The Town of Cobourg undergoes an annual budget process to align the financial resources required to provide the programs and services that establish the high quality of life residents enjoy in our community.

This year, Mayor Lucas Cleveland, under Strong Mayor Powers, is presenting the proposed budget to the community. The Mayor's Budget was developed with insight from Town staff and the Community Led Task Force recommendations. The Mayor also received community feedback during his door knocking this year and the Manufacturer's tour.

As per the Mayor’s directives, the 2026 Operating and Capital Budget has been informed by staff and community recommendations:

• Mayor Cleveland directed staff to prepare budget estimates with a levy not to exceed 5% before growth.
• Mayor Cleveland directed the Cobourg Public Library to submit a budget to him with a total percentage increase of up to 3%.
• Mayor Cleveland requested the Cobourg Police Board submit to the Mayor, a total budget request percentage increase of no more than 4%.
• Mayor Cleveland directed the Town to enter into an independent consultant agreement with David Dexter to lead and engage in a community led task force that will review all financial options with the outcome to recommend a "community formed" set of recommendations to be presented to the Mayor as part of the process to support the creation of the final 2026 Operating and Capital Budget.
• Using the feedback gathered by the Community Led Task Force, in concert with the estimates provided by staff, the Cobourg Public Library and Cobourg Police, the Mayor to present the proposed 2026 Operating and Capital Budget.
• Using the proposed 2026 Operating and Capital Budget, create an engagement plan led by Corporate Communications Team and that such a strategy be provided to the Mayor for approval prior to implementation.

• Operating Budget
• Capital Budget
• Environmental Operating Budget
• Environmental Capital Budget
• Stormwater Budget

• As per the Mayor's directive, he has directed staff to engage the community
• On December 8, the proposed budget was released.
• Special Council Meeting called for Monday, December 15 at 10:30 a.m., where Council may bring forward amendments.
  • Members of the public who wish to speak to Council may attend the meeting in-person or electronically. Speakers may speak for up to 10 minutes of uninterrupted time and only on the matter pertaining to the item. To speak in-person, please fill out a Request to Speak form at the meeting and provide it to Clerk’s staff at the meeting. You do not need to submit in advance,If you prefer to attend electronically via Zoom, submit a completed Request to Speak Form to clerk@cobourg.ca by 12 p.m. the business day prior to the meeting (Friday, December 12) and you will be registered as a virtual speaker.
    
• Under Ontario’s strong mayor powers and Cobourg’s Procedural By-law, Council has 30 days from December 9 to suggest amendments or waive the review period.
• If no changes are made during those 30 days, the budget is deemed adopted.

Mayor Cleveland directed the development of a Community Led Task Force (Task Force) to review financial options and provide community driven recommendations regarding the 2026 Operating and Capital Budget.

Mayor Cleveland directed that the Town enter into an Independent Consultation Agreement with Cobourg resident, David Dexter, to led the Task Force. Mr. Dexter has more than 30 years experience working in the public sector.

The Task Force, comprised of individuals from the community who volunteered to participate, met five times to review the current and upcoming financial challenges of the Town, as was presented to Council in the May 5 Financial Sustainability Plan report. The final report was made public on Friday, December 5, 2025.