City Budget
2026 Tax & Water Budget
Understanding the yearly budget process
August to October 2025
Preparation: Planning and Priority Setting
- Staff gather information and community priorities to set direction for the 2026 Budget.
October to November 2025
Engagement and Analysis: What We Heard Report
- A summary of public feedback and how it was used to inform the budget directive will be shared in November.
November 2025 to February 2026
Adoption: Budget Presentation, Deliberation and Adoption
- Opportunity to review, discuss, deliberate, and update the budget for adoption.
February to December 2026
Implementation: Budget Goals and Priorities Begin
- Approved budget will be put into action.
- Multi-year budget work continues.
Starting January 2026 (ongoing)
Review: Measuring Results and Making Improvements
- The City will track progress and make improvements over time.
The City budget shapes the services you rely on every day, such as roads, transit, housing and public health. It is how we invest in Hamilton’s future while keeping life affordable for everyone. Your input and understanding are key to making this process transparent and community-driven.
Budget Basics
Hamilton prepares two budgets each year:
- Tax Budget: Covers services like transit, waste collection, housing, recreation and emergency services. This is funded largely by property tax, government grants and user fees.
- Water Budget: Covers water, wastewater and stormwater services.
Together these budgets fund essential programs and infrastructure that keep our city running.
What’s Happening Now
The City of Hamilton’s 2026 budget process is underway. Public input gathered during the fall engagement period is now helping shape the development of the tax budget, in alignment with the Mayor’s Directive issued on October 7. Staff are preparing budget proposals for Council’s review, and key decisions will be made in the coming months.
Council will begin reviewing the Water Budget in November, followed by the Tax Budget in early 2026. Residents who register will have opportunities to speak to Council during public delegations.
Register to attend a public delegation
Key Dates
- Budget Public Delegation: November 17, 2025
- Staff Tax Budget Release (Draft): December 12, 2025
- Tax Budget Public Delegation: January 19, 2026
- Departmental Presentations and Discussion of Proposed Tax Budget to General Issues Committee: January 27-30, 2026
- Final Tax Budget Adoption: February or March 2026
- Budget Outlook Release: September 11, 2025
- Online Budget Engagement Phase: September 15 to October 10, 2025
- Budget Engagement In-person & Virtual Sessions: September 18 to 25, 2025
- Mayor’s Directive: October 7, 2025
- Mayor’s Report and Rate Supported Budget Release: November 10, 2025
- Rate Budget Amendment Period: November 10 to December 10, 2025
- Report on Budget Engagement: November 12, 2025
- Public Delegations #1: November 17, 2025
- Presentation and Discussion of Rate Supported Budget: November 24 & November 28, 2025
- Rate Budget Adoption - Earliest: December 10, 2025
- Preliminary Staff Tax Budget Released (draft): December 12, 2025
- Rate Budget Adoption - Latest: January 4, 2026
- Mayor’s Report and Tax Supported Budget Release: On or after January 14, 2026
- Tax Budget Amendment Period: January to February 2026
- Public Delegations #2: January 19, 2026
- Tax Budget Overview: January 23, 2026
- Departmental Presentations and Discussion of Tax Proposed Budget to GIC: January 27 to January 30, 2026
- GIC - Tax Supported Budget General Deliberations (Amendment Days): February 6 & February 9, 2026
- Special Council Meeting (Budget) - Tax Budget Adoption - Earliest: February 13, 2026
Understanding Budget Amendments
A budget amendment is a change proposed by Members of Council to the Mayor’s Budget. Amendments can adjust funding amounts or redistribute resources to better reflect community priorities while keeping the budget balanced and transparent.
Understanding this process helps residents know how decisions are made and how community input shapes the outcome.
Council Amendments to the Proposed Budget - Guide
Stay Informed and Get Involved
- Follow us on social media for reminders and resources.
- Share your feedback during public delegations or review the budget engagement tools at engage.hamilton.ca/2026budget.
Together, we can build a budget that reflects Hamilton’s priorities and supports a strong, inclusive community.
2026 Budget
Reports & Media Releases
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