Budget and Finance

The Council of The Corporation of the Town of Perth has adopted the following 2026 Mayor’s Budget Schedule:

• November 18th, 2025 (10 a.m. -2 p.m.): Special Committee of the Whole Meeting: Review of Draft Budget
• November 25th, 2025 (5:30 p.m.): Council Meeting - Approval of 2026 Budget (if ready)
• December 2nd, 2025 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.): Special Committee of the Whole Meeting (if required) - Review of Draft Budget/Updated budget documents 
• December 9th, 2025 (5:30 p.m.): Council Meeting - Approval of 2026 Budget.

All meetings will be held in Council Chambers, Town Hall, 80 Gore Street East, Perth, and live streamed via the Town’s YouTube page for the public.

For further information regarding the 2026 Budget, please contact Nev Jande, Director of Corporate Services/Treasurer at 613-267-3311 ext. 2223 or by email.

Guidelines regarding Delegations to address Council can be found here, or by contacting Tracy Bowes, Deputy Clerk at 613-267-3311 ext. 2249 or by email.

Presented to Council on November 18, 2025

• Draft Budget Presentation
• 2026 Draft Mayor's Budget

December 10, 2025 - Media Release - Town of Perth Council Approves 2026 Mayor’s Budget
November 7, 2025 - Public Notice of the Town of Perth 2026 Mayor's  Budget Schedule

The 2025 Budget was approved by the Council of the Town of Perth on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.

The Town of Perth shall operate in a manner such that all expenditure of the Town's resources is approved, directly or indirectly, by Council. Further, all expenditure shall be made both in a fiscally responsible manner, such that the concept of finite and limited resources is respected, and in a fully informed manner, by way of proper and adequate notification of any significant deviation from Council's approved fiscal plans.

The primary mechanism for this is the approval of the Town of Perth's budget, within which operational details for the impending fiscal year are encapsulated. The primary goal of the policy is to allow for both expedient, proactive decision-making on the part of Staff, while retaining Council's full control over strategic spending decisions.

As of May 1, 2025, the Province of Ontario expanded Strong Mayor Powers to include the Town of Perth.

Under these powers, the Mayor is responsible for preparing and proposing the annual budget before February 1 of each year. As part of the process, Council has the ability to review and amend the proposed budget. The Mayor may veto any Council amendments, and Council can override a veto with a two-thirds majority vote.

The 2026 Budget will be presented to Council on November 18, 2025.

Previously, Council adopted the full budget by by-law after review. Under the Strong Mayor Powers legislation, the Mayor proposes the budget and Council can only change it by passing amendments in the 30-day window. Those amendments can then be vetoed by the Mayor and overridden by a two-thirds Council vote. The final document is deemed adopted at the end of the process.

No. The legislation does not allow the Mayor to delegate their powers or duties related to preparing and proposing the budget. The only way these responsibilities could be forfeited is if the Mayor does not propose a budget before February 1.

Under the Municipal Act, 2001, the Mayor has new responsibilities related to preparing and proposing the municipal budget. These include:

• Preparing and proposing the annual budget for Council’s consideration.
• Allowing Council to review and amend the proposed budget.
• Having the ability to veto Council’s amendments.
• Allowing Council to override a veto with a two-thirds majority vote.

In municipalities designated by the Province — including the Town of Perth — the Mayor must prepare a budget and provide it to Council and the Clerk on or before February 1 each year.

Once the budget is proposed:

• Council has 30 days to pass resolutions to amend the Mayor’s budget.
• If no amendments are passed within that time, the Mayor’s budget is adopted automatically.
• If Council passes amendments, the Mayor then has 10 days to decide whether to veto any of them.
• If the Mayor does not veto, the amended budget is adopted.
• If the Mayor vetoes one or more amendments, Council has 15 days to vote on whether to override the veto.
  • A two-thirds majority is required for the override to pass.
  • If Council does not override, the Mayor’s budget is adopted as proposed.

Under Strong Mayor Powers, there is a specific process for reviewing and adopting the Mayor’s Budget:

• The Mayor must propose a budget before February 1 of the budget year.
• Council may amend the proposed budget within 30 days of receiving it.
• The Mayor may veto any amendments passed by Council.
• Council can override the Mayor’s veto with a two-thirds majority vote within 15 days of the veto.

The Mayor’s veto power applies to any Council amendments to the budget — it is not limited to provincial priorities.

Under Strong Mayor Powers, the Mayor’s Budget is deemed adopted once the timelines set out in the legislation have passed. It is not formally approved by Council through a vote.