Draft Simcoe County budget increase about four per cent in 2026

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Posted October 27, 2025

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Simcoe County council meets tomorrow in special session to deal with a draft 2026 budget which proposes to raise its share of property taxes to $322.77 per $100k of assessment, which in New Tecumseth makes the upper tier's total bill approximately $1,449 on a home with an average market assessment of $459,000. New Tecumseth's share of the tax bill is about $2,850.

 

The County's tax levy would tap ratepayers from its 16 municipalities for $238.5 million, up from $221 million in 2025 to help boost operating revenues to $742 million.

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Among the largest single hit on the tax bill is salaries and benefits for its 2,100 full and part-time employees proposed to increase by $15.6M (7.2%) over the 2025 budget.

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The total principal and interest payments on long term debt in 2026 are $18.6M with an estimated 2026 year-end debt balance of $690M.

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Locally, the redevelopment of Simcoe Manor in Beeton, into Simcoe Village, a seniors campus continuum, will require $115 million in 2026 to continue construction. The current occupancy target for the Long-Term Care, Village Centre, Supportive and Affordable components is in the fourth quarter of 2026.

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The construction of Retirement and Life Lease/Market Rentals will continue through 2026 with occupancy in early 2027.

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The Garden Homes, Townhomes, and Co-housing/Memory Care designs are complete and will be tendered in early 2026 with occupancy projected for mid-2027.

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The total project cost remains $353M.

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The County's roads depot in Beeton will get a new generator with larger power output at a cost of $39k. Additionally, the floor in its meeting reoom will be completed as well the installation of solar panels that could generate up to 70,000 kWh to offset 100 per cent of the facility's power needs at a cost of $229k.