Have Your Say: Town Launches Annual Engagement to Help Build Whitby’s Budget

What Town of Whitby projects and services matter most to you? Which would you prioritize if you were building Whitby’s Budget? The Town is asking residents these questions as it launches its annual process to engage the community in the creation of its Budget.

Last year, the Town moved to a multi-year Budget, projecting a 1.4 per cent and 1.5 per cent property tax increase on the total residential bill for Town essential services in 2026 and 2027 respectively. This year’s community engagement will help the Town to determine which projects and services to prioritize as these multi-year budget projections are refined and finalized through the 2026 Budget process. New budget pressures – such as the impact of U.S. imposed tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, and new legislation – will also be considered.

How To Get Involved

Residents can share their input in two phases:

• Phase One – Online Survey (June 9 to 27)
  Visit connectwhitby.ca/Budget to complete a short survey and share what services and projects matter most to you. Your feedback will help shape a list of capital projects for the next phase.
• Phase Two – Prioritize Projects (July 14 to August 1)
  Take part in a participatory budgeting exercise by using an interactive tool to rank and prioritize potential capital projects. Your choices will help to inform which projects move forward in the 2026 Budget.

Additional opportunities to share feedback on the proposed Budget will be available later this year. Subscribe for updates at connectwhitby.ca/Budget.

Quick Facts

• Last year’s top priorities selected by participants through the Prioritize tool were waterfront improvements, municipal technologies to enhance service delivery, and climate change initiatives to reduce carbon emissions.
• 2024 marked Whitby’s first multi-year Budget, resulting in budget increase projections of 3.99% in 2026 and 3.99% in 2027. These represent about a 1.4% and 1.5% property tax increase on the total residential property tax bill, respectively. These numbers are reviewed annually with efforts to find efficiencies and new revenue opportunities and account for new/updated budget pressures.
• The 2026 Budget will be finalized by December 2025. View the full 2026 Budget Schedule.
• Where your tax dollars go: Only 34% of every residential property tax dollar collected stays with the Town. The rest goes to the Region of Durham (55%) and local school boards (11%).

Learn More

Subscribe at connectwhitby.ca/budget to stay informed and engaged in this year’s budget process.

For media inquiries, contact:

Erin Mikaluk
Manager, Communications and Creative Services, Town of Whitby
Phone: 289.314.6913
Email: mikaluke@whitby.ca