After starting the budget deliberation process on Tuesday evening, Nov. 25, 2025 with a 4.92% projected tax increase, Municipality of Chatham-Kent Council took a chunk out of the number on their opening night.
After a series of motions were approved by Council, the tax impact now sits at 3.96%.
The following motions, all by South Kent Councillor Anthony Ceccacci, were approved by the budget committee on Tuesday:
– The 2026 tax funded asset management plan lifecycle inflation number be reduced by $2-million
– The increase in host community fees be increased by $50,000, from $150,000 to $200,000.
Another approved motion by Ceccacci, which did not impact the tax increase, was to have the dust suppressant program be reinstated as a revised pilot program.
The revised program would provide one treatment of dust suppressant adjacent to residential driveways and consideration of increased application at intersections be implemented for 2026.
Council agreed to provided $550,000 from the strategic reserve.
Administration was also directed to provide a business case in the 2027 budget update for the next Council to consider base tax funding and modifications to continue the program into the future.
Deliberations continue on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at the Civic Centre in Chatham at 6 p.m.
