Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260916-bill-leduc-goes-deep-are Ward 11 Councillor Bill Leduc describes Greater Sudbury’s 2026 budget as an **“election budget.”** His concern is that council kept the tax increase lower partly by using reserves — money that can only be used once. In the interview, Leduc says that by drawing down those reserves, some of the financial pressure was effectively pushed forward into the next budget. The City ultimately approved a 3.9% property-tax increase for 2026, after reducing the increase from what had originally been proposed. The approved increase included municipal operations, capital funding, police and other service partners. The bigger question is what happens next. If reserves are used to soften a tax increase today, they may not be available tomorrow to cover emergencies, infrastructure needs or future operating pressures. And if the underlying costs have not disappeared, the next council can be left facing a much more difficult decision: cut services, find new efficiencies, borrow, or raise taxes further. Sudbury.com has also reported that election-year tax increases in Greater Sudbury have historically tended to be among the lower increases approved by council. Leduc’s argument is that taxpayers need to look beyond one year’s tax number. **A lower increase today does not necessarily mean the cost disappeared. It may simply mean the bill was pushed into the future.** The real test comes when the reserves are depleted and the next budget has to stand on its own. #Sudbury #BillLeduc #Ward11 #PropertyTaxes #CityBudget #TaxpayerDollars #CityHall #MunicipalSpending #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth