Kitchener: The City of Kitchener has passed its 2026 budget. The Kitchener Council unanimously approved the budget during a special council meeting on Tuesday, which includes a 2.2 percent property tax increase.
This increase positions Kitchener’s tax hike as one of the lowest among its neighboring cities. For comparison, Waterloo is set to see a property tax increase of 6.4 percent, and Cambridge will see an increase of 2.44 percent.
Impact on Homeowners
The 2.2 percent property tax increase will result in an approximate annual increase of $29 for the average residential household. Overall, when factoring in water utility, stormwater, and sanitary sewer rates, the average homeowner can expect to pay an additional $117 annually.
Key Investments for 2026
The new budget allocates significant funding to infrastructure and community projects:
| Project Category | Allocated Funding |
| Road Construction | $45 million |
| Board and Grant Funding (including Centre in the Square, Kitchener Public Library) | $19.5 million |
| Tree Canopy Plan | $3.3 million |
| Trail Upgrades | $2.4 million |
| Community Parks | $1.5 million |
