2026 City Budget Resources

Looking for our City Budget Watch Blog? Click here.

About the Budget

Through the budget process, Toronto City Council makes important decisions about critical programs, services, and infrastructure — what it’s going to fund (adequately or not), if it’s going to cut programs or services, if it’s going to freeze budgets (given rising program costs, a budget freeze is, in effect, a service cut), and how it’s going to pay for these vital programs. These decisions are arguably the most important that Council makes all year — they tell us whether Council is going to move the city forward and address critical issues in our communities, or not. Budget decisions reveal the priorities of City Council and shape the quality of life of residents and communities across the city throughout the year.

The tax-supported budget includes operating budgets (to pay for the operation of programs and services) and capital budgets (to pay for infrastructure, such as purchasing buses or streetcars, or building a new library or community centre). The tax-supported budget includes all City service areas except for the Toronto Parking Authority (Green P parking), Toronto Water, and solid waste management (garbage and recycling), which are included in the rate-supported budget. Tax-supported budgets cover everything else—housing and homeless services, child care, public transit, recreation, libraries, Toronto police, emergency services, community services provided by nonprofits, and much more).

The tax-supported budget is funded through property taxes, federal and provincial funding, TTC fares, user fees and fines, the Municipal Land Transfer Tax, and other sources. In contrast, rate-supported services are paid for through user fees, including revenues from water and garbage fees and parking fees at Green P lots.

Downloadable Budget Explainer

We've created a downloadable pdf in partnership with Albion Neighbourhood Services that outlines what the City Budget does—and doesn't—fund. Click on the images to enlarge.

Full PDF

Text version

Key Budget Dates

You can watch all of these meetings live, or check out video recordings after the meetings, on Council’s YouTube channel. All meetings start at 9:30 a.m.

Budget Dates 

  • February 1: Mayor's Proposed Budget Release. By this date the Mayor is required to propose a budget to members of Council and the City Clerk. No meeting is required for this to happen.
  • February 10: City Council (Special). Council’s final vote on the Budget.

Speak to Budget Committee

Town Halls and Public Hearings for 2026 are now closed. Read a recap on our blog.

City of Toronto Budget Resources

Check out the City of Toronto budget webpage, updated regularly through the budget process:
www.toronto.ca/budget

Access City budget notes, briefing notes, presentations, and related budget documents.

Social Planning Toronto Budget Resources

Upcoming budget events: 

Budget 101

This workshop provides an overview of the City of Toronto's budget process and effective advocacy strategies.
January 7, 7:00 - 9 p.m.
Completed. | Watch a recording. 

City Budget Deputations 101

This workshop will explore how you can make your voice heard at Budget Committee Public Presentation meetings.
January 14, 7:00 - 9 p.m.
Completed. | Watch a recording. | Access our Deputation Template. 

Housing Advocacy Workshop

Our Housing Advocacy Workshop, in collaboration with community partners, will support you in understanding key municipal housing and tenant programs, policies, and advocacy initiatives.
January 16, 10:00 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Completed. | Watch a recording.

Budget Town Hall 

SPT's Senior Researcher and other experts will provide a community perspective on the City’s newly released budget.
January 19, 2:00 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Completed. | Watch a recording.

Toronto Budget Rally

Social Planning Toronto and partners are organizing a community rally outside City Hall to let Council know this is no time for cuts.
In person- Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen St. W, City Hall, front doors
February 10, 12 PM - 2 PM.

Check back later for upcoming budget events hosted by Social Planning Toronto.

Recordings of past events, including A Deeper Dive Into Revenue Tools, A City Budget Primer, our Housing Deputation Workshop, and our 2025 Budget Town Hall, can be viewed here: https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/past_budget_events  

City Budget Watch Blog:

https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/tags/city_budget2026

Organizing a budget forum:

This guide was assembled in March 2020 by Social Planning Toronto's Rebecca Tom and Saroja Ponnambalam following a budget forum hosted in Lawrence Heights. The collected strategies can be used to host a budget forum in your own community. Access the guide here.

Stay informed: 

Stay up to date via the City Budget Watch newsletter.

Events and Resources From Community Partners

Free Public Events

City Hall 101
Hosted by Progress Toronto, with Toronto Environmental Alliance Campaigns Director Sarah Buchanan and Progress Toronto Executive Director Saman Tabasinejad.
February 4, 4-6 p.m.
Register

Resources

A Budget for Our Neighbours
Recommendations from West Neighbourhood House

Events and Resources from City Councillors

2026 Budget Town Hall
Hosted by Paula Fletcher, Althea Hutchinson & Mayor Olivia Chow
Virtual- Hosted on Zoom
February 3, 7:00pm
Register

City Budget 101: Community Briefing
Hosted by Alejandra Bravo
In person- New Horizons Tower, 1140 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M6H 4E6
February 5, 6:30-8:00 pm
Register

Have a budget event coming up? Let us know! Contact [email protected].