The Township of Rideau Lakes Council passed the 2025 Operating and Capital budget at a 5.78% tax rate increase during the Regular Council Meeting held on May 5^th, 2025.

The Ontario Municipal Act requires municipal Councils to annually adopt a balanced budget. Historically, the Township has used borrowing to achieve this; however, 2025 is the first year since 2018 that Council has approved a balanced budget without the use of borrowing for operations and in-year capital purchases.

“It was staff’s main goal to eliminate the need for borrowing in the 2025 budget which will save the taxpayer future interest payments” noted CAO Shellee Fournier.  “Once the Township no longer uses borrowing to balance the budget, staff recommend that contributions to reserves be reinstated to meet Asset Management Plan requirements”.

Assisting the Township in new revenues was the net assessment growth in Rideau Lakes of $34,653,488 or 1.38%.  “This demonstrates that Rideau Lakes continues to be a sought-after growing municipality”, cited Mayor Arie Hoogenboom.

Based on the MPAC data, the median single family detached house assessment in 2025 is $211,000. “This example property will see an increase on the municipal share of the property taxes from $1,119.49 in 2024 to $1,184.20 in 2025. This is an increase of $64.71 or 5.78%,” noted Acting Treasurer David Schur.  “When combined with the Counties and the Education portion of the tax bill, the combined tax rate would be 4.73% or $110.94 on the average house.” ($64.71 township + $46.23 UCLG).

Highlights of the 2025 budget include: the demolition of the former Delta Maple Syrup Factory, the Ward 3 By-election, $177,615 in community grants, continuation of the septic inspection program, micro-surfacing of Big Rideau Lake Road, 50% share of the Townline bridge with Elizabethtown-Kitley, Fire Station 2 and Portland Hall and Library financing, plow and sander, grader, fire pumper, fire boat and the 37kms of single surfacing for numerous township roads.