Orillia mayor uses strong mayor powers to shut down tax increase proposal

Orillia council convened on Monday to review the 2026 budget. During deliberations, a proposal from one councillor came to a halt when the mayor exercised his strong mayor powers to reject it.

In a split five–four vote, council endorsed a motion to collect another $700,000 for faster road and sidewalk repairs.

It would have amounted to about a one per cent increase in the residential tax rate, something Orillia Mayor Don McIsaac wasn’t ready to support.

So he used his strong mayor powers to quash the amendment.

“We will spend $4 million in 2026, which is more than the last two terms of council. We have more work to do on roads; there’s certainly no question about it. The ten-year plan will leave us with a $90 million surplus. So why do we need another $700,000?” said Orillia Mayor Don McIsaac.

With an unexpected decrease in the County of Simcoe’s budget ask, that drops the proposed city tax rate increase to zero.

However, the city hasn’t yet received the budget request from the OPP. McIsaac says they’re working with police to try to keep that low enough to avoid a tax increase.

Right now, the Ontario Provincial Police is looking at an 11 per cent increase in their service charge for Orillia, which would represent about a one-and-a-quarter per cent increase in the tax rate.

The use of strong mayor powers triggers the option for a special meeting where councillors can challenge the veto. The city clerk says that if six out of nine members of council vote in favour, they can override the mayor’s decision.