Heather Wright/The Independent

Petrolia Mayor Brad Loosley has struck a committee to help him with the 2026 budget.

Petrolia was one of the municipalities recently given Strong Mayor Powers by the province. The law was meant to increase the speed which housing is built in the province. The law gives the mayor the power to bring his own budget to council.

Instead of reviewing the management’s proposal and making changes himself, Loosley has formed a budget review team. Deputy Mayor Joel Field and Councillor Bill Clark, will go over the draft from management.

In a news release, Loosley says the draft 2026 budget includes the largest capital plan in Petrolia’s history adding these are “exciting times with significant challenges.”

The town begins the first part of the budget process tonight (Monday) with a public meeting on Water and Sewer rates. By Nov. 5, the mayor, will release the proposed budget that he worked on with Field and Clark. Then council will review the budget until the end of November. A public meeting is planned for Dec. 8 and the budget could be passed in mid-January.

While Loosley has chosen to take an active role in the budget process, as the legislation allows, others, including Plympton-Wyoming’s mayor, have instructed their staff to prepare the budget to be reviewed by the whole of council.