The City’sbudgets are strategic documents that support municipal service delivery and the achievement of Council's strategic priorities. Unlike provincial and federal government levels, municipalities are not allowed to budget for deficits. This means we must balance our annual budgets so that money coming in equals money going out. This challenges us to find cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable solutions to funding our capital and operating expenses.
Based on a variety of community engagement and other resident input, Council establishes the city’s strategic priorities and service levels. Departmental work plans and supporting budgets are developed to achieve these initiatives and to support the ongoing operation of City facilities, services, and programs.
With the municipal election scheduled for later this fall, the process for an updated Council Strategic Plan is expected to begin in early 2027.
Check back later this summer we'll have detail on more opportunities to participate and share your feedback.
Our budgets
Under the Strong Mayor Powers legislation, the budget is proposed by the Mayor and provided to Council for their consideration, in accordance with Section 284.16 of the Municipal Act, 2001.
TheMayor’sproposed 2026 Operating and Capital Budgets included:
A municipal operating budget of $530.4 million.
A 3.75% tax increase which is comprised of a municipal tax rate increase of 1.35%, 1% for capital purposes, and 1.4% for external agencies.
A municipal capital budget of $135.8 million,including increased investment in:Transportation and related infrastructure of $75 million, and affordable and supportive housing of $10 million.
Council amended the proposed municipal operating budget by allocating $100,000 for arts-related work, funded from the Working Fund Reserve.
In accordance with the Mayor’s direction, Kingston’s 2026 property tax increase remains among the lowest of other larger cities in Ontario.
Provides 24/7 emergency response with over 6,000 calls annually related to fire suppression, tiered medical services, hazardous material and marine response
Provides emergency dispatch services, receiving 77,000 calls per year
Provides public education programs, fire safety inspections, fire investigations and code enforcement programs to reduce community risk
Maintains 32 fire response vehicles
Roads & Traffic
Responds to 8,400 annual customer service requests annually
Maintains 1,828 lane km of roads, 688km of sidewalks and 49 bridges including plowing and snow clearing, road resurfacing, pothole repairs and street sweeping
Maintains 211 traffic signals, 90 large culverts and 363 kilometres of storm sewers
Implements community safety and traffic calming measures
Transit
Provides 6.0 million transit trips annually, supported by over 263,000 annual in-service hours
Maintains 82 transit buses.
Recreation & Culture
Delivers more than 40 recreational and cultural programs and events to the community
Operates 2 community centres, 4 arenas with 8 ice pads, 2 pools and 2 marinas
Manages 2 municipal museums, the Grand Theatre and Slush Puppie Place
Coordinates City events including Victoria and Canada Day celebrations, New Years Eve, Spring into Summer, as well as concerts and other events in Springer Market Square
Housing & Social Services
Delivers housing and social programs that support individuals and families, including affordable housing, homelessness services, emergency shelters, and child care programs
Provides funding to 14 non-profit housing providers and private landlords to ensure the availability of 1,900 rent-geared-to-income units
Provides supports 6 emergency shelters to individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness by coordinating housing, shelter, prevention, and support services through a coordinated access approach.
Manages and facilitates access to Early Years and Child Care services including funding and operational supports to 35 non-profit child care providers across 72 locations
Advances strategies and partnerships to improve housing affordability, address homelessness, and promote social well-being, including the creation of 58 affordable housing units and 59 transitional housing spaces in 2025, with an additional 121 units/spaces under development.
Long Term Care
Provides single-occupancy rooms for 170 residents with 24-hour nursing, personal care and comprehensive support services.
Solid Waste Operations
Provides residential curbside collection of garbage, organics and leaf and yard waste, managing approximately 39,000 tonnes annually
Manages household hazardous waste collection and disposal programs
Monitors and maintains three inactive landfill sites
Delivers waste reduction, diversion, and public education initiatives
Planning & Development Services
Prepares and implements land use and development plans, including the Official Plan, Integrated Mobility Plan, and Zoning By-law
Reviews on average 265 planning applications to support new residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional development
Issues approximately 2,000 building permits annually and conducts building inspections to ensure compliance with the Ontario Building Code and applicable regulations
Leads studies on affordable housing, natural and built heritage, brownfields, community improvement plans, employment land development and other strategic growth and planning priorities
External Agencies
Kingston Police
Provides 24/7 emergency response with over 65,000 calls for service annually
Provides specialized investigative services to support criminal investigations involving major crimes, cybercrime, fraud, and vulnerable sector investigations
Kingston & Frontenac Public Library
Operates 5 library branches providing access to physical and digital collections, programs, events, and community spaces
Tourism Kingston
Promotes Kingston as a premier tourist destination, leveraging tourism as a key driver of economic development
Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority
Monitors and protects watersheds, natural habitats, shorelines, and other natural resources through conservation and environmental stewardship programs
Kingston Access Bus
Provides accessible transit services through a fleet of 24 specialized vehicles, delivering over 65,000 annual service hours
Kingston Economic Development Corporation
Promotes economic growth through business attraction, retention, expansion, and investment opportunities
Southeast Public Health
Delivers public health programs and services that promote healthy communities, prevent illness, and protect population health
The City’sbudgets are strategic documents that support municipal service delivery and the achievement of Council's strategic priorities. Unlike provincial and federal government levels, municipalities are not allowed to budget for deficits. This means we must balance our annual budgets so that money coming in equals money going out. This challenges us to find cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable solutions to funding our capital and operating expenses.
Based on a variety of community engagement and other resident input, Council establishes the city’s strategic priorities and service levels. Departmental work plans and supporting budgets are developed to achieve these initiatives and to support the ongoing operation of City facilities, services, and programs.
With the municipal election scheduled for later this fall, the process for an updated Council Strategic Plan is expected to begin in early 2027.
Check back later this summer we'll have detail on more opportunities to participate and share your feedback.
Our budgets
Under the Strong Mayor Powers legislation, the budget is proposed by the Mayor and provided to Council for their consideration, in accordance with Section 284.16 of the Municipal Act, 2001.
TheMayor’sproposed 2026 Operating and Capital Budgets included:
A municipal operating budget of $530.4 million.
A 3.75% tax increase which is comprised of a municipal tax rate increase of 1.35%, 1% for capital purposes, and 1.4% for external agencies.
A municipal capital budget of $135.8 million,including increased investment in:Transportation and related infrastructure of $75 million, and affordable and supportive housing of $10 million.
Council amended the proposed municipal operating budget by allocating $100,000 for arts-related work, funded from the Working Fund Reserve.
In accordance with the Mayor’s direction, Kingston’s 2026 property tax increase remains among the lowest of other larger cities in Ontario.
Provides 24/7 emergency response with over 6,000 calls annually related to fire suppression, tiered medical services, hazardous material and marine response
Provides emergency dispatch services, receiving 77,000 calls per year
Provides public education programs, fire safety inspections, fire investigations and code enforcement programs to reduce community risk
Maintains 32 fire response vehicles
Roads & Traffic
Responds to 8,400 annual customer service requests annually
Maintains 1,828 lane km of roads, 688km of sidewalks and 49 bridges including plowing and snow clearing, road resurfacing, pothole repairs and street sweeping
Maintains 211 traffic signals, 90 large culverts and 363 kilometres of storm sewers
Implements community safety and traffic calming measures
Transit
Provides 6.0 million transit trips annually, supported by over 263,000 annual in-service hours
Maintains 82 transit buses.
Recreation & Culture
Delivers more than 40 recreational and cultural programs and events to the community
Operates 2 community centres, 4 arenas with 8 ice pads, 2 pools and 2 marinas
Manages 2 municipal museums, the Grand Theatre and Slush Puppie Place
Coordinates City events including Victoria and Canada Day celebrations, New Years Eve, Spring into Summer, as well as concerts and other events in Springer Market Square
Housing & Social Services
Delivers housing and social programs that support individuals and families, including affordable housing, homelessness services, emergency shelters, and child care programs
Provides funding to 14 non-profit housing providers and private landlords to ensure the availability of 1,900 rent-geared-to-income units
Provides supports 6 emergency shelters to individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness by coordinating housing, shelter, prevention, and support services through a coordinated access approach.
Manages and facilitates access to Early Years and Child Care services including funding and operational supports to 35 non-profit child care providers across 72 locations
Advances strategies and partnerships to improve housing affordability, address homelessness, and promote social well-being, including the creation of 58 affordable housing units and 59 transitional housing spaces in 2025, with an additional 121 units/spaces under development.
Long Term Care
Provides single-occupancy rooms for 170 residents with 24-hour nursing, personal care and comprehensive support services.
Solid Waste Operations
Provides residential curbside collection of garbage, organics and leaf and yard waste, managing approximately 39,000 tonnes annually
Manages household hazardous waste collection and disposal programs
Monitors and maintains three inactive landfill sites
Delivers waste reduction, diversion, and public education initiatives
Planning & Development Services
Prepares and implements land use and development plans, including the Official Plan, Integrated Mobility Plan, and Zoning By-law
Reviews on average 265 planning applications to support new residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional development
Issues approximately 2,000 building permits annually and conducts building inspections to ensure compliance with the Ontario Building Code and applicable regulations
Leads studies on affordable housing, natural and built heritage, brownfields, community improvement plans, employment land development and other strategic growth and planning priorities
External Agencies
Kingston Police
Provides 24/7 emergency response with over 65,000 calls for service annually
Provides specialized investigative services to support criminal investigations involving major crimes, cybercrime, fraud, and vulnerable sector investigations
Kingston & Frontenac Public Library
Operates 5 library branches providing access to physical and digital collections, programs, events, and community spaces
Tourism Kingston
Promotes Kingston as a premier tourist destination, leveraging tourism as a key driver of economic development
Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority
Monitors and protects watersheds, natural habitats, shorelines, and other natural resources through conservation and environmental stewardship programs
Kingston Access Bus
Provides accessible transit services through a fleet of 24 specialized vehicles, delivering over 65,000 annual service hours
Kingston Economic Development Corporation
Promotes economic growth through business attraction, retention, expansion, and investment opportunities
Southeast Public Health
Delivers public health programs and services that promote healthy communities, prevent illness, and protect population health
Due to the ongoing cost of maintaining service levels and supporting infrastructure, the City must balance property tax rates with increasing demands for services.
Which statements comes closest to capturing your point of view.
Increase taxes at an inflationary level to maintain services
42%
Increase taxes by more than inflation to expand and some enhance services
26%
No tax increase, even if it means reducing or changing some services
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The break down of your tax bill.
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