KAWARTHA LAKES-The province has announced it will provide $1.4 million in relief funding to the City of Kawartha lakes to offset increases in the OPP budget.
Kawartha Lakes has two police services: residents in Lindsay and Ops pay for Kawartha Lakes Police Services and all other residents pay for OPP services. Combined city-wide policing costs in the 2025 budget are $21.7 million, an increase of $3.3 million over 2024.
In November, Council deliberated the 2025 Budget and adopted an average increase of 2.2% for a combined city-wide increase in policing costs.
Council adopted the staff recommendation to use the relief funding to offset the OPP Area Rate costs by $1,181,410 and return $400,000 to the OPP Area Rate stabilization reserve for future years. The relief may not be available from the province in 2026.
The Amended 2025 Total Tax Increase is 6.2%, reduced from 6.7%):​
- 3% City Operations​
- 1.7% City wide average Policing​
- 1.5% Dedicated Infrastructure levy​
