Facing apathetic electorate, Penetang council moves toward 3.6% municipal tax hike
By: Derek Howard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: MidlandToday.ca, Nov 21, 2025
Taxpayers in Penetanguishene could be looking at a 3.22% blended tax rate next year, once the speculated 3.56% municipal tax rate increase is combined with the county and education portions.
The calculations were arrived at the end of a recent three hour special committee of the whole meeting which presented the second draft 2026 budget, aiming for formal ratification on December 10.
At the start of the evening, Penetanguishene council members were presented with a proposed 4.7% (or nearly $665,000) net town tax impact, broken down to 3.1% for operating budget, 1.2% for capital and infrastructure levy, and 0.4% (or nearly $58,000) for policing.
Delegations were made by spokespersons from Community Reach (asking under $7,900, approved), the Guesthouse Shelter (asking $5,000, declined), and the Penetanguishene Curling Club (asking $1,500, approved).
Before getting to the draft budget discussion itself, council members chose: retaining playground equipment replacements ($145,000) for Charles Scott Park; approving an aerial fire truck replacement; approving two part-time to full-time facility management positions (at nearly $42,000 total); and defeating a $60,000 enhanced communications position.
A fire master plan update ($50,000), which had not received an update since 2014, was removed from the 2026 budget as the town waited for a new fire chief position to be filled.
Mayor Doug Rawson stated he was “disappointed to learn that we had a master plan and there’s a number of… strategic items to do, and we did 40% of the items; 60% of the items were either not completed or they’re in the middle of doing them.”
The changes had lowered the proposed 2026 municipal tax rate to 4.57% (and 3.94% blended), with council ready to make further adjustments. Mayor Doug Rawson asked director of finance/treasurer Carrie Robillard if there were a way to lower that figure by 1% before concluding the meeting.
Robillard responded that a 0.4% utilization from the town’s policing reserve and 0.6% from tax stabilization reserve would arrive at an approximate 3.56% municipal tax rate increase, which would roughly equate to a 3.22% blended tax rate increase – or $52.54 per $100,000 of current value assessment as per MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) calculations.
However, should any additional taxation be made available due to capital adjustments, Robillard cautioned: “I would just increase the transfer to the (multi-use recreation centre) reserve; I wouldn’t recommend reducing the capital-based taxation budget to move it over into operating, to reduce the tax rate that way.”
Notably, one thread of conversation revolved around council lamentations that public engagement sessions for council meetings were rarely attended by members of the public.
“We could knock on every door and say: ‘there’s a council meeting tonight’; people are not going to possibly show up,” said finance and corporate services meeting chair Coun. Suzanne Marchand.
“This is one of the important things – we’re talking about budget and taxation – but we’ll get lots of feedback after council meetings after we pass the budget of: ‘wow, what were you thinking when you approved that?’ Had you been here, you would’ve seen the really good discussion around these decisions.”
The committee of the whole approved the direction for staff to amend the budget, with intent to formally ratify the budget at an upcoming meeting of council.
The 2026 second draft budget and other related presentations and matters for consideration can be located on the agenda page of the Town of Penetanguishene website.
Meetings of Penetanguishene council are held on the second Wednesday of each month, and can be watched live on Rogers TV cable 53, or on the Rogers TV website.
Archives of council meetings are located on the Town of Penetanguishene YouTube channel.
93 North & Big Chill Donate $1,740 to GBFN
By Neil Lefaive, Nov 19, 2025
On November 1st, 93 North and Big Chill held a charity dance at the Penetanguishene Legion. The wonderful event was well attended and as a result, the bands raised $1,740.00 which was donated to the Georgian Bay Food Network. The members of the bands thank the Legion for hosting the event, and the community for attending and generously donating to the cause. In the photo are Suzanne Carlson, Roger Lacroix and Neil Lefaive from 93 North, John Dunnings from Big Chill, and Alex Hamelin on behalf of the GBFN. Absent from the photo are 93 North members Greg Somers and Carl Rabinowitz, and Big Chill members, Darcy Campbell, Steve Lajbrook, Cole Rowen, Paul Robillard and Greg Somers.