Cobourg council agreed to shorten its window for amendments to the 2026 draft budget at its regular meeting for December on Wednesday evening, ensuring its final approval likely before the end of the year and possibly within the next week.
The draft budget was first introduced by Mayor Lucas Cleveland with a proposed tax levy increase of 2.70% on Dec. 8 as the first Cobourg mayor’s budget under Strong Mayor Powers legislation issued from the province earlier this year. His deadline to do so was Feb. 1, 2026.
Council then had 30 days to make amendments to the mayor’s budget and held a meeting this past Monday to work on those changes. Decisions included revising the use of Cobourg Police Service reserves from $1,113,000 to $600,000 and the approval to utilize $500,000 from the Affordable House Reserve.
Final numbers raised the proposed levy increase only slightly, up to 2.74% following council amendments from the initial 2.70%.
Council had to make any changes by Jan. 7 and any amendments were subject to a mayor veto up to 10 days past the amendment deadline. The final step of the Strong Mayor budget process is for council to override a mayor veto, which would require two-thirds support of council and in Cobourg’s case five of seven council members. The mayor would need just two council members to join him in support to revert back to his original draft budget.
Cleveland said Monday any changes made by council would be final and he stressed on multiple occasions he would not use his veto.
On Wednesday, Clerk Brent Larmer said this Friday, Dec. 19 would be the suggested date if council wanted to shorten its amendment period, noting council could take more time if members wished to do so.
“This is just our suggestion as part of that recommendation and then after that it would be turned over to the mayor’s ability for the 10-day veto after this day has elapsed,” Larmer said.
The budget being presented in December poses challenges due to the upcoming holidays. Larmer has previously stated holidays don’t pause the 30-day amendment period.
Councillor Miriam Mutton expressed concern of the limited opportunity for public engagement before Friday.
“I’m not opposed to shortening the 30-day period and then with all the holidays and staff being away, et cetera, et cetera, I just want to be fair to the public that they have a proper time period that if there’s anything that needs to come back to us.”
Mutton said her comments were further to a question raised by Deputy Mayor Nicole Beatty at Monday’s meeting.
Beatty responded to Mutton “I hear you and I think those were the points we were raising on Monday, however when the amendment was on the floor for some type of enhanced or iteration of engagement, as you know that amendment was removed and I didn’t think it was the appetite of this council and staff had also raised about vacation and holidays and then also wanting to get out to meet the procurement opportunities in January.”
Cleveland said the motion, if successful, would end council’s amendment period on Friday and shift to his 10-day veto block.
“At that point I can sign a waiver to pass my veto and we can have this done by Christmas?” the mayor asked and received confirmation.
The motion passed unanimously that council accept, as amended, the 2026 Operating Budget with the municipal levy of $33,950,843 which represents a 2.74% increase over 2025 and allowing for New Assessment Growth of 1.00% and an infrastructure levy of 1.00%, further that council shorten the 30-day amendment period to end Dec. 19.
Previous story: https://todaysnorthumberland.ca/2025/12/15/cobourg-mayor-says-he-wont-use-veto-powers-budget-could-be-finalized-wednesday/
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
