Owen Sound’s Budget Process Will Look Very Different This Year Under Strong Mayor Powers
The 2026 budget will be the first prepared under Ontario’s strong mayor framework — without a public meeting open for community discussion and with earlier, tighter timelines for council review.
Owen Sound’s 2026 budget process will look noticeably different from years past, as the city adjusts to provincial “strong mayor” legislation that shifts key responsibilities from council and staff to the mayor’s office.
Under Ontario’s Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, the head of council is now required to prepare and table the municipal budget. This responsibility cannot be delegated, even in municipalities like Owen Sound where the mayor has chosen to return most other strong mayor powers to council and the city manager.
That change alone means a new process and new timelines for the city’s budget deliberations — and a structure that moves discussion earlier in the year, while narrowing opportunities for public participation.
Key Dates – 2026 Owen Sound Budget Process
Dec. 22, 2025: Mayor tables proposed budget
Jan. 19, 2026: Special council meeting to review and propose amendments (open to public, not a public hearing)
Jan. 29, 2026: Deadline for any mayoral vetoes
Feb. 9, 2026: Council may vote to override vetoes (two-thirds majority required)
According to a staff report presented to council in July, Mayor Ian Boddy will table the 2026 budget on December 22, following several months of preparation and meetings with staff and individual councillors.
Once the budget is tabled, a 29-day amendment period begins, and council will meet to review and propose amendments on January 19.
From there, the mayor has 10 days to consider any proposed changes and may veto them.
Any veto decisions must be posted publicly, and council will have the opportunity to override them at its February 9 meeting with a two-thirds majority vote.
Director of Corporate Services Kate Allan explained during her July presentation that while Owen Sound council voted in April to reject the new strong mayor powers, that decision could only ever be symbolic.
“As we know, the rejection of strong mayor powers in April was symbolic. However, in reality, they are legislated and cannot be waived,” Allen said.
Under the new legislation, there is no requirement for a formal public meeting. The city has therefore cancelled its traditional December budget sessions and will instead hold a special council meeting on January 19, 2026, for members of council to review the mayor’s proposed budget and bring forward amendments.
The meeting will be open to the public, as required under the Municipal Act, but it is not a public consultation session.
The staff report describes Owen Sound’s approach as “measured and proactive,” emphasizing that council has prioritized education, expert legal guidance, and public transparency before formalizing any procedural changes.
Despite that assurance, neither Mayor Ian Boddy nor any council members responded to questions sent by The Owen Sound Current on October 15 asking what, if anything, has been done in the three months since the July meeting to educate, engage, or consult with taxpayers about the new process.
The staff report says the City will collect feedback through year-round correspondence, committee discussions, and an in-person budget “input table” at next week’s October town hall meeting. “This informal engagement station will allow residents to ask questions, share feedback, and engage directly with decision-makers before the budget is finalized,” it states. Residents can also submit comments electronically. The goal, staff wrote, is to “prioritize accessible, ongoing, and early consultation over formal, procedural meetings held late in the decision-making process.”
Even so, there will no longer be a late-stage public meeting where residents can respond to a complete draft budget before it is finalized.
While the mayor alone will now table the budget, council still approves the capital plan and sets property tax ratios and rates, which will be debated in open meetings in the spring. Staff emphasize that the City’s approach is meant to comply with provincial legislation while maintaining what they describe as Owen Sound’s tradition of collaborative and transparent local governance.
When asked where the City’s commitment to proactive communication and inclusivity is reflected in this year’s process, Mayor Boddy and council members did not respond.
Other municipalities designated under the same legislation have taken different approaches.
In Kincardine, Mayor Kenneth Craig will table that municipality’s first “strong mayor” budget on November 21. Their process kicked off with a series of four open, advertised public meetings where residents can attend and comment, as well as a budget survey that can be completed online.
Kincardine has also published a plain-language explainer on its website outlining how the process has changed and what role residents and council will play.
Collingwood is also preparing its first municipal budget under Ontario’s strong mayor framework, but has emphasized keeping the process open and familiar. Mayor Yvonne Hamlin has issued a directive ensuring that both council and the public remain actively involved in shaping the 2026 budget.
The town is inviting residents to participate through several engagement opportunities, including a “Coffee With Council” event on November 19 at the Collingwood Public Library, where staff and council will meet with residents to discuss budget priorities.
Those unable to attend in person can watch the presentation online, and the town is also accepting input to a dedicated budget email address.
Owen Sound, meanwhile, has taken a broadcast approach, saying it will communicate updates on its website and social media channels, and that mayoral decisions and directions issued under the strong mayor legislation will be posted publicly.
When asked why the public budget meeting was cancelled, particularly as other municipalities have continued to host them inside the Strong Mayor Power framework, Mayor Boddy and members of council did not respond.
For Owen Sound residents, the biggest change will be in when and how they can participate.
Public input must now happen earlier — through correspondence, committee discussions, or the October town hall “input table” — before the mayor’s budget is finalized and tabled on December 22.
Once that proposal is submitted, the public will be able to observe the process but not directly participate, as the budget moves through the fixed legislative stages of council amendment, potential veto, and possible override before its final adoption in early February.
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