Chatham council recommends 4.63% tax increase for 2026

Chatham-Kent sign. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor)

Chatham-Kent residents can expect to see a 4.63 per cent tax increase for 2026.

Following two online community consultations and two budget deliberation meetings, Chatham council has recommended its second annual update to the 2024-2027 Multi-Year Budget.

Of the 4.63 per cent proposed increase, 1.1 per cent is in investments to maintain existing municipal services.

The update also includes 1.76 per cent for capital infrastructure, 0.62 per cent toward social issues, and 1.15 per cent for service level changes.

This proposed levy represents an annual increase of $172 for an average household with an assessment value of $176,000, or $97 per $100,000 of residential assessment.

The initial proposed budget for 2026 was an 8.77 per cent increase, however administration was able to find 4.14 per cent in efficiencies, including savings in insurance, reduced transfers to reserve funds and restructuring of the new Deputy CAO role.

Council will vote to finalize the budget at a later date.