Keeping Property Taxes Down
and Expanding Financial Oversight
Windsor residents know that Drew Dilkens is a proven fighter when it comes to keeping property taxes in check. In 2026, with affordability top of mind, Dilkens promised – and delivered – a 0% municipal property tax levy increase, all while maintaining public services and increasing the capital budget for public infrastructure renewal, and launching the largest local road rehabilitation and repair program in Windsor’s history.
Windsor’s tax increase is significantly lower than other cities. Here are the facts:
✓ City has saved taxpayers a cumulative $1.57 billion from 2008-2026.
✓ That translates into $104 million in perpetual annual savings.
✓ Since 2006, Windsor residents have experienced a total increase in the tax levy of only 24% against the provincial average of 87%.
✓ Average Windsor taxpayer pays approximately $5,402 annually in total residential charges, including water, wastewater, stormwater, and property taxes.
✓ That’s $1,300 less than the provincial average of $6,778.
While these results speak for themselves – Dilkens is committed to another four years of tax fighting, if re-elected, with a commitment to keep property tax increases at or below the rate of inflation for the next term.
Establishing a Permanent Standing Committee
on Finance and Economic Development
Additionally, Dilkens believes that the time has come for City Council to play a larger and more permanent role in the fiscal planning process. Over the past few years, Council has experimented with an ad-hoc Budget Committee of Council to provide elected officials with more details, sooner in the process of building up the City’s annual fiscal blueprint. If elected, Dilkens would establish a new, permanent Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Development at City Hall. The mandate of this new Committee of Council would be to empower Ward Councillors to work on fiscal, budgetary, and investment attraction policies year-round, rather than just in the run-up to the annual budget.
“I’d love to deliver a 0% budget increase each year, but I know that won’t always be possible,” said Dilkens. “But the way to get it as low as we can is to work collaboratively, as a team, to look in every corner of the Corporation to find the savings – and enhance investment – to improve the bottom line. I have proven that I can do this without compromising infrastructure, quality of life, and investments in the services that matter most to Windsor families. My track record is strong and clear on taxes and affordability. I intend to keep fighting to protect taxpayers against tax and spend methods that do not work for Windsorites.”