No mil rate increase or cuts to services in St. John’s Budget 2026
The City of St. John’s has tabled its 2026 budget.
Finance lead and Deputy Mayor Ron Ellsworth presented today’s balanced budget for $365,997,790.
There will be no mil rate increase for residents or commercial properties next year, with residential remaining at 9.1 and commercial remaining at 29.5
There will a slight increase in the water tax of $10 per unit and an increase of 1.4% for commercial.
New investments in this year’s budget include $22 million for new capital projects including upgrades to roads, facilities, water and sewer infrastructure. The full list of specific projects is expected in the new year. $5.3 million is also included in this year’s budget to replace snow clearing equipment. There will also be an increase of $728,000 for the St. John’s Regional Fire Department, bringing the total to nearly $29 million dollars.
Meanwhile, the budget for St. John’s Sports and Entertainment Limited is decreasing by 214,000. That’s due to a rise in concerts, events and meetings taking place at the Mary Brown’s Centre and St John’s Convention Centre.
NTV’s Bailey Howard will have more about Budget 2026 on the NTV Evening Newshour.