2026 MUSKOKA BUDGETS VARY 3.26% AT DISTRICT TO 9.1% IN GEORGIAN BAY

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

MUSKOKA — Death and taxes … two things everyone counts on.

A third is Muskoka taxpayers paying more in its six municipalities and at the district level.

Which is a good thing as in you get what you pay for — or  pay to play.

So what does 2026 mean for home- and property owners who foot the tax freight for roads, staff and community services across the board?

First, your overall tax bill is divided in three.

For example Muskoka Lakes Township explains that means:

• 55% to the District of Muskoka (tax and rate supported)

• 22% to the Province of Ontario for education

• 23% retained by the Township of Muskoka Lakes

Now here’s a look top to bottom — east and west — gleaned from the seven municipal website searches today on Dec. 9. 2025.

The two levels of Muskoka government both claim they have been prudent in 2026 meeting resident and businesss service levels while maintaining tax loads that stay within provincial guidelines that prevent them from profitting on taxpayers. GRAPHIC Google

DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA: 3.26% projected

As more municipalities move to consolidated two-year budgets, at the top the District of Muskoka leads them.

Last year its tax impact (district portion) was a 4.52% increase for 2025.

This year it’s predicted to go up anther 3.62%.

See their budget website page here.

GRAVENHURST: 6.87%

Today, on Tuesday, the town says its council here passed its 2026 budget that will see a tax hike of 6.87 per cent.

Based on the 2026 budget, the town portion of your property tax bill will increase by approximately $40.10 per $100,000 of assessment. ($120.30 per a $300,000 assessment.)

When the current estimated levies for all three portions are combined, the total estimated impact on a residential property tax bill is:

  • Urban residential property: $72 per $100,000 — a 5.5 per cent increase
  • Rural residential: $60 per $100,000 — a 5.3 per cent increase

About the operating their budget

Gravenhurst’s operating budget is $31.4-million and continues to fund the core services residents rely on, including road maintenance, fire and emergency services, parks and recreation, library services, by-law enforcement, planning, governance, and customer service.

Two standout items are the establishment of a Winter Control Reserve and a fire watercraft vessel for transporting firefighters and equipment

The capital budget is $13.7-million and focuses on core infrastructure renewal, including road rehabilitation, stormwater improvements, parks and waterfront enhancements, facility maintenance and accessibility upgrades, vehicle and equipment lifecycle replacement, and continued modernization of technology and digital services.

Among them:

Capital investments include, but aren’t limited to, the following projects:

  • upgrades to major drainage systems on Musquash Road
  • rehabilitation of North Kahshe Lake Road
  • rehabilitation of Peninsula Road and replacement of guide rails
  • sidewalk replacement and streetlight upgrades in various areas
  • gravel road upgrades in various areas
  • the replacement of Wharf Docks
  • fire watercraft vessel – for transporting firefighters and equipment
  • self-contained breathing apparatus – for firefighters
  • the purchase of a new tractor with blower
  • upgrades to sound and lighting equipment at the Gravenhurst Opera House
  • Gravenhurst Opera House 125th anniversary celebrations
  • the replacement of the accessible pedestrian ramp at the Seniors Centre
  • town-wide upgrades to information technology systems to improve efficiency and customer service
  • 2026 municipal election
  • Initiation of a new Official Plan, which is the guiding land use document for the town

See their full budget at Review the 2026 budget.

BRACEBRIDGE 4.9%

In Bracebridge, on Nov. 25, they passed a budget with a 4.9% tax rate increase, a figure it says deals with rising costs, inflationary pressures and full operational integration of the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre (arena/library), the largest municipal asset in the town’s history.

The rate increase is comprised of a levy increase of 7.2%, which is partially offset by an estimated 2.3% increase in taxable assessment.
Since COVID-19, Bracebridge says it has maintained an average annual tax rate increase of 3.7% — only slightly above the provincial average inflation rate of 3%.

For homeowners with a property assessed at $300,000, the town portion of their tax bill will rise by $82.79, to an estimated $1,749 next year.

For their budget see here.

HUNTSVILLE: 4.87%

Also, earlier last month, Huntsville’s 2026 budget — which is part of a two-year consolidated plan — was passed by council on Nov. 13 with a 4.87% property tax rate increase.

That, too, means for “an average home” assessed at $300,000 the town portion of taxes increases by $73 annually, totalling around $1,562.

Staff said of the estimated 4.87 per cent tax rate increase, 1.5 per cent is for operations, which covers the Town’s programs and services, and 3.4 per cent is for capital expenditures, including roads, play structures, and buildings.

Their budget is the second year of a two-year budget and was first approved by council on November 12, 2024.

Their budget is here.

MUSKOKA LAKES: 8.6%

The approved 2026 municipal budget includes an 8.6 per cent municipal tax rate increase, which translates to approximately $13.85 more per $100,000 of assessed residential property value on the municipal portion of the tax bill. Or $41.55 on a $300,000 assessment.

Look at that budget here.

LAKE OF BAYS: 4.27 %

Tax Increase: Finalized at 4.27% after council directed staff to reduce the initial 5.56% proposal.

Here that means for the homeowner’s property assessed at $300,000, the township will up its share of the total tax bill will be $28.83.

For its full budget go here.

GEORGIAN BAY: 9.61%

Over in the west of Muskoka, the municipality bordering Georgian Bay also passed a two-year budget in 2025.

Its consolidated budget amounts for a home assessed at $538,000 to a $152.98 or 9.61% increase over 2025.

Combined with the education levy (assumed) and the District of Muskoka levy (forecasted), the blended tax increase amounts to a $171.53 or 3.69% blended tax increase over last year.

Go here for their budget.

Municipal voting day is October 26, 2025.

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