Region of Waterloo budget delivers affordability and service investments

Waterloo Region – Regional Council has passed a 2026 Plan and Budget that provides critical services today and invests wisely for future growth. This year’s budget focuses on affordability, while making progress on community priorities.  

The budget represents a 5.10 per cent tax increase for total Regional services, including costs for Waterloo Region Police Services. This is equivalent to an increase of $142 for the average household. The Region's portion, excluding costs for Waterloo Region Police Services, represents a 4.54 per cent increase, equivalent to an increase of $88 per year for the average household.  

Investments include:  

• Continuing low-cost transit fare cards for community agencies, offering a new one-day-a-week free ride pilot for seniors and purchasing an additional bus for Kiwanis Transit serving Woolwich, Wellsley and Wilmot Townships. 

• Moving forward with the Building Better Futures affordable housing plan. 

• Developing a ten-year strategy for Seniors Services and Sunnyside Campus. 

• The launch of a new 20-bed women’s overnight warming centre in Cambridge. 

• Public Health programs and services to improve prenatal and child health outcomes, and creating new child care spaces across the region. 

• Continued investment in the Upstream Fund to support community safety and wellbeing.  

• Growing the local aviation and aerospace industry through partnerships at YKF. 

During this year’s budget process, Council and staff continued to find efficiencies and cost savings. The Region has now found $41 million in savings over the last several years, including $12.5 million for 2026.  

Adjustments for 2026 include: 

• Adjusting GRT transit routes to match current population and ridership. 

• Adjusting Waste Management Services by discontinuing “Double Days” when residents could put out extra garbage for collection after certain holidays and offering bulky item garbage pick-up monthly instead of bi-weekly, effective March 2026. 

The 2026 budget was informed by community input gathered through our EngageWR page and during a number of in-person input and information sessions in November and December. Region staff also engaged with hundreds of residents at community events, markets and other venues throughout the year. 

The Region of Waterloo provides more than 60 per cent of municipal services in Waterloo Region. Regional services account for a little over 50 per cent of residents’ property tax bills. The remainder funds services provided by cities and townships, Waterloo Region Police Services, and school boards. 

The Plan and Budget is how we put the Region of Waterloo’s Growing with Care Strategic Plan into action. The Region's annual budget process began in October 2025. For more information on the 2026 Plan and Budget investments and efficiencies, visit www.regionofwaterloo.ca/planandbudget.   

Quotes: 

"The Region of Waterloo provides critical services that our community depends on each and every day. Waterloo Region continues to grow, and investing now gives us a solid foundation for the future. This budget has seen investment in housing affordability, child care, accessible transit and local economic growth – to name just a few. No budget is ever easy, and we heard loud and clear that the cost of living is a challenge for residents. With that in mind, affordability has been a top priority for Council and the 2026 Plan and Budget prioritizes what matters most for residents.” 

-Karen Redman, Regional Chair 

"Every year, Regional Council needs to look closely at what projects we can afford, and which can wait for another year. There were some difficult decisions this year, but we have arrived at a budget with a reasonable tax increase so that we can maintain the services people expect. Council will continue to work with our partners in other levels of government to make sure we have the support that people in Waterloo Region deserve.” 

-Michael Harris, Chair of the Strategic Planning and Budget Committee and Regional Councillor 

“I’m proud of the progress we’ve made on our Growing with Care priorities in the last few years. We continue to focus on supporting affordability of homes and creating good jobs, delivering reliable and equitable services that meet the needs of everyone, and building a resilient organization that is ready for the future. I’m also proud of the work by Region of Waterloo staff to deliver a budget that adjusts what we do and how we do it so we can best serve the community in 2026. Thank you to Regional Council for their trust and guidance as we worked through this important process.” 

-Mathieu Goetzke, acting Chief Administrative Officer for the Region of Waterloo 

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