At a special budget meeting on Thursday, February 5, Champlain Township Council adopted the 2026 municipal budget, which includes a 4.5 per cent increase in the property tax levy. The budget includes an operating budget of $17,179,835 and a capital budget of approximately $8.8 million, bringing the total budget to about $26.12 million.
Compared with 2025, the 2026 budget is $4,438,225 higher, a 20.47 per cent increase.
With the 4.5 per cent increase, the township expects to collect $9,159,412 in property taxes for 2026, $473,500 or 5.45 per cent more than in 2025. An average homeowner with a 2016-assessed property value of $233,345 can expect to pay roughly $206 more in property taxes this year. Property taxes cover local school boards, the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR), the provincial government, and other entities.
Under the capital budget, Champlain Township will spend approximately $3.39 million for road resurfacing projects, including Vankleek Hill’s Main Street, and Dewar, Wall, Union, and Pendleton streets. Additionally, approximately $4.37 million will go toward sanitary upgrades and repairs in L’Orignal, $212,320 for the municipal website and laptops, and $710,000 for various recreation projects.
The L’Orignal Pavilion, a major project being undertaken by the Parks and Recreation department, is expected to cost $450,000. The funds will come from municipal reserves and surplus funds, with $50,000 from the UCPR community allocated fund. The remaining Parks and Recreation capital budget of $60,000 will be used for Chalet-Abris design plans.
Councillor Paul Émile Duval raised concerns about transferring $250,000 from the township’s accumulated surplus and questioned whether using debt financing would be a better approach.
Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Tessier responded that financing the L’Orignal Pavilion with new debt is possible, but the budget also aims to maintain balance with future capital projects, which is why the accumulated surplus was recommended.
