City of Toronto 2026 Budget Process

Backgrounder
October 2, 2025

The City of Toronto launched the 2026 City of Toronto Budget process in October with a renewed invitation for residents to participate. 

There are multiple ways for Toronto residents to share their priorities for the 2026 Budget including an online survey, in-person and virtual consultations and community-led discussions. Below is a summary of the autumn engagement opportunities.  

Survey 

Until Friday, October 31, Toronto residents can complete an online survey on the City's 2026 Budget webpage. The survey is available in 12 languages: English, French, Chinese-simplified, Chinese-traditional, Farsi, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil and Urdu.  

In-Person Consultations 

  • Tuesday, October 14, 7 to 9 p.m., St. Lawrence Market North, Market Hall, 92 Front St. E.  
  • Saturday, October 18, noon to 2 p.m., Etobicoke Olympium, Large Gym, 590 Rathburn Rd.  
  • Wednesday, October 22, 7 to 9 p.m., North York Memorial Hall, Burgundy Rooms A & B, 5110 Yonge St. 
  • Thursday, October 23, 7 to 9 p.m., Scarborough Civic Centre, Rotunda, 150 Borough Dr. 

Virtual Consultations 

  • Monday, October 27, noon to 2 p.m. 
  • Wednesday, October 29, 7 to 9 p.m. 

Members of the public can register to attend an in-person or virtual consultation on the City's 2026 Budget webpage. 

The City is also partnering with community organizations to host community-led sessions to engage Black, Indigenous and equity-deserving communities and youth. 

Public feedback gathered through the 2026 Budget process will inform decision-making at the City and support discussions with the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada to build a strong financial future for Toronto. 

Feedback from the survey and consultations will be presented to the Budget Committee when the 2026 Budget launches on Thursday, January 8, 2026, and will accompany the Budget Committee’s recommendations to the Mayor to inform her proposed budget.  

Interim Rates 

Toronto City Council will consider proposed interim rates for Toronto Water, Solid Waste Management Services and Toronto Parking Authority during its meeting from Wednesday, December 17, to Friday, December 19. If approved, these interim rates will come into effect Thursday, January 1, 2026 and will be finalized through the 2026 Budget process. 

Budget Committee meetings 

The Budget Committee will meet throughout the month of January for a presentation by the City Manager and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on the staff-prepared budget on Thursday, January 8, 2026, service area and select agency presentations from Wednesday, January 14 to Friday, January 16, 2026, and public presentations on Tuesday, January 20 and Wednesday, January 21, 2026 to hear additional feedback from Toronto residents.  

Mayor’s proposed budget 

As required by provincial legislation, the Mayor will propose her budget for City Council’s consideration by Sunday, February 1, 2026. City Council will then consider the Mayor’s budget, alongside other budget-related items within its authority, at a special meeting scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, 2026.  

Additional Public Engagement Opportunities 

Further public engagement opportunities will be available after the staff-prepared budget is launched on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Below is a summary of the winter engagement opportunities. 

Telephone Town Halls
Toronto residents will also be able to join telephone town halls in January to ask questions and provide input. Details about the town halls, including a toll-free number, will be announced later and posted on the City's 2026 Budget webpage. 

Public presentations
Residents can provide input in person or via video conference to the Budget Committee on Tuesday, January 20 and Wednesday, January 21, 2026. 

Locations and times will be available on the City's 2026 Budget webpage following the launch of the staff-prepared budget on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Once locations and times are announced, residents can register by emailing buc@toronto.ca or calling 416-392-4666. The meetings will be broadcast live on the Toronto City Council YouTube channel. 

Written feedback 

Residents can also provide their feedback on the staff-prepared budget by emailing buc@toronto.ca. 

2026 Budget key dates 

  • Wednesday, October 1 to Friday, October 31 – Budget consultations (survey and public meetings) 
  • Wednesday, December 17 to Friday, December 19 – City Council considers interim rate increases 
  • Thursday, January 8, 2026 – Staff-prepared 2026 Budget launch 
  • Wednesday, January 14 to Friday, January 16, 2026 – Service area and select agency presentations 
  • Tuesday, January 20 and Wednesday, January 21, 2026 – Public presentations at Civic Centres 
  • January 2026 (TBD) – Telephone town halls 
  • Friday, January 23, 2026 – Budget Committee wrap-up 
  • By Sunday, February 1, 2026 – Release of Mayor’s proposed 2026 Budget 
  • Tuesday, February 10, 2026 – Special City Council meeting on the 2026 Budget 

Special Powers and Duties of the Mayor  

Regulations prescribe the process for the City’s annual budget:  

  • The Mayor has the duty to propose an annual budget to City Council no later than Sunday, February 1, 2026.   
  • City Council has 30 days to amend the proposed budget after the Mayor presents it or may choose to shorten this period (for 2026, City Council adopted a meeting calendar with a Special City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 10 to consider the proposed budget, which shortened this period). If City Council does not amend the proposed budget within this time, the Mayor’s proposed budget is deemed adopted.  
  • The Mayor may veto City Council amendments up to 10 days after the period for City Council to pass amendments ends (the shorter of the 30 days or the shorter time adopted by City Council), or the Mayor may choose to shorten this period. If the Mayor does not exercise her veto, the amended budget is deemed adopted.  
  • City Council may override the Mayor’s veto with a two-third vote up to 15 days after the period for the Mayor to veto an amendment (the shorter of the ten days or the shorter time adopted by the Mayor), in which case the amended budget is deemed adopted. This period may also be shortened by City Council.  
  • If City Council does not exercise an override of the Mayor’s veto, the proposed budget is deemed adopted.  

More information is available on the City’s 2026 Budget webpage. 

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