The County of Haliburton’s 2026 Budget passed at today’s council session with a 4.38 per cent
increase to the tax rate.

Councillors voted 7 to 1 in favor of the budget that included the hiring of six new employees –
three new Advanced Care Paramedics, a GIS technician, a Cyber Security Analyst and a Grant
Writer. Council approved the recommendations of the Budget Liaison Committee to cut $500
thousand dollars from the Sustainable Roads Infrastructure Program for 2026.

As well, Council will fund the Library Board $1 million dollars for this year, leaving it to use its
more than $400 thousand in reserves to operate. Algonquin Highlands Deputy Mayor Jennifer
Daillioux was the only councillor who voted to reject the 2026 budget on this issue, saying her
concerns that this one-time reduction may cause pain points in the future.

The 2026 budget includes a new Community Health and Wellbeing Levy in response to gaps
that exist presently. Under the plan, the levy will represent a 0.5 per cent of the tax rate going
towards many of the items the provincial government does not currently fund.