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Home | News | Understanding the 2026 Mayor’s Budget Process: What’s New This Year

Understanding the 2026 Mayor’s Budget Process: What’s New This Year

The Mayor’s proposed 2026 budget will be published on January 14, 2026. The Municipality of Meaford is committed to keeping residents informed about the annual budget process. The upcoming budget deliberation days will be like previous years, with Council reviewing the proposed budget and having the opportunity to make amendments. The key difference this year is that the Mayor now has the authority to veto any amendments made by Council, through being granted Strong Mayor Powers by the Province.

What is a Veto?
A veto is the Mayor’s legislative right to reject one or more amendments made by Council to the proposed budget. This power ensures the Mayor’s budget vision remains intact while still allowing Council to exercise oversight.

Budget Deliberation Dates
Council will review and deliberate the proposed 2026 Mayor’s Budget on:

  • February 2, 2026 at 9:00 am – Budget Review: Day 1 – Operating Budget Review

  • February 3, 2026 at 9:00 am – Budget Review: Day 2 – Capital Budget Review

  • February 6, 2026 at 9:00 am – Budget Review: Day 3 – User Fees, Service Partners, and Final Budget Review

All sessions are open to the public and will take place in Council Chambers, located at 157859 7th Line.Meetingswill also be streamed and archived online at meaford.ca/YouTube for those unable to attend in person.People can take part by watching the meetings or signing up ahead of time to speak.

What Happens After February 6?

  • If no amendments are made by Council during these sessions, the budget will be deemed adopted on February 6, 2026.

  • If amendments are made, the Mayor has until February 16, 2026 to veto any changes.

  • Should a veto occur, Council could convene a Special Meeting of Council within 15 days to vote on overriding the Mayor’s veto with a two-thirds majority vote.

This process ensures transparency, accountability, and opportunities for public engagement.

Visual Guide
To help residents understand the timeline, view the visual below of the process:

For more details, visit meaford.ca/budget.

For Further Information, Contact:

Valerie Manning
Treasurer, Manager of Finance
Municipality of Meaford
21 Trowbridge Street West, Meaford
519-538-1060 extension 1108 | vmanning@meaford.ca

Media Contact:

Holly Moroney
Manager of Communications & Customer Service
Municipality of Meaford
21 Trowbridge Street West, Meaford
519-538-1060 extension 1601 | hmoroney@meaford.ca

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