayers will feel it on the regional line of their bill with a 6.3 per cent increase.

Homeowners with a property valued at $620,600 can expect the regional part of their tax bill to rise by about $137 this year, and the overall household impact will be about $211.

For Fort Erie residents, the regional increase will show up on the same tax bill that also includes town and school board portions. The budget supports projects that include a Gilmore Road trunk watermain start in 2026 and planning work for wastewater treatment in Crystal Beach and Stevensville.

The 6.3 per cent regional increase works out to a $42.3 million general tax levy hike and will start to appear on residents’ tax bills mid-year.

Fort Erie council approved its own 2026 budget, with the town saying it adds $4.54 per month for a median household. The town also estimated a combined monthly increase of $13.65 when the town, regional and school board portions are added.

Niagara Region staff and council found $12.5 million in cost savings during budget talks from July 2025 to December 2025. The region said it found another $3.7 million in savings from December 2025 to February 2026.

“People are feeling financially squeezed, and residents have asked us to keep increases as low as possible. I take that responsibility seriously,” said regional chair Bob Gale in a press release.

The region’s 2026 capital budget totals $192.8 million and supports 131 projects across Niagara. The capital budget is supported by its existing base budget and requires no additional tax increase in 2026 for those projects.

Mayor Wayne Redekop, who also sits on the Niagara regional council and is the region’s budget chair, said this year’s budget is focused on maintaining services, affordability and supporting the region’s key priorities.

“This year’s budget process has been one of the most demanding to date,” Redekop said.

The Gilmore Road trunk watermain project in Fort Erie is scheduled to start construction in 2026 and is intended to provide a second water supply to central Fort Erie.

The plan calls for a 2.8-kilometre, 450-millimetre trunk watermain along Gilmore Road from Spears Road North to Concession Road, connecting to the existing system through Pettit Road and Central Avenue.

Niagara Region is also working on a long-term wastewater plan for Fort Erie that covers the Crystal Beach, Anger Avenue and Stevensville-Douglastown areas. The plan will guide where future sewer upgrades and capacity will be needed as the region forecasts that Fort Erie will see significant residential and employment growth by 2051, according to the project’s website.

The 2026 budget includes $900,000 toward its EMS master plan, plus money for homeless shelters and community housing programs.

“There were some difficult decisions this year to work towards making a budget that is affordable for taxpayers and at the same time, being able to maintain services that help our Niagara communities run safely and smoothly,” chief administrative officer Ron Tripp said in the release.

Residents can learn more about the 2026 budget at niagararegion.ca.

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