RUSSELL – After months of budget talks that included public input and staff recommendations, Russell Township council signed off on its 2026 budget Monday night, settling on a 3.94 per cent tax increase, less than half of the 8.4 per cent jump initially proposed.
A major driver of the increase is the rising cost of the Township’s Ontario Provincial Police contract. The OPP line alone adds roughly $267,807 to next year’s operating budget, accounting for 1.3 percentage of the tax hike. Without those policing costs, the increase would sit at 2.64 per cent.
For the average household, the approved budget translates to about $92 more in municipal taxes next year, or just under $7.70 per month.
Water and sewer users will also see changes. The sewer flat rate is set to rise by $20, from $372 to $392, as the Township begins building reserves for a wastewater treatment plant expected to be needed within the next decade. The Township plans to increase the sewer rate by $10 annually over the next ten years to build a $5-million reserve and a $1-million annual payment capacity. The water flat rate will rise by $7, from $343 to $350, while the variable water rate remains unchanged.
“This budget balances our financial responsibilities with our community’s growing needs,” Mayor Mike Tarnowski said following the vote. “Council made thoughtful decisions to protect services, maintain infrastructure responsibly, and plan for a sustainable future, all while keeping affordability in mind. Even with these adjustments, Russell Township continues to maintain one of the lowest municipal tax rates in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell.”
Township staff had reduced the projected tax hike before the draft budget ever reached council, bringing it down from early estimates that were well above the initial 8.4 per cent figure. Rising OPP costs, requests for new staff, contributions to asset-management reserves, and funding commitments tied to the proposed recreation complex all put pressure on the bottom line.
The Township says those early reductions reflect efforts to manage costs while maintaining transparency and core municipal services.
On the capital side, more than $21 million in projects are planned for 2026. Those works will be funded through a mix of recently awarded grants, more than $25 million committed over the next three years, as well as asset-management reserves and development-charge revenues. An updated Asset Management Plan completed earlier this year lays out a 10-year roadmap for infrastructure needs, while a Development Charges Study expected next year will determine how growth-related costs are recovered.
Public input also shaped the final numbers. Between July and early September, 582 residents responded to a budget survey; about four per cent of local adults, a turnout the Township describes as above average for municipal consultations. A Sept. 8 public meeting drew further feedback. Of the requests submitted, which included 29 from residents and 14 from committees and council members, roughly $850,000 worth made it into the final document.
The approved budget maintains funding for current municipal services, supports growth-related infrastructure, and begins the long-term financial planning required for a new wastewater treatment plant.
Full budget details are expected to be posted by Nov. 21 at russell.ca/budget.
