By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Mayor Darrin Canniff wants to hold the 2026 budget increase to three per cent.
In a presentation to council recently, the mayor outlined the goal and specifically asked his fellow councillors to help him get there. He’s seeking their responses at the April 28 meeting.
“I’m asking council to put their 22 cents in,” Canniff explained, adding he will be working with the budget chair and staff to create a budget that “works for all of us.”
Under Ontario Strong Mayor Powers legislation, municipal mayors are tasked with compiling budgets.
Canniff acknowledged that affordability is top of mind, particularly in light of the on-again, off-again U.S.-imposed tariffs.
“Right now, affordability is a massive concern in Chatham-Kent, all over Ontario, all over Canada,” he said, adding he’s asking staff to come back with a 2026 tax increase at the three per cent mark.
However, the mayor said meeting the target will depend on funding from upper levels of government, who have “yet to step up” to help with infrastructure costs covered by provincial and federal funding in the past.
His comments were followed by a presentation from chief financial officer Gord Quinton offering ways council and staff can lobby upper-tier governments for funding.
On the flip side, Caniff presented graphs showing Chatham-Kent is in good shape financially, with little to no debt, making it an ideal time for the municipality to borrow for infrastructure investment.
“I want to highlight the importance of strategically investing in our community today for Chatham-Kent’s future,” he said.
Canniff said there has been plenty of advocacy work being done to procure funding, including talks with Premier Doug Ford and MPPs Trevor Jones and Steve Pinsonneault.
“So, I’m confident with the support of upper levels of government and input from council we can get to this three per cent level,” he said.
Canniff stressed that he’s not asking for cuts to services or facilities, such as libraries, noting rural services won’t suffer.
“No cuts for vital libraries, parks and museums and service centres,” he said. “No cuts to our rural fire services. We are a community of communities and for us to succeed as such, we must support both the biggest and smallest communities in Chatham-Kent.”
He said he’s asking for “strategic ideas” to lower costs while maintaining services across the board.”
