Council considers increasing fees for wide range of services

The City of Windsor has proposed a zero per cent tax levy, but what does that mean? Well, it could cause fee increases for a range of services.

Windsor city council is considering proposed increases in fees that will impact a wide range of services.

Windsor’s mayor tabled the 2026 budget that has a zero per cent tax levy.

City Councillor Fred Francis has reviewed 12 budgets during his time in council.

He says increases in service fees usually increase near the inflation rate which in November of 2025 was 2.2 per cent.

In this budget, transit fees, public licensing fees, recreational swims and some sports fields are all seeing increases in the double digits.

Public skating and ice rink rentals will also see an increase.

The president of the Windsor Minor Hockey Association says fees usually increase by 2 per cent each year. This year that number will increase to 8 per cent, but Francis says out of all the line items, the increase in curling fees surprised him particularly after the season was cancelled following a fire at the WFCU.

“I think as a good gesture of goodwill to the curlers to get them back, this year would be to hold those rates, that status quo from the previous year because they had no curling season. So to have no curling season to put them out and, make they’re not accommodated. And come back with increased rates is not good business,” said Francis.