Here’s what people in Windsor say matters most in the 2026 budget: Survey

A person experiencing homelessness trying to keep warm in Windsor, Ont. on Jan. 21, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor)

A new citywide budget survey suggests Windsor residents want more focus on homelessness supports, affordable housing, and transit as council prepares for the 2026 budget.

The online survey, conducted between Dec. 12 and Dec. 24, gathered responses from more than 400 residents across Windsor and was commissioned by Ward 2 councillor Frazier Fathers.

The survey results, released Sunday, come as Mayor Drew Dilkens has outlined a draft 2026 budget framework.

It proposes a zero per cent tax levy increase, but the mayor has not detailed where savings would be found or how services could be affected.

More than 40 per cent of respondents were from Ward 2, with the rest spread across the city. Nearly three-quarters identified as homeowners, while just under a quarter said they rent.

Taken together, the responses suggest residents are weighing affordability concerns against expectations for service delivery and quality of life, according to Fathers.

“People are willing to invest in Windsor and better services particularly if they are targeted, a reasonable expenditure and can show tangible results,” he wrote in his analysis.

The survey also reflects uncertainty about the year ahead. A majority of respondents said they do not expect the local economy to improve in 2026, and many questioned whether they are getting good value for municipal services.

Fathers said that dissatisfaction does not necessarily translate into calls for cuts.

“Many do not want to see existing services eroded or outsourced but they are cynical about the value for the services they currently receive,” he wrote.

When respondents were asked to rank their top priorities — areas they indicated may warrant additional investment — mental health, homelessness, and addictions consistently ranked highest citywide.

Affordable housing and rental safety followed closely, along with transit, traffic calming, and core infrastructure such as roads and sewers.

Support for addressing homelessness and mental health was strong across all parts of the city. Fathers acknowledged that many of those responsibilities fall outside municipal control, but said residents still expect action from local leaders.

“There are some items that are not municipal jurisdiction — mental health and addictions — where the community is looking for leadership and action,” he wrote.

“If the province isn’t willing to step up, are we?”

Rental housing enforcement emerged as another area of broad agreement. Very few respondents opposed ensuring rental units are safe and properly maintained, a finding Fathers said should factor into upcoming policy discussions at city hall.

Both citywide responses and ward-level feedback also highlighted frustration with everyday issues that affect neighbourhood livability. Rather than focusing on large-scale projects, many respondents pointed to smaller, recurring concerns.

Fathers said those comments signal a shift in expectations.

“The ‘little things matter’ not just in Ward 2 but in the city-wide comments — less about big projects, more about a speed bump on their road, a light in their alley, a bench on a walking path,” he wrote.

The survey also suggests residents are skeptical of relying on user fees to manage costs, with many agreeing that access to city services should not depend on the ability to pay.

Fathers said that sentiment complicates the affordability conversation.

“Affordability is important but comes in many forms,” he wrote, noting that concerns about user fees point to broader questions about how the city balances taxes, services, and access.

Windsor’s mayor is expected to formally table the 2026 budget on Dec. 29, after which city council will have 30 days to propose amendments.

The public will have two weeks to review the document, with delegations scheduled to be heard on Jan. 12 ahead of further deliberations through Jan. 26.

Fathers said the survey will help inform his approach as council reviews the proposed budget, though he stressed it is only one piece of the decision-making process.

“This is not an exhaustive review,” said Fathers, describing the report as a summary of tens of thousands of individual data points and comments gathered over a short period of time.