After zero-budget approval for 2026, Windsor mayor says approach can’t be repeated indefinitely

Mayor Drew Dilkens has outlined the key priorities in Windsor’s budget after it has been finalized. CTV Windsor’s Sanjay Maru has more.

One day after Windsor city council finalized its 2026 budget, Mayor Drew Dilkens said the zero per cent tax increase reflects current affordability pressures — but is not a model the city can follow every year.

Speaking Tuesday inside Windsor city hall alongside councillors and senior administration, Dilkens defended the decision to hold the tax levy at zero while acknowledging concerns about long-term sustainability and reliance on one-time measures.

“Can you do zero forever? You can’t,” Dilkens said.

“Every year, it is a delicate balance.”

The mayor pointed to Windsor’s financial track record, saying previous stretches of zero per cent budgets did not result in sudden tax spikes, and argued the city remains on solid footing.

“If you go back and just look at the history of the years that we’ve done zero — there were six or seven years in a row — you didn’t see any spikes at the end of that,” he said.

“That’s because we always manage the budget and our finances very responsibly.”

Dilkens cited the city’s current credit standing as evidence.

“Our external bond rater — Standard and Poor’s — we have the highest rating we’ve ever had in the city’s history,” he said.

“We’re able to offer a zero per cent budget because of the prudent fiscal management that’s been employed over the course of 20 years.”

Still, the finalized budget leaves open questions — particularly around staffing changes approved during in-camera sessions.

The union representing inside workers for the City of Windsor has said just shy of three dozen permanent jobs could be affected, though the exact number remains unclear.

“We don’t know exactly what departments, how many jobs, or which positions are going to be impacted,” said Angela Sbrocca, president of CUPE Local 543.

“We’re still waiting on the details.”

Dilkens said those details cannot yet be released, stressing internal processes must play out before specifics are made public.

“The vast majority of the positions that were cut from this budget were vacant positions,” he said.

“Council made some cuts, but it also allowed us to take money and apply it to areas where we actually have a greater need.”

Community advocates say public pressure influenced parts of the final budget but argue the zero per cent outcome should not be treated as a victory.

Engage Windsor, a grassroots advocacy group that raised concerns about the number of items initially slated for in-camera discussion and the impact of rising user fees, said the headline number masks deeper issues.

“Windsor is the only municipality in Ontario with a zero per cent budget increase, but we don’t think that’s a point of pride,” said Ashley Bruner, a board member with Engage Windsor.

“It’s really a red flag when every other city is grappling honestly with inflation and rising costs.”

Bruner acknowledged what she described as “incremental wins,” including scaling back proposed recreation fee increases, but warned the budget leans heavily on short-term solutions.

“The result is a budget that looks good on paper,” she said.

“But relies on one-time fixes that could create deeper challenges in future budget cycles.”

While council ultimately backed away from several proposed cuts — preserving funding for organizations such as Artcite, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra and Life After Fifty — questions remain around in-camera reductions, including what a $2.6 million cut to Housing and Children’s Services entails.

Dilkens said more clarity will come once internal reviews are complete.

“All of this will shake out in the coming months,” he said.