Not the full picture. Built from public records, which leave things out.Read by hand, Oct 2026Details
This is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date. Check the sources, and tell us if you spot a mistake. What this site can't tell youRead by hand. We read Ottawa's own documents for this site in October 2026; the Sources page lists which ones. The comparisons with other places still come from the Province's yearly reports.
Budget calendar · 2027 budget
When Ottawa's budget is decided
The budget sets what the city spends and how much property tax goes up. These are the dates it is released, discussed and voted on, and how you can take part. Free for everyone.
Ottawa's Council approves the budget after the draft is tabled and standing committees review it. For the 2026 budget the draft was tabled on November 12, 2025, committees met December 1 to 5 and Council approved it on December 10, 2025. The pages We could open do not say whether Ottawa's strong-mayor powers change the process.
Coming up
- DateTBA
Budget released
Draft 2027 budget tabled at Council
Not yet announced. The 2026 draft was tabled on November 12, 2025 and approved on December 10, 2025. Ottawa's timeline for a budget year is set by a Budget Directions report in the fall, which We could not open.
- DateTBA
Council votes
Committee reviews and Council approval of the 2027 budget
Not yet announced.
How to have your say
- Take part in your Councillor's budget consultations (October to November in 2025) and watch for the 2027 pages on Engage Ottawa.
- Appear before the standing committees that review the budget: meetings are open to the public with oral or written submissions.
- Submit budget questions through Engage Ottawa while the question period is open (November 12 to December 8 last cycle).
- Watch the meetings on the City Council YouTube channel or Rogers TV Cable 22.
Earlier in this cycle
- Wednesday, December 10, 2025 Council approves the 2026 budget source
- Monday, December 1, 2025 Committee reviews of the draft 2026 budget (Audit and Board of Health December 1; Finance and Corporate Services December 2; Agriculture and Rural Affairs December 4; Police Services Board December 5) source
- Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Draft 2026 budget tabled at Council; residents could submit questions from this date to December 8 source
We could not open ottawa.ca budget pages (blocked for scripted access) or Ottawa's eScribe portal, so the 2027 Budget Directions and timetable, and any statement about the election's effect, were not seen. Ottawa votes on October 26, 2026; the new Council starts on November 15, 2026.
Dates checked on October 3, 2026. Places change meeting dates; check the city’s page before you go. Spotted a change? Tell us.