Another area mayor is using their strong mayor powers to lower the proposed tax increase in their community.

On Tuesday, St. Marys Mayor Al Strathdee introduced his 2026 town budget that, if adopted, would see a 3.55 per cent property tax increase that would add an average of $167 per household. This is slightly slower than the 3.6 per cent ($170 per household) that was proposed in the draft budget submitted to council by staff last month.

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Regardless of which increase is implemented, this property tax increase will be less than the 3.63 per cent hike in 2025 and the 5.88 per cent jump in 2024.

The strong mayor powers, which were extended to 169 more Ontario municipalities in May, expands their authority, giving these heads of council, among other capabilities, the ab

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