“With a 1.74 per cent increase that still addresses the concerns in our community … we’re showing the ability to be responsive to resident concerns.” – Mat Siscoe, Mayor of St. Catharines
News from the City of St. Catharines in Niagara, Ontario
Posted Thursday, November 20th, 2025 on Niagara At Large
A Brief Foreword Note from Niagara At Large reporter/publisher Doug Draper – With residents across Niagara now still facing the possibility of a property tax hike as high as 10 per cent on the Region’s portion of the tax bill and the Niagara Regional Police Service board recently approving a hike of 11.5 per cent for 2026 – both figures well above the rate of inflation – how, exactly, does the City of St. Catharines manage to keep its increase down to 1.74 per cent for the coming year?
Someone out there is going to have to have to help me explain that one.
Could it have anything to do with Niagara’s regional government baring a disproportionate burden of the services here, from public transit to waste management, policing and water & wastewater, with little or nothing in the way of financial relief from the provincial government?
And if so, why aren’t our regional councillors putting up more of a fight over that with the province’s premier, Doug Ford?
Enough of this; “Well regional government is a creature of the province and there is only so much we can do.” Get more aggressive on our behalf!
Now here is the City of St. Catharines news release on its budget for 2026 –
St. Catharines City Hall
St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe waived the mayoral veto period for the 2026 multi-year budget on Thursday, finalizing the City of St. Catharines’ budget by accepting City Council amendments tabled Nov. 19.
This marks the conclusion of the budget process under the Strong Mayor legislation introduced by the Province of Ontario in 2023.
“With the passage of this year’s budget, Council and Staff have once again worked hard to deliver a budget that respects taxpayers and recognizes that affordability needs to be at the forefront of our decision-making,” said Mayor Mat Siscoe.
St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe
“With a 1.74 per cent increase that still addresses the concerns in our community around the enforcement of our Public Space Use bylaw as well as the need for better snow-clearing in the winter, we’re showing the ability to be responsive to resident concerns.”
With the Council amendments, for the average homeowner the approved 2026 budget reflects a property tax increase of $31.17 (or 1.74 per cent) on the City’s portion of the tax bill.
Updates for 2026
- Adjustments made as part of the re-adoption process since the initial approval of the multi-year budget earlier this year include:
- $1 million from Special Tax Mitigation Reserve to be used to reduce the tax impact.
- $500,000 for the Winter Control Pilot Program, funded from the Winter Control Reserve.
- $261,000 one-time funding from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve to the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre to be used to transition to a new funding model.
- St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program (SCCIP): $257,000 increase in SCCIP funding from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve to $657,000 annual funding.
- $250,000 in funding to support the completion of the Ontario Street Corridor Secondary Plan, funded through the Civic Project Fund.
- St. Catharines’ 150th anniversary: $200,000 increase to $350,000 in total funding for celebrations associated with St. Catharines’ 150th anniversary, funded through the Civic Project Fund.
- Sunset Beach Traffic Management: $150,000 from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve to address neighbourhood traffic management issues upon the reopening of Sunset Beach in 2026.
- St. Catharines Public Library: $120,000 increase in City funding.
- Park Enhancements: Mountainview Park: $28,900 to upgrade the existing granular pathway, including resurfacing and seasonal preparation. Fairview Park: $5,700 increase to resod and restore the existing labyrinth in Fairview Park, including watering and seasonal maintenance.
2026 Budget Highlights
- With the readoption of the budget, investments made in 2026 will fund key initiatives to support community wellbeing and infrastructure renewal, including:
- $2.1 million for road and underground improvements on Facer Street.
- $1.2 million for a sanitary sewer upgrade on Queenston Street.
- $1.7 million in road and underground improvements on Gale Crescent.
- $6 million in watermain replacement projects slated for the Castlewood / Riverview; St. Paul Cresent; and Bailey / Galbraith / Hillview / Kinsey / Power Glen areas.
- $1.75 million for HVAC upgrades and elevator modernization at St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre.
- $225,000 to support accessibility and lighting upgrades at the Port Dalhousie branch of the St. Catharines Public Library.
- $2.8 million to replace a rescue truck and pumper / tanker truck for St. Catharines Fire Services.
- $2.3 million invested into City parks, including new multi-use courts and playgrounds at Johnson and Wembly Drive Parks, new playgrounds at Lester B. Pearson and Realty Park and new multi-use courts at Fairhaven Park.
- $1.72 million in upgrades to infrastructure at recreational facilities, including a new washroom at Berkley Park, soccer field lighting upgrades at Lancaster Park, a new scoreboard at Merritton Arena and concession and washroom renovations at Alex Mackenzie Park.
NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views On This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below and by sharing the Niagara At Large site at www.niagaraatlarge.com with all of your friends and associates.
“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders
Niagara At Large 