Summary#

Montréal city council adopted the 2026 budget for the “central-city” part of the City of Montréal. It adopts the 2026 operating budget forecasts for activities under city council’s authority. City staff say the budget aligns with Montréal’s 2030 strategic plan; that is a stated alignment, not a guaranteed result.

• The adopted decision is for operating activities; the materials do not give the budget’s amounts or detailed allocations.
• Council rejected an amendment that proposed lowering council-controlled tax charges by one percentage point, from 3.4% to 2.4%, for a stated total reduction of $39,361,031.14.
• Council also rejected proposed changes to the 2026–2035 capital program, including proposed funding changes for BIXI, road repairs, building accessibility, housing and cycling projects. Those changes are not part of the adopted decision.

What it means for you#

• Residents and businesses: The proposed one-point tax-charge reduction was not adopted. The materials do not show the adopted tax rates or the amounts residents or businesses will pay.
• City services: The operating forecasts for activities under city council’s authority have been adopted. Which services receive what funding, and how that may affect service levels, is not shown in the materials.

Money#

The decision adopts the 2026 operating budget, but the supplied materials give no total or detailed revenue and spending figures.

• The rejected tax amendment proposed a $39,361,031.14 reduction, funded by cuts across central services; council did not adopt that proposal.
• No publicly available information.

What is unclear#

• The budget’s total revenue and spending, department-by-department allocations, and tax rates are not included in the supplied materials.
• The materials do not explain what specific services or activities the adopted budget changes or maintains.
• No publicly available information on the budget’s expected effects on service levels or residents’ bills.

Case for#

• Adopting annual operating forecasts gives the city an approved budget for activities under council’s authority.
• City staff say the budget aligns with Montréal’s 2030 strategic plan, though the materials do not explain how.

Case against#

• Without the budget figures and allocations, residents cannot assess the spending choices or their likely effect on services.
• The rejected tax amendment shows council did not adopt that proposed tax-charge reduction; the materials do not give enough detail to assess the tax outcome overall.