Haldimand County Council Approves 2026 Rate-Supported Operating & Capital Budget

On December 4, 2025, Haldimand County Council reviewed and approved the 2026 Rate-Supported Operating & Capital Budget. Otherwise known as the Water & Wastewater Budget, this important strategic document ensures that reliable, safe, clean and affordable potable water is available to residents across Haldimand.

While Haldimand’s budget is now subject to Strong Mayor legislation, Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley directed staff to prepare the 2026 Rate-Supported Budget and keep the review process as closely aligned to the historical budget process as possible. In order to achieve this within the parameters of Strong Mayor legislation, Council passed a resolution to shorten the budget review period from 30 days to 0 days, and the mayoral veto period from 10 days to 0 days.       

The Rate-Supported Budget deals exclusively with water and wastewater treatment initiatives & is funded directly by user rates (with no financial support from property taxes). Haldimand provides water and sewer services to over 11,000 citizens and businesses through the use of treatment, collection and distribution systems that carry a replacement cost of over $1.4 billion in infrastructure assets.

Operating these systems is highly legislated and requires approximately $17.9 million to do so in 2026, which equates to an annual impact of $3.67 or 4.07% per month for the average residential user.

The 2026 budget includes $23.5 million in capital expenditures; $12.2 million on the water side and $11.3 million on the wastewater side to maintain, improve and optimize the operation of existing systems and to add capacity in response to growth.

Major water and wastewater-related projects slated for the 2026 10-year forecast include, but are not limited to:

• New Caledonia Wastewater Treatment Plant
• McClung Road Forcemain River Crossing to new Wastewater Treatment Plant
• Caledonia North Water Storage Expansion
• Hagersville Wastewater Treatment Plant grit removal system
• Linear Water and Wastewater Co-ordinated projects identified in the Dunnville and Cayuga Master Servicing Plans

The 2026 budget also includes $30.7 million in operating expenditures; $18.7 million on the water side and $12.0 million on the wastewater side.

Factors impacting the 2026 Rate-Supported budget and user rates include:

• An increase to Ontario Clean Water Agency wastewater and Veolia water operations contracts based on inflation and historical actuals;
• An increase to the rate charged to Haldimand County for purchased water;
• Adjustments to the bulk water rate and fire hydrant fees as a result of revised calculations from the new Rate Study;
• Amendments to the methodology for financing the capital program, resulting in a more sustainable contribution to the capital reserves.

New Water & Wastewater User Rate Study

The 2026 Rate-Supported Budget and capital forecast was developed using principles established in the Water and Wastewater User Rate Study approved by Council in October. The Rate Study is undertaken every 5 years to ensure fairness, transparency, and equity in cost allocation while aligning with industry standards, supporting sustainable capital programs, and providing a clear analysis of future rate needs based on priorities and pressures. These studies ensure that water and wastewater rates remain relatively predictable over the long term.

New water & wastewater rates take effect on January 1, 2026.

Council will next review the Tax-Supported Operating & Capital Budgets on the following dates:

Tax-Supported Capital Budget: February 5, 2026

Tax-Supported Operating Budget: February 12, 2026

More information about County budgets, user fees/rates and taxes is available at haldimandcounty.ca/budgets.