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For Immediate Release: March 27, 2025
At a special council meeting held on March 26, 2025, Stratford Town Council passed resolutions to adopt the 2025/26 Town operating and capital budgets, and the 2025/26 Stratford Utility operating and capital budgets. As in past years, the Town’s operating budget has been increasingly difficult to balance without a new revenue sharing agreement in place with the Province of PEI. To aid the Town in delivering services and programs, and to help plan for the future, it was announced in the budget last year that a $0.02/year tax increase for residential municipal taxes would be required, with the tax increase for other rate payers implemented at one time in the previous budget. The 2025/26 budget includes the second of the three year planned municipal tax increase.
“This increase both last year, and again this coming year,” said Councillor Jody Jackson, Chair of the Finance and Technology Committee, “will assist us in delivering the various projects and services you have come to expect and deserve, while also allowing us to plan for and make investments in areas that are needed for the Town's continued growth and development. We thank the residents who took the time to review our draft budget and provide their comments through the feedback survey earlier this month. We were pleased to see that overall respondents are pleased with the budget direction and proposed areas of expenditure and investment.”
The Town of Stratford, like other municipalities, are limited in their ability to generate revenue, with their primary sources being municipal taxes, utility charges and fees for service/use. Much of the revenue received by the Town of Stratford from property tax goes toward services that the Town has little discretion over spending, except for in some cases, setting the service level you receive. These include items like police and fire protection, transit, street lighting, and active transportation.
“The Town again commits to residents,” stated Councillor Jackson, “should any surplus exist at the end of the year, it will be placed in a reserve to support future investments in the community, including the Community Campus. The Community Campus property is well underway and we hope to have an announcement in the near future of funding to develop the community wellness facility which will house not only the Stratford Youth Centre, but is also planned to include sporting facilities, cultural space, and leased commercial space. We believe that investments in this property are necessary to meet the current and future needs of our growing community.”
The budget forecasts an operating surplus of just $500 for the upcoming year once depreciation and the principal payments on long-term debt are accounted for, as well as an allocation of $213,700 towards future investments. As with the previous councils, the current council remains committed to being fiscally responsible with Stratford’s tax dollars while also balancing the needs of our community, both now and looking ahead to the future.
It was also noted during the budget presentation that 2025 is the Town of Stratford’s 30th anniversary.
“As we reflect on our 30th anniversary as the Town of Stratford,” added Councillor Jackson, “I hope that you are proud of where you live, work and play. Our community is truly the best community and together we will continue to prosper and grow. Our future is full of opportunity.”
The 2025/26 budget includes investment in the following:
• Increasing transit service, with a focus on service within the community
• Sale of available lots in the business park (phase III and preliminary design of phase IV)
• Final development of sports fields on the Community Campus to be ready for the 2026 playing season
• Expansion of e-watch camera system
• Installation of mural art at select locations
• Building condition assessments for Stratford Town Centre and Robert Cotton facility
• Active transportation projects (subject to funding)
• Implementation of short-term rental accommodation and mobile vendors bylaws
• Continued review and anticipated adoption of the revised Official Plan and Zoning & Development Bylaw review
• Addition of fire hydrants in the core area
• Replacement of water distribution system in Reeves Estates (subject to funding)
• Installation of standby generators at a few of the larger and/or more vulnerable sewage lift stations
• Launch of the new Town website currently under development
A summary document, as well as the full budget details and meeting recording, are available below.
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For more information please contact:
Wendy Watts, Community and Business Engagement Manager
Phone: (902) 569-1995
Email:
[email protected]
Additional information is available by selecting the following links:
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Budget Highlights
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Budget Schedules
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Draft Budget Documents
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Special Council Meeting March 26, 2025 - Recording
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Special Council Meeting Agenda
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Printable version: Media Release