By Rosalind Russell – Espanola council passed the 2026 municipal budget last night with an overall increase of 4.6% over last year’s budget.
The brunt of the increase, 4.18%, is outside of council’s control and includes policing, social services, insurance and utilities.
The remainder, 0.42% stems from municipal operations within the town itself.
For Espanola property owners, the average household will be paying an average of around $145 more in taxes in 2026.
The estimates of all sums required for the year 2026 totals $19,850,283.
Mayor Doug Gervais extended thanks on behalf of council to all the department heads for their work noting many of the increased costs were out of their control and that the staff did a good job in bringing in the budget at a manageable level.
The budget includes donations to external organizations as approved for the following: $20,000 for Doctor Recruitment, $14,000 for the July 1st Celebrations (if required) $5,000 for the Fire Association, $4,000 for General Donations (at Council’s discretion), in lieu donation for facility use, Remembrance Day – $1,070 for the Grade 12 Graduation awards, another donation to a maximum of $4,000 as discretionary item, $2,800 to the Black Creek Sno-Trails and $2,000 towards Senior Citizens initiatives.
Capital planning includes several projects related to Public Works, water and sewer and the operations of the plants, as well as recreation totalling $1.8 million.
A major project next year will be Phase Five of Highway Six under the Connecting Link Program, from Kei Will Drive to Foucault Drive in the town’s south end.
On a side note, council also passed a bylaw for a 0% increase in renumeration for themselves for the second year in a row.
Screenshot by Rosalind Russell
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