City Budget 2026: Financial Challenges Ahead

The City of St. John’s is a little over a week away from presenting its 2026 budget, but there’s still no indication whether council will increase the property tax rate.

Deputy Mayor Ron Ellsworth, the lead for finance, says costs in each department have gone up by between two and three per cent over the last year, a year which saw the opening of the new Mews Centre in the west end.

The facility officially opens Monday morning.

Deputy Ellsworth says the question right now is will the increased revenue from higher property values, given that 2026 is a reassessment year, bring in enough to offset the extra costs.