Join the Conversation: 2026 Aylmer Budget Planning

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

Finance Committee Reviews Preliminary 2026 Capital Plan - September 3, 2025

The Town of Aylmer has shared its preliminary capital budget plan for 2026. This is a first draft of how the Town will spend money on important projects and how it may pay for them.

What's happening next?

The Finance Committee is talking about this plan now and will share a final version later this fall for approval.

Why the Plan Matters

Every year, Aylmer must create and approve a budget that covers things like infrastructure, equipment, and town services. This helps the town figure out how much money to raise through taxes and fees.

This time, the proposed 2026 budget is about $8.4 million—plus a bit more money carried over from 2025.

Big Projects for 2026

Here are the main projects the town is planning:

1. SCADA and Lagoon Upgrades – Important updates for water systems.

2. Parks & Recreation Improvements – Especially pool and trail projects.

3. Town Hall Facelift – Fixing the roof, brickwork, and windows of this symbolic building with a clock tower.

4. South Street Makeover – Rebuilding the road, sidewalks, and underground utilities.

5. New Operations Vehicle – Replacing an aging salt-and-spread truck used in winter.

6. Trail Expansion – Building a new trail and bridge to connect paths in the town.

There are also plans to hire experts to study water and wastewater rates, and development charges—making sure the town has a good plan for future funding.

How It Will Be Paid For

Some projects will be paid with grants and special reserves. But starting in 2026, the town will need to use more money from property taxes to refill reserves for future repairs and projects.

What’s Next?

• Town staff are asking Council to review and discuss the budget now, and give feedback.

• They hope to approve it in principle soon so that project bids can start off strong.

Resources

• Preliminary Capital Budget 2026 Staff Report
• Capital Plan 2026-2036
• Draft 2026 Budget
• 2026 Capital Funding Summary

Council Decisions Regarding the 2026 Budget Timeline

1. Council receives the report for information about the 2026 budget schedule and process.

2. Council agrees to shorten key decision timelines, if the proposed budget is published on November 13, 2025:

   • The time for Council to make changes to the budget is reduced from 30 days to 20 days.

   • The time for the Mayor to veto changes is reduced from 10 days to 1 day.

   • The time for Council to overturn a veto is reduced from 15 days to 12 days.

3. These changes will help the Town keep its usual timeline and allow the budget to be finalized at the December 17, 2025 Council meeting.

2026 Budget Timeline

• June 18, 2025 – Finance Committee approves the draft budget survey.

• Mid-July to Mid-August 2025 – Public can complete the budget survey online.

• September 3, 2025 – Finance Committee holds a meeting to:

  • Review capital budget ideas.

  • Hear from the public.

  • Review budget survey results.

• September 2025 (Date TBD) – Mayor hosts a town hall to gather more public input.

• October 1, 2025 – Finance Committee reviews the draft operating budget and holds a public hearing.

• November 5, 2025 – Final Finance Committee meeting.

• November 13, 2025 – Mayor officially presents the proposed 2026 budget.

• November 14 – December 3, 2025 – Council has 20 days to propose changes to the budget.

• December 4, 2025 – Mayor has 1 day to veto any of Council’s changes.

• December 5 – December 17, 2025 – Council has 12 days to vote on overriding any mayoral vetoes (requires a 2/3 majority).

• December 17, 2025 – Budget is expected to be finalized and adopted.