Greater Sudbury whittles down tax hike to 3.9%

Meeting on Wednesday, Greater Sudbury's finance committee approved the city budget, which will cost an extra $19 a month for homes valued $350,000.

After discussing a property tax increase of more than five per cent during budget sessions, city council in Greater Sudbury delayed some spending and pulled money from reserves to get the 2026 increase down to 3.9 per cent.

Meeting on Wednesday, the finance committee approved the city budget, which will cost an extra $19 a month for homes valued $350,000.

“We’ve made some cuts, some changes … to get it down to the 3.9,” said finance committee chair Deb McIntosh.

“So it’s been a lot of work, a lot of negotiating, a lot of talking. And I’m really pleased with the outcome.”

Much of the increase was driven by outside boards, in particular Greater Sudbury Police, which received a 10.2 per cent budget hike, primarily driven by wage increases.

Also approved was the expansion of the free transit for seniors program and accessibility improvements to Kalmo Beach.

Separate water/sewer rate

Residents will also see a separate rate increase for water and wastewater services, approved at 4.8 per cent for 2026.

“More than half of the Sudbury budget (increase) will be towards policing services,” said Mayor Paul Lefebvre.

It was Lefebvre who presented six budget amendments that brought down the tax increase.

They included saving about $1.8 million by cancelling the financing plan for the College Street Underpass, reducing the capital levy contribution for 2026 and reducing funding for the Greater Development Sudbury Corp. for arts and culture.

McIntosh said the hope is that some of the money for arts and culture grants can be made up through revenue from the accommodation tax on hotel and motel rooms.

“We’re hoping that they can pay the arts and culture grants through that money,” she said.

With an election coming in October, business cases like the Sudbury Arena demolition and Phase 2 of the MR55 roadwork have been officially deferred—guaranteeing they’ll be a part of key budget discussions next year.

In a news release, the city said it was originally presented as a two-year budget, but council opted to approve funding for 2026 only due to recent organizational changes and upcoming elections.

Mobile security enforcement team

The increase is broken down as 0.5 per cent for municipal operations, 0.8 per cent for capital spending, 2.3 per cent for police and 0.3 per cent for other service partners, including the health unit, library and Conservation Sudbury.

On the municipal side, the increase includes money to add fire and paramedic staff and the creation of “a dedicated mobile security enforcement team to support housing operations.”

Capital spending includes $140.1 million to repair and maintain city roads, $52.2 million for ambulances, medical equipment, emergency response vehicles, construction of a new station and renovations to various community safety stations.

There’s also $22.9 million for transit projects.

For more information about the budget, click here.