City invites residents to Telephone Town Hall to discuss the re-adoption of the Mayor’s 2026 Budgets

St. Catharines residents are invited to participate in a Telephone Town Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. to provide feedback on the re-adoption of the City’s 2026 budgets.

The Telephone Town Hall is a critical opportunity for residents to voice their opinions and ask questions about the City’s financial plans. Community feedback will help shape the Mayor’s budgets and potential amendments from councillors, which will be introduced following the Mayor’s presentation at the Council meeting of Nov. 5, 2025.

To participate, residents should be by their phones at 7 p.m. on Oct. 21 when they will receive a call from the City. Residents can sign up to ensure they receive a call or to remove themselves from the call list by visiting stcatharines.ca/BudgetCall.

Budget Open House

Residents can also attend a Budget Open House on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. at St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre in the Irene Locke Program Room. This will be an in-person opportunity to ask questions and provide input directly to members of the Budget Standing Committee.

On Oct. 15, staff will present an overview of the draft re-adoption budgets, including operating, capital and water and wastewater for 2026, at a Council (Budget) meeting. The Council (Budget) meeting agenda is available at bit.ly/43kIdtM.

Resident feedback is welcome anytime online at engagestc.ca/Budget.

Key Dates for the 2026 Budget Re-adoption Process

• Oct. 15 ─ Council Budget Meeting: City staff will present an overview of the draft 2026 operating, capital and water and wastewater budgets.
• Oct. 21, 7 p.m. ─ Telephone Town Hall: Join the City’s live telephone discussion to share your thoughts on the budget.
• Oct. 22, 6 p.m. ─ Budget Open House: Visit the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre to ask questions and provide feedback.
• Nov. 5 ─ Mayor’s Budget Presentation: The Mayor will present his budgets to Council.
• Nov. 19 ─ Council Reviews Amendments: Councillors’ amendments to the budgets will be reviewed by Council. If amendments are not submitted, this meeting will be cancelled.

The timeline for adopting the budget depends on a few factors: if any amendments are made; if the Mayor decides to veto any amendments; and if Council votes to override a veto. The 2026 budgets will be readopted no later than Dec. 20, 2025. However, it could occur earlier if there are no amendments or veto and amendment periods are shortened.

For more information about the budget re-adoption process and how to participate, please visit stcatharines.ca/Budget.