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Sault Ste. Marie City Council Presents the Proposed 2026 Budget
The City of Sault Ste. Marie has released its proposed 2026 municipal budget and early estimates suggest property taxes could rise by 5.39 percent, a figure that has already sparked debate among residents concerned about affordability and service priorities.
The largest single driver of this increase is a $4.3 million jump in police spending, representing nearly an 11 percent hike in the police budget, which is controlled by the Police Services Board and therefore largely outside of council’s ability to reduce.
Other significant pressures include an additional $950,000 for winter control to stabilize reserves and ensure safe snow removal, nearly $48 million in capital spending with most directed to roads, bridges, and storm sewers, $4.5 million for transit fleet renewal to replace aging buses, and debt servicing costs that now exceed $6 million due to higher interest rates.
Provincially mandated board levies also add to the burden, with social services increasing by $1.2 million and Algoma Public Health rising by $600,000.
City officials warn that external economic challenges such as job losses at Algoma Steel and ongoing U.S. tariffs further complicate financial planning, making it difficult to balance affordability with maintaining essential services.
Council is expected to debate the levy and may attempt to trim the proposed increase, but their flexibility is limited by these external board-controlled costs. Residents are being encouraged to provide feedback through surveys, open houses, and online engagement, as community input will play a key role in shaping the final budget and determining how tax dollars are allocated in 2026.
