Tiny settles on 5.8% take hike with budget that closes infrastructure gap
By: Derek Howard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: MidlandToday.ca, Dec 12, 2025
(TINY) Tiny council arrived at a 3.99% blended tax rate increase during the third and final day of their 2026 budget deliberations.
Council had delayed their third day of budget talks for a week to become better informed on their decisions, and were presented at the start of the meeting with staff providing several updates and follow-up answers.
Notably: MPAC property assessment values held stable for 2026; $40,000 in added tax revenues were projected as a result of MPAC; $515,000 in various reserves was identified from roads capital projects completed under budget; and a $3.24 million OPP billing cost held at Tiny’s capped rate of 11% to stay at $3.049 million instead.
“We have a very low crime rate, we have even lower call volume, and that’s not being reflected,” said Mayor Dave Evans. “We’re paying now on a standardized basis for resources that we’re not using, and we need to reform… and modernize this OPP billing model to reflect the realities of rural communities.”
With the starting amount of a 3.22% blended rate on a live-tracking chart, council began adding and subtracting items in the budget.
A look at parking machine usage and replacement was deferred to a future report for more information. The option to pave Old Schoolhouse Rd. was instead transferred to other roads projects, and with additional funding from the aforementioned various reserves, several items were added including: Microsealing at Balm Beach Rd W.; repaving of Champlain Rd. from York St. to Conc. 17 E.; and repaving Cedar Pt. Rd. from Conc. 16 to #467.
A high-level surplus estimate of $170,000 had been identified and noted in the operations portion of the funding gap tracking list. When it was addressed, the tentative blended rate was at 3.55%.
Coun. Steffen Walma reminded council that prior to the start of budget talks, staff were asked to bring an at-or-below 4% increase to the budget; with the 3.55% and surplus $170,000, he pitched that the amount should be put into enhancing the township’s infrastructure funding as per the asset management plan.
“I don’t want to add it to the tax rate.” said Walma, “I want to close that infrastructure gap.” A suggestion to purchase fire hall generators ($40,000) and put money into a long-deferred upgrade project for Wyevale Park ball diamond lighting ($130,000) was approved.
That brought the tally to the 5.80% municipal tax rate increase and 3.99% blended tax rate increase. Council voted in favour of the changes, with the understanding that finalized tax rates for 2026 would occur at a council meeting in April.
“I’m very confident and very happy with what we have produced as a team,” said Evans as the budget passed.
The 2026 draft budget report can be viewed on the agenda page on the Township of Tiny website.
Archives of council meetings are available to view on the township’s YouTube channel.