Pembroke Council adopts 2025 budget

The City of Pembroke adopted its 2025 budget at the February 18 meeting of Council.

Following four days of deliberations by the Finance and Administration Committee and a public budget meeting, the 2025 budget reflects a levy increase after growth of 8.98% and a municipal tax rate increase of 8.92%. As a single-tier municipality, this all-inclusive rate represents the full tax rate change that will affect Pembroke ratepayers, including County of Renfrew services.

While the price of homes has increased significantly in recent years, City property taxes continue to be calculated on a property’s 2016 value as assessed by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). The average residential taxpayer with a 2016 property assessment of $185,000 can expect to pay $277 more in property taxes in 2025.

The 2025 budget supports key investments in City services including the re-opening of the Kinsmen Pool in January, the launch of a new on-demand transit system in the summer of 2025, economic development through investment attraction, and the recreation masterplan.

“I wish to thank both staff and Council for their diligence and work at preparing a budget that serves all people of Pembroke and attempts to address ongoing and future concerns with our infrastructure, facilities, and services,” says Mayor Ron Gervais. “We have and will continue to petition other levels of government for funding and to work with other municipalities to offset the cost to our ratepayers.”

The 2025 budget includes $22.4M of capital projects for road work, sidewalk repairs, parks, and facilities, along with continued upgrades to the City’s water and sewer system. Key infrastructure projects expected to occur in 2025 include:

• $60K replacement of the marina attendant building in (partnership with Algonquin College)
• $3.6M reconstruction of Isabella Phase 2 (Renfrew to Isabella, Isabella from Moffat to Doran) (roads, water, sewer)
• $598K road rehabilitation of Darcy Street (Murray Street to Christie Street), Miller Street (Munro Street to Christie Street) and Stuart Street (Forced Road to Third Avenue)
• $498K road resurfacing of Alfred Street East (Angus Campbell Drive to O’Brien), Boundary Road (Paul Martin Drive towards Taylor Bridge) and McGee Street (James Street to previous paving)
• $122K sidewalk replacements on Belmont Avenue (Esther to Pembroke Street East), Mary Street (Third Avenue to 745 Mary St.) and William Street (east side of Pembroke Street East to Nelson Street, west side removal)
• $110K replacement of the Kinsmen Park play structure
• $585K replacement of Dickson St watermain and sidewalk

Water and sewer rates will be increasing in 2025. Under Ontario’s Safe Drinking Water Act, the City is required to prepare financial plans for water systems to ensure sufficient revenue is generated to provide safe drinking water. Findings of a plan completed by Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. in 2020 indicates that both water and sewer rates must increase annually to support ongoing operations and upkeep. Based on these recommendations, 2025 rates will be increasing as follows: water flat rate +5.7%; water metered rate +9.8%; sewer flat rate +5.2%; and sewer metered rate +6.9%. The average residential taxpayer can expect to pay $81 more per year for water and sewer in 2025.

The overall impact of these changes to the average residential household is an increase of $357 per year or $29.75 per month.

Further information on the City’s 2025 budget can be found on the city website. All budget meetings are livestreamed and available on the City’s YouTube channel.