04Issues & decisionsOxford County

Taxes & spending

What are residents getting for the tax increase?

Woodstock approved an $88.14 million operating budget in March.

A local decision in Woodstock. Open the local record

About this decision

Woodstock approved an $88.14 million operating budget in March. Its 6.99% budget increase and 4.11% residential City tax-rate increase measure different things. Neither is the percentage change in every household’s entire tax bill. Residents need the bridge between expenditure, other revenue, assessment growth and the levy. The approved budget provides a starting point for comparing candidates: what would each preserve, change or defer, and what would that mean for services? The relevant test is a costed alternative with consequences, followed by actual spending and performance—not a promise that efficiency will automatically cover every new commitment.

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Answers & question history Candidate or official? Explain your position →

Woodstock · 2026 taxes

6.99% and 4.11% answer different questions.

Percent change · common zero-to-8% scale

Operating budget growth6.99%

How much the City’s operating budget grew.

Residential City tax-rate rise4.11%

How much the City residential tax rate rose.

Your property-tax bill

CityCountyEducation

Three components. These boxes do not represent their proportions.

Ask the people in chargeWhat service change does the larger budget buy—and what should residents be able to check?

The bars show different measures, not parts of one total. A City rate change is not the change in every household’s combined bill.

Woodstock’s approved 2026 budget

What is established

Operating budget approved March 19, 2026; capital approved December 11, 2025.

Who makes the next choice

Woodstock sets City spending and its levy. Oxford County and education amounts are separate components; individual bills also depend on assessment.

What residents should ask next

Compare adopted documents with later actuals and future budget proposals.

Read approved budgets

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Who has explained their position?

Compare in depth

Compare the candidates →Open question →

Which service, staffing and reserve choices explain the City’s 2026 budget?
Person / office	Public record on this issue	Question status	Next step
Jerry AcchioneMayor · Woodstock	No public answer found	No contact recorded	Open question Answer or clarify
Deb TaitDeputy Mayor-County Councillor · Woodstock	No public answer found	No contact recorded	Open question Answer or clarify
Bernia MartinDeputy Mayor-County Councillor · Woodstock	No public answer foundOn this issue: Rejects setting an arbitrary tax percentage before assessing needs.	No contact recorded	Read evidence Answer or clarify
Connie LauderCity Councillor · Woodstock	No public answer foundOn this issue: Wants tax increases held to cost-of-living increases.	No contact recorded	Read evidence Answer or clarify
Kate LeatherbarrowCity Councillor · Woodstock	No public answer found	No contact recorded	Open question Answer or clarify
Mark SchadenbergCity-County Councillor · Woodstock	No public answer foundOn this issue: Argues at least a 3% annual increase is needed before considering some infrastructure pressures.	No contact recorded	Read evidence Answer or clarify
Liz Wismer-Van MeerCity Councillor · Woodstock	No public answer found	No contact recorded	Open question Answer or clarify
Aaron GorlickMayor · Woodstock	No public answer foundOn this issue: Wants the budget rebuilt around possible revenue streams and savings.	No contact recorded	Read evidence Answer or clarify
Asjad HussainMayor · Woodstock	No public answer found	No contact recorded	Open question Answer or clarify
Anthony ScalisiMayor · Woodstock	No public answer foundOn this issue: Wants lower property taxes while maintaining essential services.	No contact recorded	Read evidence Answer or clarify
Jarrod ErbDeputy Mayor-County Councillor · Woodstock	No public answer found	No contact recorded	Open question Answer or clarify
Kelly GilsonCity-County Councillor · Woodstock	No public answer foundOn this issue: Rejects setting an arbitrary annual tax-increase target.	No contact recorded	Read evidence Answer or clarify
Dave BloxsidgeCity Councillor · Woodstock	No public answer foundOn this issue: Favours a leaner budget and scrutiny of spending efficiency.	No contact recorded	Read evidence Answer or clarify
Joe BrownCity Councillor · Woodstock	No public answer foundOn this issue: Wants efficiency reviews before tax increases.	No contact recorded	Read evidence Answer or clarify
Daniel LeducCity Councillor · Woodstock	No public answer foundOn this issue: Argues tax increases should not exceed inflation.	No contact recorded	Read evidence Answer or clarify
Wes MazurCity Councillor · Woodstock	No public answer foundOn this issue: Emphasizes reviewing costs and demonstrating value for taxpayers.	No contact recorded	Read evidence Answer or clarify
Maureen RalphCity Councillor · Woodstock	No public answer foundOn this issue: Wants tax control while protecting essential services.	No contact recorded	Read evidence Answer or clarify
Sandeep SidhuCity Councillor · Woodstock	No public answer foundOn this issue: Wants a larger commercial and industrial tax base.	No contact recorded	Read evidence Answer or clarify
Kurt SutherlandCity Councillor · Woodstock	No public answer foundOn this issue: Argues that rising taxes and fees need stronger value and accountability.	No contact recorded	Read evidence Answer or clarify

What the evidence establishes

Operating budget approved March 19, 2026; capital approved December 11, 2025.

Official budget index

City release gives $88,140,039 operating budget, 6.99% budget growth and 4.11% residential City tax-rate increase.

Official adoption release

The choices on the table

These are editorial alternatives to test, not attributed candidate promises.

Protect service levels with explicit funding

Editorial option: show the cost of maintaining current standards and the tax or reserve implications.

Reprioritize with service consequences

Editorial option: cost targeted deferrals or reductions and publish the effect on response times, maintenance and access.

How we got here

Dec 11, 2025
Approval
Capital budget adopted
Adopted appropriation is not proof of project completion.
Official budget index
Mar 19, 2026
Approval
Operating budget adopted
The City release supplies distinct budget and tax-rate measures.
Official adoption release