{"id":886577,"date":"2026-01-20T19:24:23","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T01:24:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/20\/how-windsor-freezes-2026-taxes-a-mystery-as-mayors-budget-document-filled-with-blank-pages\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T19:24:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T01:24:23","slug":"how-windsor-freezes-2026-taxes-a-mystery-as-mayors-budget-document-filled-with-blank-pages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/20\/how-windsor-freezes-2026-taxes-a-mystery-as-mayors-budget-document-filled-with-blank-pages\/","title":{"rendered":"How Windsor freezes 2026 taxes a mystery as mayor&#8217;s budget document filled with blank pages"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<figure data-aqa=\"featured-image\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/budget1_300430196-1.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=m2_dvyEsSj5P036Aa5SeLg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/budget1_300430196-1.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=spIpFBUWjooM0SbYYkvf8Q 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/budget1_300430196-1.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=FEff1xh9Twh3FFPTeGv1mQ, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/budget1_300430196-1.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=aIfSuO9gVMz-D3pNV1at7Q 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/budget1_300430196-1.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=8ow0prgqqCqy7Atp8c8hhg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/budget1_300430196-1.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=Ls3K-hd5V30XWjtbanDVbA 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/budget1_300430196-1.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=N1MLtGzzcbO5D2qdahbQQg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/budget1_300430196-1.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=rtlozio4TiOi6i5h2k5I_g 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/budget1_300430196-1.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=gjSYr8go_QrBt_rMflSNhQ, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/budget1_300430196-1.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=pt-vBcb3hqnzqoC8SFP6Ew 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/budget1_300430196-1.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=iPU_iN1EF3llYlK1qAvXww\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/budget1_300430196-1.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=iPU_iN1EF3llYlK1qAvXww,\n                    https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/budget1_300430196-1.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;sig=tSNQYuqn1cipT5FRkGbKgA 2x\" alt=\"budget\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" height=\"750\" width=\"1000\"><\/picture><figcaption><span>Looking for a freeze: Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens speaks during a press conference on Dec. 18, 2025, regarding the 2026 city budget.<\/span> <span>Photo by Dan Janisse<\/span> \/<span>Windsor Star<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens has officially tabled budget documents that would hold the line on property taxes in 2026 <span>\u2014<\/span> but how he achieved this cost-saving feat remains partly a mystery.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-aqa=\"identity-sign-in\" data-async id=\"article-block\">\n<header>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Windsor Star\" height=\"37\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.4.0\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-ws-new.svg\" width=\"280\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Get exclusive access to the Windsor Star ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Get exclusive access to the Windsor Star ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month.<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div data-auth-component id=\"auth-screen-form\" aria-live=\"assertive\">\n<h2>Sign In or Create an Account<\/h2>\n<p><span><\/span><span>or<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s because roughly a third of his proposed changes to the city\u2019s operating budget \u2014 104 out of 308 pages \u2014 were intentionally left blank.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>According to documents published online on Monday, those empty pages deal with in-camera items, meaning they could impact staffing or service levels, or involve city council receiving legal advice. Those issues will be discussed and dealt with behind closed doors.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Unlike with previous city budgets, this year\u2019s documents mostly exclude projected departmental staffing numbers.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Dilkens told the Star the blank pages relate to 41 in-camera items, some of which may not come to fruition.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen we\u2019re talking about positions, when we\u2019re talking about realignments or efficiencies, council may not take some of these cuts. They may opt to make a different choice,\u201d he said\u00a0 Tuesday.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t want to put out a public document that lights a flare and gets people who work here concerned about something that may never happen.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Keeping those matters out of public budget documents, he said, is \u201ca sensible way to do it,\u201d one that the law allows.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Without sharing details about any in-camera budget documents, Dilkens said they mainly relate to identifiable individuals and staff positions.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Dilkens said he doubts his budget proposes any \u201cmajor changes\u201d that will receive significant public pushback.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure data-aqa=\"embed-image\"><picture><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/meter1_275092870.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=W_ynow8oYWQD8_1lz82YBQ, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/meter1_275092870.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=W20c7RKykbpBIC742SJR_w 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\"  type=\"image\/webp\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/meter1_275092870.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=U8cm5FPM4N483-OFvyio0g, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/meter1_275092870.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=J10wzq1iS97eCeLnqkKgOw 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\"  type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/meter1_275092870.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=_qkxsyA-0ACPsgbj52ciaA, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/meter1_275092870.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=XYXN2UzyLCV_lxlMWXPcmw 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\"  type=\"image\/webp\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/meter1_275092870.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=EXAG3BGoQ-abgtqObIjwVg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/meter1_275092870.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=Fxoo-h632bcgcrwtjN4UsA 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\"  type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/meter1_275092870.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=8AAtXBnxPXK7qyE6Oq_PMg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/meter1_275092870.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=1nT40yw4wsLTp6fn5FuCog 2x\" media=\"(max-width: 767px)\"  type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/meter1_275092870.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;sig=aCK1jHxIly8Ty8gy9Wsubw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/meter1_275092870.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;sig=aCK1jHxIly8Ty8gy9Wsubw,\n                https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/meter1_275092870.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;sig=qT2tPCco_bjV95SPXfNliA 2x\" alt=\"budget\" height=\"750\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\"><\/picture><figcaption><span> Extending parking meter times further into the evening is being proposed in the 2026 City of Windsor budget.<\/span> <span>Photo by Dan Janisse<\/span> \/<span>Windsor Star<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>The total proposed municipal property tax levy for 2026 is nearly $505 million.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p><h3><strong>What will cost the city more in 2026?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Documents show $17,600,112 in funding preapprovals and pressures with \u201clittle or no discretion,\u201d meaning council has no choice but to move ahead with those budget increases. They include contractual and pre-approved wage adjustments, pension contributions, and benefits.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>It will also take $6,074,704 more to maintain current service levels; $6,911,553 more to accommodate the city\u2019s agencies, boards, and committees (such as Windsor police); and $7,133,992 more for the previously approved asset management plan and local residential road fund.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p><h3><strong>So how does mayor\u2019s budget avoid raising taxes?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p><strong> <\/strong>The <span>budget proposes $28,188,420 in added revenue and \u201coperating efficiencies,\u201d and another $9,531,941 in inflation mitigation measures. Some of those measures have been kept out of public documents, while others are included.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>The 2026 draft budget contemplates increasing user fees at community and recreational facilities, including memberships for the WFCU Centre pool, as well as ice, other pool, gym, room, and floor rentals elsewhere. Together, those changes would bring in an extra $725,000.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p> Taylor Campbell<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/windsorstar.com\/news\/local-news\/how-windsor-freezes-2026-taxes-a-mystery-as-mayors-budget-document-filled-with-blank-pages\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Looking for a freeze: Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens speaks during a press conference on Dec. 18, 2025, regarding the 2026 city budget. Photo by Dan Janisse \/Windsor Star Article content Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens has officially tabled budget documents that would hold the line on property taxes in 2026 \u2014 but how he achieved this<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":886578,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[302,30881],"tags":[7638,47683],"class_list":{"0":"post-886577","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-freezes","8":"category-windsor","9":"tag-freezes","10":"tag-windsor"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/886577","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=886577"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/886577\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/886578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=886577"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=886577"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=886577"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}