Written By Jan Sims
MIDDLESEX CENTRE - Middlesex Centre taxpayers are facing a 5.71% hike in municipal taxes for 2026. That translates into an additional $262 for a residential property assessed at $400,000. And a $99 increase for a farm assessed at $1 million.
“This is the highest tax rate increase that Middlesex Centre has done in the last ten years,” acknowledged Corporate Services Director and Acting CAO, Tiffany Farell in presenting the draft budget to council at a special meeting on November 13th.
For residential property owners, the increase breaks down into a hike of $159 in property tax and an extra $103 in the charge for water, wastewater and stormwater fees.
By the numbers, the operating budget which includes day-to-day expenses is rising to $54.5 million from $49.3 million in 2025. The capital budget has dropped to almost $20.9 million from $49.5 million in 2025. Council was told that reflects the completion or near completion of several big-ticket items, notably the renovations to the municipal building and the Ilderton Arena.
“I know people will ask, ‘could you have gotten the increase lower?’ To do so would have involved a further drawing down of our reserve funds, or delaying items that needed to be dealt with,” said Ward 3 Councillor Hugh Aerts who sat on the budget committee. Aerts said putting off projects would only burden future budgets as well as being what he described as “the cowards way out.”
“Although the rate may seem high to many people, or when we’re looking at our water, wastewater or stormwater rate increases, it is extremely important that we prioritize this aging infrastructure to ensure that the services that the community receives are not impacted,” Farrell told council.
Among the highlights of the capital budget include $9.26 million for transportation and roads projects, including $1.3 million for reconstruction work on Vanneck Rd.
For the operation budget, the largest single expense is a $20.32 million transfer to reserve funds. That’s money used to fund capital projects. Wages and benefits account for $12.83 million.
Prior to the budget presentation, Mayor Aina DeViet talked about some of the pressures facing municipalities. “Right now, we’re living in turbulent, unsettled times,” said DeViet. “Like many other municipalities across Ontario, we’ve had conversations about how to address aging infrastructure and the downloading of health and social services in the context of our limited options to raise funds at the municipal level,” added the mayor.
