Woodlands County council recently approved the 2026 Operating Budget with a tax rate increase of 1.5 per cent.
The tax rate increase is expected to generate $27,164,872.69 in revenue. When considering everything except amortization, the budget was approved at $45.8 million in revenues and $49.9 million in expenses.
Since the interim budget was approved in the fall, some changes were made:
- $50,000 reduction to the legal budget
- $40,000 reduction to the budget for a workforce study on nuclear energy development
- $6,000 for PPE vending machines removed
- $25,000 reduction to the records management budget
- $15,000 addition to repair Engine 4 Fire Truck
- $10,000 for sector guides removed
- $20,000 for HR manager recruitment removed
Most additions to the 2026 Operating Budget will be covered by General Operating Reserves.
Additionally, the county finished 2025 with a $2.2 million surplus, which was transferred to reserves. Meantime, $1,850,000 was transferred from the reserve surplus to the East Mountain Road slide repair capital project.
During its regular meeting last week, council also approved the 2026–2030 Five-Year Capital Plan and the Five-Year Operating Plan, as presented.
