Not the full picture. Built from public records, which leave things out.Read by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date. Check the sources, and tell us if you spot a mistake. What this site can't tell you Read by hand. We read Aurora's own documents for this site in October 2026; the Sources page lists which ones. The comparisons with other places still come from the Province's yearly reports.
Questions · 10 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Aurora's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 10 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
What these are, and what they are not. A question here means a number or practice is unusual, or harder to see than it should be. It does not mean anyone did anything wrong. Most unusual numbers turn out to have ordinary explanations, and every question lists some. The only way to know is to ask.
Worth asking
Worth asking
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
$15.6 millionfall in user fees, 2024 to 2025 (68,786 to 53,216, in thousands; worked out by us)
User fees are what people pay for water, recreation and similar services. The statements show "User fees" of 68,786 (thousands of dollars) in 2024 and 53,216 in 2025, against a 2025 budget of 57,493. The drop is almost all in one place. In the segment table, the General Government segment shows user fees of 16,664 in 2024 and 1,464 in 2025. In the same table, "Other" revenue for Leisure and Cultural Services fell from 10,074 to 2,279. The statements do not say what these lines held.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$49.0 millionforecast total reserve balance at the end of 2026, down from $97.0 million (Town forecast, $ millions)
Reserves are savings set aside to pay for roads, buildings and equipment. The 2026 budget forecasts the total reserve balance at 97.0 ($ millions) at the end of 2025 and 49.0 at the end of 2026, then 34.5 in 2027. The tax-funded reserves fall from 31.4 to 16.8 to 7.1. The facilities reserve is forecast at (1.0) in 2027, meaning it would be overspent. The Town says the overall balance stays positive, that some service levels will decline for a while, and that staff will bring a long-term funding plan to Council before the 2027 budget.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
16,253net long-term liabilities at the end of 2025 (thousands of dollars), up from 5,148
In 2025 the Town converted two Infrastructure Ontario construction credit lines, 4,000 for Town Square and 8,200 for a gym at the Stronach Aurora Recreation Centre (thousands of dollars), into 20-year debentures (long-term loans) at 4.36 percent and 4.59 percent. Net long-term liabilities rose from 5,148 to 16,253. At the same time the Town held investments of 132,351 and earned interest income of 10,603. The Town explains that debt covers the gap between building something and collecting the development charges that pay for it, and that these loans are development-charge funded.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$6.2 millionaverage yearly development charge revenue now forecast, down from $15.7 million in the 2024 study
Development charges are fees builders pay so that growth helps pay for the roads, parks and buildings it needs. The Town's 2024 study forecast $15.7 million a year on average. The 2026 budget now forecasts an average of $6.2 million a year, against $10 million in last year's budget. The Town blames provincial changes (Bill 17) and says 10 projects worth $17 million are delayed past 2035. The Town's own forecast shows the Parks and Recreation development charge balance below zero until 2031.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
25,337annual surplus in 2025 (thousands of dollars), against a budgeted 16,030
A surplus is what is left when a year's revenue is more than its spending. The audited statements show an annual surplus of 25,337 (thousands of dollars) for 2025 and 32,410 for 2024. The budget, once the Town converts it to the same accounting basis as the statements, showed 16,030. Most of the gap looks like land and pipes that developers hand over to the Town. The statements show 13,049 of "Contributed assets" in 2025, and the Town says it does not budget for them. Taking that out leaves 12,288 (worked out by us), which is less than the budgeted 16,030. Interest income was also about double the year before.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$1.6 millioninvestment income in the 2026 operating budget, against interest income of 10,603 (thousands) in 2025
The Town holds 132,351 (thousands of dollars) in investments at the end of 2025. Interest income was 10,603 in 2025 and 5,173 in 2024. The operating budget counts on $1.6 million of investment income a year to help pay for services, in 2025 and in 2026. The Town explains that much of the interest goes straight into reserves (savings set aside for named purposes), and says it will review this practice. We did not find a split of how much interest went where.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
Nonedeclarations of interest listed for 2025 in the Town's registry
A member of council who has a money interest in an item must say so at the meeting and leave the discussion. The Town's public registry lists four declarations for 2024 (by Councillors Weese and Gilliland), one for 2023, and none for 2022 or 2025. In 2026 it lists one so far, by Councillor Gilliland, at a closed session on March 10, 2026. We did not read the 2025 minutes, so we cannot say whether anything was declared and left off the table.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$448,779total paid to the seven members of council in 2025, including benefits, vehicle allowance and expenses
The 2026 budget for the Mayor and Council is $761,600, up $58,500 (8.3 percent) from $703,100. The Town explains that $45,000 of the increase is because less will be taken from an economic development reserve, and $18,200 is salaries and benefits for staff and members. The pay statements show Mayor Tom Mrakas received $114,796 in pay in 2025, and each of the six councillors $42,220, up from $107,829 and $40,083 in 2024. All seven members together received a total of $448,779 in 2025, including benefits, vehicle allowance and expenses.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
Aurora spent $7.1M on roads and snow in 2019 and $10.9M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 2 of 10 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 5 sources
$15.6 millionfall in user fees, 2024 to 2025 (68,786 to 53,216, in thousands; worked out by us)
User fees are what people pay for water, recreation and similar services. The statements show "User fees" of 68,786 (thousands of dollars) in 2024 and 53,216 in 2025, against a 2025 budget of 57,493. The drop is almost all in one place. In the segment table, the General Government segment shows user fees of 16,664 in 2024 and 1,464 in 2025. In the same table, "Other" revenue for Leisure and Cultural Services fell from 10,074 to 2,279. The statements do not say what these lines held.
Why it matters
A $15.6 million swing in one revenue line is larger than the Town's whole 2026 tax increase of $1.4 million. If it is a one-time item, or money moved between lines, residents should be told so, because it changes how every year-to-year comparison reads.
It could be because…
Money the Town collected earlier (for example for parkland) can be counted as revenue when it is spent. The notes show parkland funds used of 16,343 in 2024 and 4,641 in 2025, which could be part of the swing.
The statements say "certain comparative information have been reclassified", so some of the 2024 amount may have been moved between lines.
A large one-time item in 2024 may not have repeated.
Questions you could ask
What made up the 16,664 of General Government user fees in 2024, and why was it 1,464 in 2025?
Were any 2024 amounts moved between "User fees" and "Other" when comparatives were reclassified, and which?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Aurora?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Schedule 1, Segmented Disclosure, 2025: General Government "User fees" 1,464 and "Other" 13,739; Leisure and Cultural Services "User fees" 13,051 and "Other" 2,279; consolidated user fees 53,216.
Schedule 1, Segmented Disclosure, 2024: General Government "User fees" 16,664 and "Other" 3,829; Leisure and Cultural Services "User fees" 12,633 and "Other" 10,074; consolidated user fees 68,786.
Note 8, Deferred Revenue, outflows: "Parkland purposes" (4,641) in 2025 and (16,343) in 2024; total outflows (30,316) in 2025 and (60,697) in 2024. Note 22: "Certain comparative information have been reclassified, where applicable, to conform to the presentation used in the current year."
$49.0 millionforecast total reserve balance at the end of 2026, down from $97.0 million (Town forecast, $ millions)
Reserves are savings set aside to pay for roads, buildings and equipment. The 2026 budget forecasts the total reserve balance at 97.0 ($ millions) at the end of 2025 and 49.0 at the end of 2026, then 34.5 in 2027. The tax-funded reserves fall from 31.4 to 16.8 to 7.1. The facilities reserve is forecast at (1.0) in 2027, meaning it would be overspent. The Town says the overall balance stays positive, that some service levels will decline for a while, and that staff will bring a long-term funding plan to Council before the 2027 budget.
Why it matters
A big capital program is the reason to have reserves, and the Town is planning $67.8 million of capital spending in 2026. But if the plan spends savings faster than they are rebuilt, the next council inherits the gap. The Town has said it knows. The open questions are how large the gap is and who will pay for it.
It could be because…
Reserves are meant to be spent on capital projects, so a fall in a heavy building year is normal.
The Town says the overall capital reserve balance "stays positive in all years" and rebuilds from 2028.
The budget raises the yearly contribution to tax-funded reserves to 1.5 percent starting in 2027, and staff will bring a funding strategy before the 2027 budget.
These forecast balances may cover a narrower set of reserves than the 116,798 of reserves and reserve funds in the audited statements, so the two should not be compared directly.
Questions you could ask
Which projects account for the $48.0 million fall in 2026, and how much of it is already under contract?
How large is the funding gap the Town's long-term strategy has to close, in dollars a year, and will it be presented before the October 26, 2026 election or after?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Aurora?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
"This long-term funding strategy will be presented to Council prior to the 2027 Budget. However, in the interim until this funding gap is eliminated, lower service levels may need to be managed in the short term."
"The Capital Budget includes planned capital spending of $67.8 million in 2026 with multi-year Capital Budget Authority of $208.5 million to manage capital contractual commitments." And: "some asset service levels will decline in the short-term until the funding levels increase over the next 15 years."
16,253net long-term liabilities at the end of 2025 (thousands of dollars), up from 5,148
In 2025 the Town converted two Infrastructure Ontario construction credit lines, 4,000 for Town Square and 8,200 for a gym at the Stronach Aurora Recreation Centre (thousands of dollars), into 20-year debentures (long-term loans) at 4.36 percent and 4.59 percent. Net long-term liabilities rose from 5,148 to 16,253. At the same time the Town held investments of 132,351 and earned interest income of 10,603. The Town explains that debt covers the gap between building something and collecting the development charges that pay for it, and that these loans are development-charge funded.
Why it matters
Borrowing costs interest, and the Town was also earning interest on a large pile of savings. Many of those savings are set aside by law or by Council for named purposes, so the two can both be true. The documents do not show how much of the investments could have been used instead.
It could be because…
The savings are mostly reserves and development charges set aside for named projects, and cannot be spent on these buildings.
Development charges come in slowly after a building is built, which is the timing gap the Town says debt is for. Its own forecast shows the Parks and Recreation development charge reserve below zero.
The debentures are paid from development charges, not from the tax levy, and annual payments are within the Province's debt limit.
Questions you could ask
Could any of the 132,351 of investments have repaid the construction credit lines instead of converting them to 20-year debt, and what is the interest on the debentures compared with what the investments earn?
How much of the 24,776 held as development charges at the end of 2025 is already committed to projects?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Aurora?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 6, Loans payable: "On February 18, 2025, LOC #1 was converted into a 20 year long term debenture." LOC #1 (Aurora Town Square) balance $Nil (2024 - $4,000). "On June 2, 2025, LOC #2 was converted into a 20 year long term debenture." LOC #2 (gymnasium) balance $Nil (2024 - $8,200).
Note 10, Net Long-term Liabilities: debenture at 4.36%, maturing in February 2045, 3,936; debenture at 4.59%, maturing in June 2045, 8,073; total 16,253 (2024 5,148). "The annual principal and interest payments required to service these liabilities are within the annual debt repayment limit prescribed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing."
"Debt is a financing tool which enables Aurora to manage the timing difference between when a capital project is constructed and when the funds are collected to pay for the project." "The 2026 Budget does not include any new debt authority to be approved at this time." The Tab lists the Town Square and gymnasium debentures as "development charge funded".
$6.2 millionaverage yearly development charge revenue now forecast, down from $15.7 million in the 2024 study
Development charges are fees builders pay so that growth helps pay for the roads, parks and buildings it needs. The Town's 2024 study forecast $15.7 million a year on average. The 2026 budget now forecasts an average of $6.2 million a year, against $10 million in last year's budget. The Town blames provincial changes (Bill 17) and says 10 projects worth $17 million are delayed past 2035. The Town's own forecast shows the Parks and Recreation development charge balance below zero until 2031.
Why it matters
If growth pays less than planned, either the projects wait, or tax and rate payers cover more of them. The Town has said why the forecast fell. What it has not said is whether the unfunded projects will become a tax request later.
It could be because…
The Province changed the rules in 2025, with exemptions and deferrals for some developments, and the Town has no control over those rules.
Delaying the projects is a way to avoid borrowing for them or raising taxes, as the Town's debt policy requires development charges to repay growth debt.
The Town says it will seek grants for the projects it cannot fund.
Questions you could ask
Will the 10 delayed projects worth $17 million be added to the tax levy or user rates later, or dropped?
How much development charge income did the Town lose in 2025 because of the deferrals and exemptions, in dollars?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Aurora?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
"The 2024 study forecasted that Aurora would receive $15.7 million on average in revenues over the 10-year period from March 2024 to March 2034". On the 2025 Bill 17 changes: "A reduction in development charges ... will hinder the Town's ability to finance growth-related infrastructure."
"In 2026, the forecasted development charge revenues are further reduced to average of $6.2 million annually in comparison to the $10 million forecasted in the 2025 Budget. As a result, 10 Growth and New projects valued at $17 million, which are included in the current development charge study, are delayed beyond 2035."
Forecasted reserve balances ($M), Development Charges, Parks & Recreation: (3.5) in 2025, (4.9) in 2026, (4.8), (5.0), (3.6), (1.4) in 2030 and 0.9 in 2031. Fire Services: (1.9) in 2025 and (4.2) in 2035. Total Development Charges 18.1 in 2025.
25,337annual surplus in 2025 (thousands of dollars), against a budgeted 16,030
A surplus is what is left when a year's revenue is more than its spending. The audited statements show an annual surplus of 25,337 (thousands of dollars) for 2025 and 32,410 for 2024. The budget, once the Town converts it to the same accounting basis as the statements, showed 16,030. Most of the gap looks like land and pipes that developers hand over to the Town. The statements show 13,049 of "Contributed assets" in 2025, and the Town says it does not budget for them. Taking that out leaves 12,288 (worked out by us), which is less than the budgeted 16,030. Interest income was also about double the year before.
Why it matters
A surplus that is mostly donated roads and sewers is not cash the Town can spend. Residents hear that the Town balanced its budget, so it matters whether a headline surplus is cash or an accounting entry. The Town has explained the main reason. What it has not shown is how much of the remaining gap was cash.
It could be because…
Developers build streets, sidewalks and sewers and give them to the Town. The statements record them as revenue (13,049 in 2025), and the Town says it never budgets for them.
The Council budget and the statements use different accounting. The statements say the budget was prepared on a modified accrual basis and adjusted to match, so some of the gap can come from the conversion.
Interest income was higher than the year before as the Town invested more, so part of the difference is earnings, not under-spending.
Questions you could ask
How much of the 25,337 surplus in 2025 was cash, and how much was assets handed over by developers?
How was the 2025 surplus allocated: to which reserves, and under what rule (the Town's surplus management strategy)?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Aurora?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus (thousands of dollars): "Annual surplus" budget 16,030, 2025 actual 25,337, 2024 actual 32,410. "Contributed assets" budget -, 2025 actual 13,049, 2024 actual 8,779.
Note 4, Budget Reconciliation: "The budget was prepared on a modified accrual basis, while Canadian public sector accounting standards now require financial statements to be prepared on a full accrual basis." The table ends: "Adjusted budget per the consolidated statement of operations" revenue 151,871, expense 135,841, net 16,030.
Note 1, Contributed Assets: "Under either scenario the Town does not budget for the contributions from the developer or the capital expenditure." Note 21 shows contributed assets of 13,049 in 2025: roads 2,780, underground and other networks 6,430, bridges and other structures 3,611, vehicles 128 and computer and other 100.
$1.6 millioninvestment income in the 2026 operating budget, against interest income of 10,603 (thousands) in 2025
The Town holds 132,351 (thousands of dollars) in investments at the end of 2025. Interest income was 10,603 in 2025 and 5,173 in 2024. The operating budget counts on $1.6 million of investment income a year to help pay for services, in 2025 and in 2026. The Town explains that much of the interest goes straight into reserves (savings set aside for named purposes), and says it will review this practice. We did not find a split of how much interest went where.
Why it matters
Interest the Town earns on money it has already collected from taxpayers can either lower the tax levy or build reserves. A budget line that is far below actual earnings may reflect caution, or it can make it harder to see how much is being earned. The Town has said part of the answer. The split is what residents cannot see.
It could be because…
Interest on reserve funds and development charges is, by the Town's own accounting policy, added to those funds, so it never reaches the operating budget.
Interest rates and balances move, so a steady, low operating figure keeps the tax levy from depending on markets.
The Town says it will review the practice as part of its Fiscal Strategy, so the line may change.
Questions you could ask
How much of the 10,603 in 2025 interest income went to reserves, to development charges and to the operating budget?
When will the review of the $1.6 million practice be reported to Council, and what will it compare it with?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Aurora?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Non-tax revenue trends table (thousands of dollars): "Investment Income" 1,600.0 for 2024 actual, 1,600.0 for the 2025 budget and 1,600.0 for the 2026 budget. Text: "While much of this investment income will go back directly to reserves, $1.6 million per year is included as revenue in the budget to support operations. Aurora will be reviewing this practice as part of the Fiscal Strategy".
Corporate Items net budget by program: "Investment Management" (1,600.0) in both the 2025 and 2026 budgets. The Tab says investment income "earned on reserve balances" is handled "in accordance with the Investment Policy Statement".
Note 1, Revenue Recognition: "Investment income earned on the Town's reserve fund balances is added to the associated funds and forms part of the respective period ending reserve fund balance." Note 15: "Interest income" 10,603 (2024 5,173).
Statement of Financial Position (thousands of dollars): "Investments (note 5)" 132,351 at December 31, 2025 and 128,492 at December 31, 2024. Note 5 lists principal protected notes of 14,484 (2024 11,344), carried at fair value.
Nonedeclarations of interest listed for 2025 in the Town's registry
A member of council who has a money interest in an item must say so at the meeting and leave the discussion. The Town's public registry lists four declarations for 2024 (by Councillors Weese and Gilliland), one for 2023, and none for 2022 or 2025. In 2026 it lists one so far, by Councillor Gilliland, at a closed session on March 10, 2026. We did not read the 2025 minutes, so we cannot say whether anything was declared and left off the table.
Why it matters
The registry is how residents check that conflicts are declared. A year with none can be a quiet year. It can also be a table that was not updated. Residents cannot tell the two apart without the minutes.
It could be because…
No member had a money interest in any item that year.
Declarations were made at meetings but are not yet in the table; minutes would show it.
The registry may only list declarations once the signed form is received.
Questions you could ask
Do the 2025 minutes of Council and its committees record any declaration of interest that is not in the registry?
How and how often is the registry updated?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Aurora?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Registry headings: "2025 Declarations of Interest" followed by "None"; "2024 Declarations of Interest" lists four entries (November 18, 2024 Budget Committee, October 22, 2024 Council, October 1, 2024 Committee of the Whole, April 23, 2024 Council); "2022 Declarations of Interest" followed by "None". 2026: March 10, 2026 Closed Session, Councillor Gilliland, Item 4.1.
$448,779total paid to the seven members of council in 2025, including benefits, vehicle allowance and expenses
The 2026 budget for the Mayor and Council is $761,600, up $58,500 (8.3 percent) from $703,100. The Town explains that $45,000 of the increase is because less will be taken from an economic development reserve, and $18,200 is salaries and benefits for staff and members. The pay statements show Mayor Tom Mrakas received $114,796 in pay in 2025, and each of the six councillors $42,220, up from $107,829 and $40,083 in 2024. All seven members together received a total of $448,779 in 2025, including benefits, vehicle allowance and expenses.
Why it matters
Council sets its own pay and budget. The Town's explanation shows most of the 2026 increase is a change in how a cost is funded, not new spending. The pay statement is public and the numbers are small, but they are the only place residents see what each member received.
It could be because…
The $45,000 is a funding switch from a reserve to the tax levy, not new spending.
Pay for members follows a By-law and cost-of-living adjustments.
The Mayor's amount excludes whatever the Town pays on behalf of York Region for the Mayor's regional seat, which York Region reports separately.
Questions you could ask
What rule or by-law sets the Mayor's and councillors' yearly increase, and what was the cost-of-living figure it used for 2025?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Aurora?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Mayor and Council: "The operating budget for the Council includes an increase of $58,500 on the tax levy in 2026." Net budget 703.1 (2025) and 761.6 (2026), a change of 8.3%. Change summary: "Reduce contribution from Economic Development reserve" 45.0; "Salaries & Benefits including COLA, step increases, gapping and other approved staffing actions" 18.2; total 58.5 ($000's).
Statement for January to December, 2025: Tom Mrakas $114,796 remuneration, $27,839 benefits, $10,492 vehicle or travel allowance, 5,867 expenses reimbursed, total $158,994. Each of the six councillors received 42,220 in remuneration. Total for all members: $448,779. The note says the Mayor's line excludes any remuneration paid on behalf of York Region.
Statement for January to December, 2024: Tom Mrakas $107,829 remuneration, $28,363 benefits, $9,823 vehicle or travel allowance, 7,117 expenses reimbursed, total $153,131. Each of the six councillors received 40,083 in remuneration. Total for all members: $436,600.
Aurora spent $7.1M on roads and snow in 2019 and $10.9M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 2 of 10 similar towns had faster growth here.
Why did the cost of roads and snow grow 53% in 6 years?
Roads and snow
Prices (inflation)
−20%+0%+20%+40%+60%
+53%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Roads and snow
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
−9%
+1%
2021
+0%
+4%
2022
+15%
+11%
2023
+26%
+16%
2024
+45%
+18%
2025
+53%
+21%
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Why it matters
When one area grows much faster than prices, it is either doing more (which may be great) or paying more for the same thing. Residents deserve to know which.
It could be because…
The town added a service, a building or staff that residents asked for.
Costs were moved from another area, so the total did not really change.
Accounting rules changed how costs are sorted.
Large one-time costs, like a study, lawsuit or repair, landed in one year.
Questions you could ask
How much of the rise in roads and snow spending since 2019 came from price increases in contracts, and how much from more roads, more sidewalk clearing or higher service standards?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Aurora?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
"The higher post-pandemic inflation is still impacting the Town as multi-year contracts issued before the pandemic continue to be replaced with new contracts at today's pricing using a competitive bid process."
Operational Services, net budget by division, gross budget (thousands of dollars) for 2025 and 2026: Road Network Operations 4,045.4 and 3,865.0; Snow Management 1,918.3 and 1,790.5. 2026 change items include "Snow management contracts" 23.9, "Roads maintenance contracts" 27.7 and "Reduce tax stabilization draw for phasing in additional sidewalk clearing" 60.0.
Aurora spent about $129 per home on garbage, dump and recycling in 2025. The typical similar town spent $10. None of the 10 similar towns spent more.
Why it matters
Spending more than neighbours is not wrong by itself. It might buy better service. But it is the first place to look for costs that could be lower, such as contracts that were not competitively bid.
It could be because…
Geography: more roads, more snow, a bigger area or a landfill of its own.
Accounting: some towns record the same cost in a different category.
A one-time cost in this year.
Questions you could ask
What makes this cost higher here than in similar towns?
When were the main contracts in this area last put out to competitive tender?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Aurora?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Garbage, dump and recycling per home: Aurora $129; typical similar town $10; ranked 1st highest of 11.
"Recycling is transitioning to provincial responsibility January 1, 2026." Solid Waste and Recycling gross budget (thousands of dollars): 2,984.3 for 2025 and 2,346.9 for 2026. 2026 change: "Move to producer responsibility for waste, savings less expiry of waste grant" (394.8). The multi-year waste contract with the Northern six York Region municipalities (N6) "is set to expire in 2028".
2026 Budget, Tab 11 Operational Services (as adopted December 7, 2025) · Net budget by division, PDF page 2 (printed page 11-2); Solid Waste and Recycling, PDF page 3 (printed page 11-3); Budget change summary, PDF page 11 (printed page 11-11); Multi-year operating budget priorities, PDF page 13 (printed page 11-13)
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