Less than half of residents who took part in a Brampton telephone town hall this week said they support adding nearly $100 to their property tax bills to fund windrow snow clearing, signalling waning enthusiasm for the proposed service.
The City of Brampton hosted the call-in town hall Wednesday as part of consultations on the 2026 budget, giving residents a chance to question Mayor Patrick Brown and city staff and to participate in live polling. About 5,800 households joined the discussion, which focused on affordability, transportation, snow clearing and service levels.
According to the informal poll, 41 per cent of participating households said they would support a $92 property tax increase to pay for windrow removal — down sharply from the 52.6 per cent approval recorded during a similar town hall in 2024. Windrows, the snow piles left at the end of driveways after plowing, are a common winter frustration, particularly for seniors and residents with mobility challenges.
City staff have cautioned that even if approved, any sidewalk or windrow-clearing program would not be implemented before the 2026–27 winter season. By comparison, neighbouring Mississauga introduced windrow clearing this winter at a cost of about $21 per household.
The polling also showed strong support for other measures, with more than 90 per cent backing expanded bylaw enforcement and fire prevention services, while 39 per cent said they would accept a small tax increase to maintain existing service levels. The city’s draft budget proposes a 1.5 per cent property tax increase in 2026, translating to roughly $111 on the average residential bill.
The budget pressures come amid declining transit use and revenue, with Brampton projecting a $17.5 million operating deficit in 2025. Despite that, a majority of respondents expressed support for expanding active transportation and continuing investments in Brampton Transit, including a proposed fare increase and major spending on electric buses.