2026 Budget Survey Results

Town of Aylmer Shares What Residents Think for the 2026 Budget

The Town of Aylmer asked residents to give their ideas about the 2026 town budget. Here's what they found:

• 271 people answered the survey this year. It’s the fifth year the town has done this.

What Do People Want?

Most respondents want to keep services the same or make them better rather than cut any.

Here’s what got the most attention:

1. Parks, Trails, and Recreation

   • People want better and more beautiful parks, more trails, and better places to play, swim, or be active.

   • Many wrote about pools, green spaces, playgrounds, and more activities, including things like pickleball, tennis, and dog parks.

2. Roads and Traffic

   • Many said the roads and traffic need improvement.

   • Suggestions included fixing potholes, improving traffic safety, upgrading street lights, and possibly adding a bypass road near Talbot Street.

3. Library Options

   • Some people talked about expanding the downtown library or moving it to the East Elgin Community Complex.

4. Affordability and Budgets

   • A few mentioned that managing the budget carefully and keeping taxes from going up too much is important.

5. Safety and Law Enforcement

   • Some said it would be good to see more police presence, better enforcement of parking and property rules, and an overall focus on safety.

How Residents Shared Their Ideas

• Open-ended answers let people share their ideas in their own words. The most talked-about topics were:

  • Parks & recreation (82 mentions)

  • Roads & traffic (56 mentions)

  • Pools & aquatic spaces (32)

  • Library ideas (30)

There was also another playground survey at the same time, where 266 people shared ideas about places like Centennial Estates and Lions Park. Some people may have felt “survey fatigue” because of so many surveys happening at once.

What's Next

• The survey showed that social media and the town’s website are the best ways to let people know about this kind of news.

• The Town is planning to post updates and answers to common questions on social media and the “Get Involved” page.

• Town Council and staff will use these survey results when they make budget decisions for 2026.

Why It Matters

• The survey helps officials understand what residents care about—like better parks, safer roads, and strong libraries.

• It shows the Town is listening to the community and planning for the future in a way that fits what people want.

• Even though not everyone had the chance to take part, the results give a good idea of what many residents think is important.

Resources

• 2026 Budget Survey Results Staff Report
• 2026 Budget Survey Response Report