The City’s Budget is Your Budget

RICHMOND HILL – Mayor David West’s 2026 budget for Richmond Hill was adopted on December 10. This budget reflects Richmond Hill’s values and priorities, ensuring the City remains vibrant, resilient and welcoming for generations to come. It was developed through diligent research and extensive discussions, focusing on what matters most to the people of Richmond Hill, while making the most out of every tax dollar.

The budget is made up of an Operating Budget that supports the City's day-to-day operations, such as waste collection and recreation programs, and a Capital Budget that supports its foundation, such as infrastructure and investments. It responsibly and transparently delivers the many services everyone in our community relies on every day.

The total 2026 Operating Budget of $257.9 million results in a 3.46% property tax rate increase for taxpayers, reflecting a 1.96% increase for the Operating Budget and a 1.5% increase for the Capital Asset Sustainability Levy. This increase equals $6.29 more per month on the City’s portion of the tax bill for the average single detached residential property in the city.

Richmond Hill is expected to welcome 25,000 new residents by 2031. To support the evolving needs of our growing community, the Capital Budget is set at $121.1 million, a significant increase from $89 million in 2025, to fund over 152 projects, focusing on our most critical infrastructure needs and keeping our foundation strong and future-ready.

The City’s Budget is Your Budget

The 2026 Budget was created for everyone who lives and works in Richmond Hill. It maintains our community today and strengthens our vision tomorrow, keeping our home a Vibrant and Inclusive City of Neighbours.

For a comprehensive look at the budget and a video about how the annual budget is developed, visit RichmondHill.ca/Budget.

Quotes

”Our 2026 Budget is a forward-looking, long-term financial strategy for our growing and evolving community. It is our commitment to fiscal prudence, sound investment and continuous improvement, and also our pledge to continue delivering high-quality services that the people of Richmond Hill rely on every day.”
- Mayor David West

Quick Facts

• In 2026, Richmond Hill will keep only approximately 28% of residential property taxes collected, with 52% sent to York Region for regional services and 20% sent to school boards for education funding. Richmond Hill Council controls only the local portion of taxes. 
• In 2025, the City’s budget:
  • delivered 9,800 recreation programs with over 64,000 registered participants;
  • rehabilitated 1,000 metres of roads, 850 metres of storm sewers and 1,000 metres of watermains; and
  • approved over $1 billion of building permits for approximately 1,273 building projects in the residential, institutional, commercial and industrial sectors.

Additional Resources

• RichmondHill.ca/Budget
• RichmondHill.ca/TaxAssistancePrograms

Backgrounder: Richmond Hill’s 2026 Budget

Richmond Hill’s annual budget comprises an Operating Budget that supports the City's day-to-day operations, such as waste collection and recreation programs, and a Capital Budget that supports its foundation, including infrastructure and investments.

Operating Budget

The total 2026 Operating Budget of $257.9 million results in a 3.46% property tax rate increase for Richmond Hill taxpayers, reflecting a 1.96% increase for the Operating Budget and a 1.5% increase for the Capital Asset Sustainability Levy. This increase equals $6.29 per month on the City’s portion of the tax bill for the average single-detached residential property in the city, assessed at $1,146,000. Over 37% of the Operating Budget comes from sources other than the tax dollar, such as user fees and grants.

The Capital Asset Sustainability Levy is a long-term investment in the community, ensuring roads, buildings, and infrastructure remain in good condition for generations to come.

Capital Budget

Richmond Hill’s 2026 Capital Budget will invest $121.1 million in the community. The annual capital budget does not directly affect the property tax rate.

Richmond Hill’s capital planning process is integrated with the City’s enterprise asset management system.  This helps us choose the right projects at the right time, make smart use of funding, and get the best value for taxpayers. The result is a fiscally responsible budget that balances the delivery of the City’s key plans and strategies, including the Strategic Plan 2024-2027.

Capital planning includes both growth-related and state-of-good-repair projects. Growth-related projects are investments in new or existing infrastructure to benefit current and future residents, such as expanding parks. State-of-good-repair projects are investments in existing capital assets to maintain their current function or life span, such as repairs to a pool.

Significant growth-related projects in the 2026 capital budget include:

• resurfacing and reconstructing 27 kilometres of roads;
• upgrading 3.5 kilometres of watermains;
• restoring 14 hectares of natural areas; and
• renovating or repairing 20 city facilities, from community centres to fire stations.
  
  

Rate-Supported Operation Budget: Water and Wastewater

Water rates finance the delivery of clean, safe water to households and businesses, including the cost of water, daily testing, watermain maintenance and the staff to perform these functions.

The 2026 Water and Wastewater budget is funded by water billing and does not impact the property tax rate. The rates are guided by the 2024 Water and Wastewater Financial Plan recommendations, which emphasize allocating sufficient funds for future capital renewal needs. Water and wastewater rates will increase by 6.1%, effective April 1, 2026. For households with an average water consumption of 170 cubic metres per year, this is equal to a monthly increase of $4.90.

Rate-Supported Operation Budget: Stormwater

The stormwater fee is paid by residents to help cover the cost of protecting the community from flooding and erosion and improving water quality in streams and rivers. Stormwater comes from rain and melted snow that flows into the storm sewers and stormwater ponds across the city. Stormwater management is a citywide service that protects the community and the environment. Richmond Hill’s stormwater management facilities include more than 95 stormwater ponds, 18,000 catch basins, 1,100 culverts/ road crossings and 540 km of storm sewer.

The stormwater rates are guided by the 2024 Stormwater Management Financial Plan recommendations, which emphasize allocating sufficient funds for long-term capital needs. Over the years, funding has not kept pace with the growing need for stormwater management and infrastructure. The 2026 stormwater fee will increase 50% for all property types, effective April 1, 2026. For the average Richmond Hill home on a property around 7,000 square feet, the monthly increase is approximately $4.46.