Budget and Financial

Interested in learning more about the Budget? Watch this short video to learn how the budget is prepared to support important programs and services for our community.

Durham Regional Council approves 2026 water supply and sanitary sewer user rates

Durham Regional Council has approved the 2026 Water Supply and Sanitary Sewer User Rates, with a combined increase of 5 per cent, or approximately $5.24 per month for an average household.

This increase supports accelerated infrastructure needs to meet provincial housing targets, ongoing maintenance and operation of the water supply and sanitary sewer systems, and several major projects including upgrades and expansion of the Whitby Water Supply Plant, and upgrades at the Corbett Creek and Courtice Water Pollution Control Plants.

The approved user rates will take effect on January 1, 2026. Continued investment in the aging municipal water system is required to protect public health and the water environment to meet obligations under the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Ontario Water Resource Act.

Durham water and sanitary sewer rates are below the average rate for large Ontario municipalities and are reviewed on an annual basis, with recommendations made to Regional Council in December. For more information on Durham Region’s water and sanitary sewer user rate increase and the 2026 consolidated water supply and sanitary sewerage systems business plans and budget, visit durham.ca/budget. Information about Durham Region’s water and sanitary sewer system is available at durham.ca/WaterAndSewer.

Read the full news release. 

Region of Durham Business Plans and Budget Process

The Region of Durham provides a wide range of programs and services to a growing and diverse community of residents and businesses. The annual Business Plans and Budget outlines the cost of delivering these essential programs and services and ensures resource allocations are aligned with Regional Council’s strategic objectives and meet service, infrastructure and legislative requirements within a framework of financial stability and transparency.

The Region’s Business Plans and Budgets are a critical component of the Region’s annual business planning cycle which also includes strategic planning, economic and financial forecasting and performance measurement. 

The Region prepares two budgets. The first is for services funded by property taxes, which presents the operating and capital funding requirements for the following Regional services:

• Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS)
• Durham Region Transit (DRT)
• Regional roads and bridges
• Solid waste management
• Social Services including social housing, social assistance, children’s services, family services and long-term care and services for seniors
• Public health and paramedic services
• Community Growth and Economic Development
• Emergency Management
• 9-1-1 services

The second is for water and sanitary sewer services which are billed on a consumption basis to customers who are connected to the municipal systems. These services are user rate supported and are not funded from Regional property taxes.

For more information or questions about the budget, please contact us at budgets@durham.ca or by phone at 905-668-7711 extension 2302 or 1-800-372-1102 (toll-free).

Property Tax Supported Business Plans and Budgets

Long-Term Service and Financing Strategies

Water Supply and Sanitary Sewage Systems Business Plans and Budgets

Region of Durham Water Financial Plan