City budget would raise taxes by 3.75%, hike transit fares 2.5%

13-Nov-2025

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The City of Ottawa's draft municipal budget for 2026 hikes taxes by 3.75 per cent and increases transit fares by 2.5 per cent.

In a news conference on November 12, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe called the plan "fiscally responsible."

He said Ottawa residents are facing economic anxiety from tariffs and federal job cuts and simply can't afford "Toronto-style" tax increases.

"The budget we're presenting today is about stability," Sutcliffe said ahead of the plan's official release.

"It's about bringing a balanced approach. It's about protecting affordability while investing in what matters to you."

The draft budget will now go to city committees, where the public can weigh in on the details, before it heads to city council next month for a final vote.