York Region approves $3.7 billion operating budget for 2026

December 01, 2025

Newmarket – York Regional Council is committing to $3.7 billion in operating expenditures in 2026. Aligned to deliver on the Strategic Plan, this day-to-day budget is divided into three main parts: 41% for program costs, 31% for salaries and benefits and the remaining to support the Region’s Fiscal strategy, targeting long-term financial sustainability through careful management of the capital plan, reserves and debt, while balancing the needs of current and future residents.

Organized under the three priority themes guiding York Region’s 2026 Budget, highlights from the operating budget include:

Investing in Safer Communities

  • Continuing to invest in community safety and policing by adding 150 new positions with York Regional Police, including 98 sworn officers and 52 civilian staff who support front-line work
  • Adding 31 new paramedics and support staff to ensure the Region continues to meet response time targets as demand grows
  • Providing 92,600 doses of vaccines, including 53,500 for school-aged children

Enabling Growth in our Communities

  • Providing $4.3 million funding through the Community Housing Supply Grant program to support non-profit organizations to build new community housing
  • Continuing to maintain a safe, efficient and reliable road network and transit system
  • Fostering transformative innovation and economic growth across the Region through the $4.6 million Innovation Investment Fund

Keeping People, Goods and Information Moving

  • Continuing ridership growth throughout the transit system with 25.4 million trips expected in 2026
  • Maintaining 4,420 lane kilometres of urban and rural roads
  • Enhancing digital and customer experience in anticipation of over 600,000 resident interactions through the Corporate Contact Centre and six million visits to york.ca

For additional information, please visit york.ca/Budget

The Regional Municipality of York consists of nine local cities and towns and provides a variety of programs and services to 1.29 million residents and 57,000 businesses with approximately 624,000 employees. More information about York Region’s key service areas is available at york.ca/RegionalServices

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Media Contact:

Ava Baccari, Corporate Communications, The Regional Municipality of York
Phone: 289-716-9605
Email: @email