Your Voice Matters: Join the 2026 Budget Conversation
Every fall, Newmarket starts one of the most important conversations we have as a community: building our municipal budget. It affects every household, every street, and the long-term plans we’re working toward together. As your Ward 6 Councillor, I want residents to feel informed, welcome, and part of the process from start to finish.
The 2026 budget is all about balance, keeping municipal taxes as low as we can while still investing in the services, infrastructure and growth planning that make Newmarket such a great place to live. That balance only works when the community helps shape it.
When people hear “budget,” they often picture spreadsheets and numbers. But really, it’s a reflection of what we value as a town. It’s how we decide to look after our roads and parks, support recreation and culture, keep our water and stormwater systems reliable, and plan for the Newmarket our kids and grandkids will live in.
This year’s budget is built around some simple, important ideas: maintaining service levels, preparing for growth, being fair to both current and future residents, and continuing to invest in the amenities that make Newmarket thrive. Hearing from you helps us understand where those investments matter most.
If you’ve never followed the municipal budget before, you’re definitely not alone. That’s why the Town has pulled everything together on the 2026 Budget page at
www.newmarket.ca/2026Budget
On that page you’ll find the full timeline, key dates, presentations, background documents and some really helpful Budget 101 resources that explain things like property taxes, water rates and the difference between the operating and capital budgets.
Council’s budget discussions run through the fall, starting with early direction in September and moving into more detailed meetings in October and November. By December, the full draft budget is presented and Council votes on the final version. If you’d like to follow along, you can watch live or catch up later any time through the Town’s meeting portal: newmarket.ca/meetings
I know one of the things I hear most often is that the budget feels too complicated to weigh in on. The Town has been working hard to make it easier and there are simple ways to get involved.
If you like to understand the background first, the Budget 101 section on the budget website is a great place to start. It breaks down the basics in plain language.
If you want to jump straight to sharing your thoughts, the engagement tools linked through newmarket.ca/2026Budget often include ways to submit comments, answer questions and see what others are saying.
And of course, you can always reach out to Mayor and Council directly.. Some of the best ideas and questions I bring to the Council table come from chats at local events, emails from residents or quick conversations on the sidewalk.
This year, your voice is especially important. Like many communities across Ontario, Newmarket is dealing with rising costs, aging infrastructure and rapid growth. At the same time, we all expect and deserve strong services, safe neighbourhoods, reliable infrastructure and great recreation and cultural programs.
Balancing affordability with long-term planning isn’t easy. When residents get involved early and often, it leads to better decisions and a final budget that reflects the values of the people who live here.
I truly believe Newmarket is at its best when residents feel included in shaping our future. Whether you take five minutes to look at the budget page, tune in to a meeting, explore the Budget 101 tools or send along your ideas, your involvement makes a difference.
Thank you for taking the time to get involved and for helping keep Newmarket a community we’re all proud to call home.
Warm regards,
Kelly Broome
Councillor, Ward 6, Newmarket
kellybroome.ca