The Hamilton Conservation Authority’s (HCA) draft 2027 budget will seek a 3.7 per cent municipal levy contribution.

During its July 2 meeting, the HCA Board approved a 2027 budget process that is accelerated due to the provincial amalgamation of regional conservation authorities, announced ahead of a subsequent provincial direction requiring conservation authorities to finalize their 2027 budgets by the end of 2026, and the October 26, 2026 municipal election.

Budget and Administration Committee Chair, Puslinch Councillor Susan Fielding, said staff moved up the timeline “by approximately one month in response to the upcoming municipal election and also the Minister’s Direction that conservation authorities complete their 2027 budgets by year-end.”

The HCA timeline states its budget committee will review the 2027 budget on August 27, that the full Board will consider the budget on September 3, with final approval scheduled for October 1. It will then be sent to Hamilton City Council and Puslinch Township Council for approval.

The City of Hamilton provides 99.24 per cent and Township of Puslinch provides 0.76 per cent of the HCA budget.

The HCA’s 2026 budget is $18.2-million. The municipal levy contribution represents $5.22-million of that. The proposed 3.7 per cent increase to the municipal levy contribution represents approximately $193,000.

The HCA Board will also seek $2.0-million in capital block funding from the City of Hamilton. The HCA’s 2027 capital budget includes construction of the third phase of the Saltfleet Wetland capital project at Devil’s Punchbowl.

Fielding said the 2027 budget will be a “maintenance budget that continues existing programs and services.”

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Published: July 19, 2026
Last updated: July 19, 2026
Author: Joey Coleman

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  1. This Ridiculous. The Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) posted a surplus of $1.6 million from its 2025 financial year. This left-over funding was largely driven by robust park admissions, automated boater fee collections, and strong self-generated revenues. So why do they need more more than before ?? They should need less with the amalgamation.

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