City of Windsor 2026 Approved Budget: Investing Responsibly and Holding the Line on Taxes with 0% Tax Levy Increase

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In a show of solidarity, support, and a shared commitment to investing responsibly, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens was joined by members of City Council, the City’s Corporate Leadership Team, and members of City administration to provide an update on the unanimously approved 2026 City of Windsor Budget and to highlight the key investments and initiatives for 2026.

In October 2025, Mayor Dilkens issued Mayoral Decision (MD) 23-2025, directing City administration to prepare a 2026 budget that holds the line on taxes while maintaining funding for the City’s Asset Management Plan and continuing to invest in infrastructure, growth, and development through the 10-year capital plan that includes the largest local road rehabilitation and repair program in the City’s history. 

On December 29, 2025, Mayor Dilkens tabled a fiscally responsible proposed budget that achieved the goals set for City administration. Following two weeks of review, Council heard from public delegations on January 12, 2026. During a special meeting on January 26, 2026, Mayor Dilkens proposed key amendments to the budget, including the following:

  • Maintaining recreation user fee increases to 3%
  • Reinstating Transit Windsor’s Route 1000 for 2026
  • Supporting affordable public transit options 
  • Restoring previous funding levels for all agencies, boards and committees, including, but not limited to Handi Transit, Life After Fifty (Centres for Seniors), Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Artcite Inc., and Arts Council Windsor & Region

Following in-depth deliberation, the Mayor and Council endorsed all proposed amendments, and the Mayor declared that he will not exercise his veto authority to overturn any of the approved amendments. Accordingly, the 2026 City of Windsor Budget as amended is approved and includes the following:

  • 0% municipal tax levy increase
  • $2.26 billion 10-year capital budget; the largest in the City’s history
  • Largest local road rehabilitation and repair program in the City’s history, with a 13% increase over 2025 spending
  • $163.8 million for roads
  • $60.0 million for sewers
  • $29.2 million for community services (parks, recreation, facilities, and culture)
  • $5.4 million capital investment in public transit
  • Anticipated added tax revenue of $5 million from new development and growth
  • Significant projects that support development around the NextStar Energy electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing facility; the site of the future regional Fancsy Family Hospital; and further development of the Sandwich South lands, including the servicing of airport lands
  • Continued focus on investment, growth, and sustainability
  • Continued strategic management of reserves, debt levels, and debt servicing from non-tax revenue sources

When compared to the average tax levy increases reported by local municipalities and the province for cities of a similar size, Windsor’s tax levy increase is significantly lower. Through this continued commitment to fiscal responsibility, the City has saved Windsor taxpayers a cumulative $1.57 billion from 2008 to 2026, which translates into $104 million in perpetual annual savings. Since 2006, Windsor residents have experienced a total increase in the tax levy of only 24% against the provincial average of 87%. The average Windsor taxpayer pays approximately $5,402 annually in total residential charges, including water, wastewater, stormwater, and property taxes, which is over $1,300 less than the provincial average of $6,778.

The City’s increase in total annual capital investment is 162% since 2016. Significant and noteworthy approved 2026 capital investments include the following:

  • $45.7 million for Banwell Road corridor improvements
  • $20.7 million for Lauzon Parkway and Cabana Road East infrastructure improvements
  • $8.0 million for the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation Capital Repair and Renewal Program
  • $7.6 million for works under the Sewer and Coastal Flood Protection Master Plan
  • $7.0 million for the Playgrounds Replacement Program
  • $5.1 million for upgrades to the Homelessness and Housing Help Hub (H4)
  • $3.8 million for the Minor Road Deficiencies Rehabilitation Program
  • $3.1 million for Provincial Road/Division Road corridor improvements
  • $6.0 million for Howard Avenue corridor infrastructure improvements, South Cameron Boulevard to Herb Gray Parkway
  • $2.2 million for Walker Road infrastructure improvements
  • $3.7 million for Tecumseh Road East infrastructure improvements
  • $7.7 million for University Avenue/Victoria Avenue infrastructure improvements
  • $2.8 million for Riverside Drive Vista improvements
  • $2.4 million for Roseland/Little River Golf Courses Asset Replacement/Improvement
  • $1.5 million for a Sandpoint Beach splashpad
  • $406,000 for the Emancipation Celebration Monument

Quotes:

“Through the approved 2026 City of Windsor Budget, we are Investing Responsibly to build a resilient, sustainable and prosperous future for Windsorites. I support this budget and I’m proud of the team that delivered it. I’m proud of the work that administration did to deliver a budget that nobody thought was possible. I’m proud of the residents who gave us this mandate to invest responsibly, for those who voiced their concerns, and for those who gave us the benefit of the doubt. This budget does not belong to myself, Council, or administration. It is a budget built by the residents of the city of Windsor. Their priorities shine through each and every line item. We’re investing in roads and sewers, community pools and arenas, arts organizations, and public safety and policing. We’re living within our means while focusing spending on the community infrastructure that delivers results for Windsor. When I knocked on doors, I promised to maintain the tax levy increase at or below the rate of inflation and to honour my record of fiscal prudence and commitment to delivering budgets that support our city’s evolution and ensure quality of life. At a time when the cost of living is high and folks are working hard to make ends meet, this budget is investing responsibly, empowering progress, strategically bolstering and streamlining services, building a stronger city for the future, ensuring that Windsor remains one of the most affordable communities in Ontario, and signalling to Windsorites that we continue to have your back — and we always will.”
- Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens

“The 2026 City of Windsor Budget demonstrates a commitment to moving forward — together, delivering quality services to our residents while leveraging growth opportunities and simultaneously acknowledging the local impacts of global economic challenges. I thank Mayor Dilkens for his vision for this budget and his dedicated work with City administration to get this right; City Council for its thoughtful deliberations and efforts to improve our community for all; and City administration for the strategic and forward-thinking work that went into prioritizing and balancing fiscal accountability with sustainable growth. I am proud to lead a corporate administrative team that continues to efficiently allocate resources and prioritize investing responsibly for Windsor.” 
- Ray Mensour, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), City of Windsor

“My thanks to Mayor Dilkens, City Council, the Corporate Leadership Team, my team in Finance, and members of City administration across the corporation for the work that went into this year’s budget process. Working collaboratively with the Mayor and City Council, we have a budget that will guide solid service delivery, and strategic growth and development through 2026 and beyond. In 2025, the City received a strong rating from S&P Global Ratings that reflects our robust financial health, effective management practices, and our commitment to maintaining fiscal responsibility. S&P indicated they expect the City of Windsor will continue to generate strong operating surpluses, and that reserves will be the main funding source for our capital plan, with modest reliance on new debt. This strong rating, a testament to our strategic planning, underscores our ability to meet financial obligations and sustain long-term growth. We relied on that recognized expertise when preparing this year’s budget, and I expect that work will produce similar results and recognition for 2026.” 
- Janice Guthrie, City Treasurer, Commissioner of Finance, City of Windsor

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