Budget season is officially here, and if you’re on a condo board, you already know that utility costs are one of those sneaky expenses that can easily catch a budget off guard. Whether your building pays for water out of common expenses, runs a heavy irrigation system for landscaping, or just uses a lot of common area water, even a modest rate bump can add up to thousands of dollars by the end of the year.

To give our boards a head start, the team here at Bern Management reached out directly to various municipalities across Southern Ontario to ask what they’re planning for 2027. Below is a condensed look at the replies we got back so you can start factoring these numbers into your financial models early.

What the Municipalities Are Saying

Early responses show that boards should generally budget for water and wastewater increases in the 5.5% range:

• Halton Region (Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills): Projecting a 5.5% increase.

• City of Hamilton: Forecasting a 5.48% increase as they begin their budget discussions.

• City of Toronto, Peel Region, & City of St. Catharines: Still working through their review processes—rates remain Pending.