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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Brampton'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 · 14 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Brampton's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 1 similar Ontario place. 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.
$200,603,000billed but not yet paid at the end of 2025, up from $64,702,000 at the end of 2021 (12.94% of the year’s levy, up from 5.33%)
Taxes receivable is property tax that has been billed but not yet paid. At the end of 2025 it was $200,603,000, or 12.94% of that year’s tax levy (the amount the city bills). At the end of 2021 it was $64,702,000, or 5.33%. The city says the late-payment penalties and interest it earned rose by $41 million in 2025 because of this increase. We did not find a city report that says why more tax is going unpaid.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$46,642,000received from developers in 2025 (with interest), against $166,984,000 recognized and spent that year; the developers’ balance fell from $399,840,000 to $279,498,000
Development charges are fees builders pay so new homes help cover roads, transit and other growth costs. The city keeps unspent charges in reserve funds. The audited statements show the developers’ balance fell from $399,840,000 to $279,498,000 in 2025, because far less came in than was used. The city’s own 2026 budget says recent provincial changes "have resulted in significantly reduced revenues" and that growth projects will suffer unless the senior governments make up the loss.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$19,476,000one-time transfer from the Strategic Reserve that cut the 2026 tax levy by 1.3%
A reserve is money a city has saved for later. The adopted 2026 budget holds the city’s own share of the tax bill at 0%, with a 1% hospital levy on top. The budget tables show a "Contribution From Reserves" of (19,476) thousand dollars, worth -1.3% on the tax levy, which the budget calls a "short–term internal loan" from the Strategic Reserve. It was added by the Budget Committee. We did not find the repayment date or schedule.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$770,048.55overstated in the bank ledger after fare deposits were recorded twice (a second double entry was $475,398.36)
The city’s own Internal Audit division reviewed Brampton Transit’s fare money in a report dated December 1, 2025. It found that tap-to-pay and phone-wallet payments, which grew from 9% of payments in the first quarter of 2024 to over 45% in the second quarter of 2025, are left out of the report used to check fares against the provincial system. It also found bank entries recorded twice (overstating the bank accounts by $770,048.55 and $475,398.36) and a fare evasion rate of 2.1% on its ride-alongs, against 0.5% in the farebox report.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
8 of 20commercial businesses reviewed by Internal Audit were operating without required final inspections and occupancy approvals
Building inspections check that new construction follows the Ontario Building Code. The city’s Internal Audit division reviewed building permits in a report dated February 23, 2025. It found 12% of inspections were scheduled late or not at all, 9% of permits had no inspection for over 12 months, and 8 of 20 commercial businesses reviewed were operating without the required final inspections and occupancy approvals. It also found 140 orders to comply were sent for prosecution and only 22 advanced to that stage.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
over 600 lane kilometresof regional road the city’s 2026 budget says it will take over, with no yearly cost published
The Region of Peel owns and runs the larger "regional" roads, along with waste, water and other services. The city’s 2026 budget says these services are moving away from the Region: roads and waste to Brampton, and water and wastewater to a new publicly owned municipal services company. In that budget the transfer of regional roads is given two dates: "July 1, 2026" in one place and "Effective 2027" in another. The budget says it will add "over 600 lane kilometers" of roads and that winter maintenance costs are already rising from "assumption/download of Regional roads". We found no dollar estimate of what the roads will cost Brampton each year or what money comes with them.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
4complaints about councillors open in 2022 whose outcome the Integrity Commissioner says she cannot confirm
The Integrity Commissioner is the independent officer who looks into complaints that a council member broke the Code of Conduct. In her annual report for 2023 (dated August 2, 2024) the Commissioner says her appointment ended in 2022, that she was reinstated on January 25, 2023, and that she cannot "confirm how the below complaints were concluded" for four complaints about councillors that were open in 2022, including one about a conflict of interest and one about failing to declare a pecuniary interest. The report also says informal emails about five matters, received between December 2023 and April 2024, were sent a complaint form on February 27, 2024 and closed when no one replied. A 2024 report says a complaint email of January 29, 2024 did not reach her until February 23, 2024 because of a forwarding problem the city fixed.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
(169,082.12)the Mayor’s "Budget Remaining" in the 2024 Appendix A (negative); the Mayor’s Office statement shows 70,203.10 remaining for the same year
The city publishes a yearly Statement of Remuneration and Expenses (Appendix A) and a separate Mayor’s Office Expense Statement. For the Mayor, Appendix A shows "Budget Remaining" of (169,082.12) in 2024 and (11,187.03) in 2025 (brackets mean negative, so spending above budget). The Mayor’s Office statement shows money left over: remaining budget of 70,203.10 for 2024 and 97,161.48 for 2025. The actuals also differ: for 2024, Appendix A’s sub-total is 1,677,861.15 and the office statement shows actuals of 1,215,937.90. The documents do not say how the two scopes differ.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$900,000budgeted for Mayor and Council advertising, marketing and promotion in 2026, up from $650,000 (+38.5%)
The 2026 budget for the Mayor and Council department raises "Advertising, Marketing & Promotion" from 650 to 900 (thousand dollars), up 38.5%. The budget labels the $250,000 increase "Community Outreach". The 2025 forecast for the department’s "Other Expenditures" was 455, against a 2025 budget of 1,088. The municipal election is on October 26, 2026.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$246,893,000annual surplus in 2025, against a budget of $89,363,000 (2024: $113,559,000)
The audited statements show a 2025 annual surplus almost three times the budgeted one. The city explains that most of the gap is capital money: $77 million more in government transfers (the federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, public transit stream) and $112 million more in development charges earned. A surplus on these statements is not cash left over for spending: grants and developers’ charges are tied to building projects.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$8,238,000,000total of the transit projects the city’s 2026 budget lists as seeking funding, including $2,800,000,000 for the Hurontario LRT extension
LRT is light rail (an electric tram-like train); BRT is bus rapid transit (buses with their own lanes). The city’s 2026 budget lists $2,800,000,000 for extending the Hurontario LRT, marked "Approved - awaiting funding", and $1,100,000,000 for the Queen Street–Highway 7 BRT, in a transit total of $8,238,000,000 that it is asking the other governments to fund. The city says the federal and provincial governments "have committed to funding" the LRT extension and that details "are anticipated shortly". It has drawn $7.8 million of a $400 million bank facility to buy electric buses.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
5 + 1five councillors and one citizen member sit on the Audit Committee
Brampton has an Internal Audit division, whose reports go to the Audit Committee of five councillors and one citizen. The city’s own pages are not consistent about who Internal Audit reports to. The accountability page says it reports "to the Chief Administrative Officer", while another page says "functionally to the Audit Committee and administratively to the Chief Administrative Officer". The city has no municipal ombudsman of its own, so the Ontario Ombudsman acts as one. We did not find an Auditor General on the city’s accountability page. Internal Audit does publish its reports and says it uses the Global Internal Audit Standards.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$200,603,000billed but not yet paid at the end of 2025, up from $64,702,000 at the end of 2021 (12.94% of the year’s levy, up from 5.33%)
Taxes receivable is property tax that has been billed but not yet paid. At the end of 2025 it was $200,603,000, or 12.94% of that year’s tax levy (the amount the city bills). At the end of 2021 it was $64,702,000, or 5.33%. The city says the late-payment penalties and interest it earned rose by $41 million in 2025 because of this increase. We did not find a city report that says why more tax is going unpaid.
Why it matters
Unpaid taxes are cash the city has billed for but does not have. If the amount keeps growing, the city may need to borrow, use savings, or collect harder from people who are already behind. Penalties also fall on the households and businesses that cannot pay.
It could be because…
A fast-growing city bills more properties each year, so a larger unpaid balance can be normal.
Large commercial or industrial bills under appeal can stay open for a long time without anyone refusing to pay.
Higher living costs and interest rates may be making more owners pay late.
The city may have chosen to be patient with collection while penalties and interest build up.
Questions you could ask
How much of the $200,603,000 is more than a year overdue, and how much is under appeal or on a payment plan?
What share of it is owed by residential owners and what share by commercial and industrial properties?
Has the city changed how or when it collects overdue tax since 2021? What did the online payment and e-billing changes from the 2023 audit achieve?
Does the city expect penalties and interest of $83,661,000 to repeat in 2026, and has it counted on that money in the budget?
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 Brampton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The five-year table of statistics shows taxes receivable at the end of the year, in thousands of dollars: 200,603 (2025), 147,875 (2024), 110,669 (2023), 79,250 (2022) and 64,702 (2021). "Percentage of years' levy" reads 12.94%, 10.37%, 8.33%, 6.36% and 5.33%.
The city’s own explanation of the penalty income: "$41 million increase in property tax penalties and interest resulting from the increase in Taxes Receivable". The statement of operations shows Penalties, fines and interest at 68,241 (2025 budget), 83,661 (2025 actual) and 43,196 (2024), in thousands of dollars.
Internal Audit's 2023 property tax audit (report date 11/6/2023) says it "found no indication that any property tax policy or legislation was contradicted in the calculation, application, billing, or collection of property taxes". It found a "Lack of electronic billing and online enrolment for pre-authorize payment plans" and asked staff to "Expedite the implementation of convenient online enrolment for pre-authorized tax payment plans and eBilling".
$46,642,000received from developers in 2025 (with interest), against $166,984,000 recognized and spent that year; the developers’ balance fell from $399,840,000 to $279,498,000
Development charges are fees builders pay so new homes help cover roads, transit and other growth costs. The city keeps unspent charges in reserve funds. The audited statements show the developers’ balance fell from $399,840,000 to $279,498,000 in 2025, because far less came in than was used. The city’s own 2026 budget says recent provincial changes "have resulted in significantly reduced revenues" and that growth projects will suffer unless the senior governments make up the loss.
Why it matters
If developer money keeps falling while growth projects keep going, the gap is paid from property taxes, borrowing or cuts. The city is also growing quickly, so the pressure is likely to grow too.
It could be because…
Using a savings fund for the projects it was collected for is what a reserve fund is for.
Builders pay when they pull permits, which can be lumpy from year to year.
The city may have already planned the drawdown and counted on grants to fill the gap.
Questions you could ask
What did the city’s outside review find the provincial changes will cost it in lost development charges, by year?
At the 2025 pace, how many years would the $279,498,000 developer balance last, and which growth projects would stop or slow if the provinces do not make up the loss?
Which projects have already been funded by property taxes or borrowing instead of development charges?
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 Brampton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 7(b), obligatory reserve funds (in thousands of dollars). For Developers: opening balance 399,840; amount received including interest 46,642; amount recognized as revenue 166,984; closing balance 279,498. The total across all funds went from 767,648 to 668,073.
The city's own explanation of the fall: "$112 million increase in Development levies earned and other restricted capital contributions due to increase in capital project spending supporting growth-related infrastructure". It also reports deferred revenues "totalled $668 million as at December 31, 2025 as compared to $768 million in 2024, a decrease of $100 million".
On development charges collected the budget says: "The City is actively monitoring the effects of recent changes to the DC legislation (e.g. Bill 185, Bill 23) and has engaged external support to review and quantify the impacts on projected DC Collections. A few of the recently enacted changes have resulted in significantly reduced revenues, which will impact the funding of growth infrastructure, unless support is provided by senior levels of government to make up for the loss."
Internal Audit's June 2023 audit of development charges found "development charge processes are operating effectively" and "Nothing has come to our attention that indicates that development charges are applied incorrectly". It also found "System control to automatically apply current rates is not functioning when rates decrease".
$19,476,000one-time transfer from the Strategic Reserve that cut the 2026 tax levy by 1.3%
A reserve is money a city has saved for later. The adopted 2026 budget holds the city’s own share of the tax bill at 0%, with a 1% hospital levy on top. The budget tables show a "Contribution From Reserves" of (19,476) thousand dollars, worth -1.3% on the tax levy, which the budget calls a "short–term internal loan" from the Strategic Reserve. It was added by the Budget Committee. We did not find the repayment date or schedule.
Why it matters
A one-time amount cannot hold the tax rate down a second year. If the loan is paid back from the operating budget, it adds to taxes in a later year, and the first budget of the council elected on October 26, 2026 begins with that bill.
It could be because…
An internal loan from a reserve is a normal tool, and the city says internal loans are paid back with interest.
The repayment may be set in a report we could not open (the city’s agenda portal blocked our reader).
The city also made large contributions to other reserves in the same budget.
Questions you could ask
When is the $19,476,000 to be paid back to the Strategic Reserve, and from which budget?
What would the 2026 increase for city services have been without it?
What does the 2027 forecast assume for the repayment and for the 1% hospital levy?
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 Brampton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The budget summary says: "There is one time contribution from the Strategic Reserve for a short–term internal loan of $19.5 million resulting in reduction of (1.3%)." The levy table lists "Contribution From Reserves (19,476) -1.3%", "Property Tax Levy For City Business 0 0.0%" and "Hospital Levy 15,328 1.0%".
The budget's record of amendments shows that after the Budget Committee's changes (Resolution C043-2026) the amendments included "General Government - Transfer to Reserve 126 Brampton's 2nd Hospital" of 15,328, "General Government - Operating Efficiencies" of (4,148) and "General Government - Transfer from Strategic Reserve" of 19,476, shown as (1.3)% of the levy.
The glossary defines internal debt: "Debt used to fund capital projects secured from city reserves. Loans are paid back, with interest at the prevailing rate(s), to the reserve." The reserve highlights on the Strategic Reserve say it was "originally established in 2002 with a $200 million balance" and carries "a short-term internal loan of $19.5 million for 2026". We did not find a repayment date in the budget.
The Mayor's message says the budget delivers "a 2026 Budget without any increase to the City’s portion of property taxes" while "making unprecedented contributions to our reserves". The tax bill page shows "0% Property Tax Bill Increase for City Business" and "1% Property Tax Bill Increase for the Hospital Levy", a $73 impact on a home assessed at $543,506.
$770,048.55overstated in the bank ledger after fare deposits were recorded twice (a second double entry was $475,398.36)
The city’s own Internal Audit division reviewed Brampton Transit’s fare money in a report dated December 1, 2025. It found that tap-to-pay and phone-wallet payments, which grew from 9% of payments in the first quarter of 2024 to over 45% in the second quarter of 2025, are left out of the report used to check fares against the provincial system. It also found bank entries recorded twice (overstating the bank accounts by $770,048.55 and $475,398.36) and a fare evasion rate of 2.1% on its ride-alongs, against 0.5% in the farebox report.
Why it matters
Transit fare revenue is the city’s largest income apart from property tax ($123.9 million in 2024, per the audit). If a growing share cannot be matched to the province’s records, the city cannot be sure it is paid everything it earned.
It could be because…
The double entries were caught later, and a finding in an audit report is meant to lead to a fix.
A 17-trip observation of 1,073 boardings is a small sample, so 2.1% may not be the true rate.
The city may already be changing its reconciliation report to include open payments.
Questions you could ask
Has Transit started reconciling open-payment and mobile-wallet fares to the provincial system, and by when will all payments be checked?
Were the two double-recorded deposits corrected, and has any revenue been lost to fare evasion or cash variances?
What did management commit to, with dates, in its response to the audit?
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 Brampton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Internal Audit: "The TASEAR report excludes open payment and mobile wallet transactions, which have grown from 9% in Q1 2024 to over 45% in Q2 2025. As a result, Transit cannot reconcile a significant and increasing portion of fare payments between PDS and the Central System."
Internal Audit: "Transactions dated May 1–2 and June 2 were recorded twice, resulting in bank G/L overstatements of $770,048.55 and $475,398.36." "June 30 revenue ($284,154.28) was recorded to the wrong period". "The errors were not identified through the monthly reconciliation process and impacted 12 G/L accounts."
Internal Audit rode buses: "17 ride-along trips across 20 routes (1,073 boardings) identified a 2.1% fare evasion rate, compared to the 0.5% rate reflected in the farebox report, with 7 routes ranging from 3%–8%." On cash, "9 single-day variances exceeded 10%, but only one case was investigated." The background says transit revenue "providing $123.9 million in 2024".
The city's own summary of the benefit: "Implementing the recommended actions will address these gaps, enhance operational consistency, strengthen internal controls, and improve the overall efficiency and accountability of the City’s Transit Revenues Activities." The management response and action plan are in the Audit Committee agenda, which we could not open.
8 of 20commercial businesses reviewed by Internal Audit were operating without required final inspections and occupancy approvals
Building inspections check that new construction follows the Ontario Building Code. The city’s Internal Audit division reviewed building permits in a report dated February 23, 2025. It found 12% of inspections were scheduled late or not at all, 9% of permits had no inspection for over 12 months, and 8 of 20 commercial businesses reviewed were operating without the required final inspections and occupancy approvals. It also found 140 orders to comply were sent for prosecution and only 22 advanced to that stage.
Why it matters
Final inspections and occupancy approvals are how a city confirms a building is safe to use. The city issued 6,219 building permits in 2025, so gaps in follow-up can affect many people.
It could be because…
An audit sample is chosen to test controls and may not represent all buildings.
Some businesses may have been open under a temporary arrangement or may have since been inspected.
The city launched a new building and business portal in 2024, and records can lag during a system change.
Questions you could ask
Were all 8 commercial businesses brought into compliance, and how long had each been open without approval?
How many of the open orders to comply from 2023 or earlier have since been closed or prosecuted?
Is the city now tracking missed inspection deadlines in its new portal?
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 Brampton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Internal Audit: "Delayed Initial Inspections – 12% of inspections were scheduled beyond the six-month requirement or not scheduled at all." "Missed Inspection Intervals – 9% of permits had no inspections for over 12 months." "Occupancy & Final Inspection Deficiencies – 8 of 20 commercial businesses reviewed were operating without required final inspections and occupancy approvals."
Internal Audit: "As of December 31, 2024, 81% of open occurrences and 80% of open Orders to Comply were created in 2023 or earlier, with no updates recorded." "6 of 15 open occurrences and 10 of 20 open Orders to Comply should have been closed." "Of 140 Orders to Comply assigned for prosecution, only 22 advanced to the prosecution stage."
The city's 2025 Financial Report: "6,219 residential, industrial, commercial and institutional building permits issued" in 2025, with "$2.7 billion in total construction value".
The city's own summary: "Implementing the recommendations in this report will enhance the processes and performance of building permit activities". The management response is in the Audit Committee agenda, which we could not open.
over 600 lane kilometresof regional road the city’s 2026 budget says it will take over, with no yearly cost published
The Region of Peel owns and runs the larger "regional" roads, along with waste, water and other services. The city’s 2026 budget says these services are moving away from the Region: roads and waste to Brampton, and water and wastewater to a new publicly owned municipal services company. In that budget the transfer of regional roads is given two dates: "July 1, 2026" in one place and "Effective 2027" in another. The budget says it will add "over 600 lane kilometers" of roads and that winter maintenance costs are already rising from "assumption/download of Regional roads". We found no dollar estimate of what the roads will cost Brampton each year or what money comes with them.
Why it matters
Brampton reports about 4,162 lane kilometres of road in its 2025 financial report, so 600 more is a large increase in the road, snow and repair bill. Waste is due to move in October 2027, and water and wastewater later, to a new municipal services company. Residents will pay for these through the city rather than the region, so the numbers matter.
It could be because…
The July 1, 2026 date may be an operating handover and 2027 the legal transfer of assets, or one may be a typo.
Regional property taxes may fall when the Region stops providing these services, so the net cost to residents may be small.
The costs may be set out in the Region’s transition reports, which we did not read.
Questions you could ask
On which date do regional roads become the city’s, and what is the yearly cost to maintain them, including snow clearing?
What money is the Region, or the province, handing over with the roads, and for how long?
Which reserves or budget lines will pay for the first years?
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 Brampton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The budget's list of who does what shows Regional roads with the footnote "Transfer of responsibility to Brampton from Peel Effective 2027." (this page is an image; the text layer carries the footnotes). The waste footnote reads "Transfer of responsibility to Brampton from Peel Effective October 1, 2027 as per Region Council Resolution #2025 621." and the water and wastewater footnote "expected by January 1, 2029" for "a publicly owned municipal services corporation".
Roads performance measures: "The City will receive downloading of Regional roads on July 1, 2026 which will increase amount of City Roads by over 600 lane kilometers." On winter costs: "Costs are increasing due to growth from both development and assumption/download of Regional roads. A new 8 year winter mintenance contract was initiated in Fall of 2024, which resulted in price escalation into 2025 and beyond."
The Office of the CAO's 2026 highlight is to "Successfully transition the responsibilities of regional roads from the Region of Peel to the City of Brampton", to "Increase efficiency and improve service delivery" and "Empower local decision-making to meet community needs". The long-term financial plan section says the city will start a new plan in 2027 "subsequent to anticipated service transitions from the Region of Peel".
Transportation services expenses were 516,004 (2025) and 458,002 (2024), in thousands of dollars. The city lists "$8 million increase in winter maintenance costs" among the causes of the 2025 increase. The overview says the city maintains "4,162" lane km of roads.
4complaints about councillors open in 2022 whose outcome the Integrity Commissioner says she cannot confirm
The Integrity Commissioner is the independent officer who looks into complaints that a council member broke the Code of Conduct. In her annual report for 2023 (dated August 2, 2024) the Commissioner says her appointment ended in 2022, that she was reinstated on January 25, 2023, and that she cannot "confirm how the below complaints were concluded" for four complaints about councillors that were open in 2022, including one about a conflict of interest and one about failing to declare a pecuniary interest. The report also says informal emails about five matters, received between December 2023 and April 2024, were sent a complaint form on February 27, 2024 and closed when no one replied. A 2024 report says a complaint email of January 29, 2024 did not reach her until February 23, 2024 because of a forwarding problem the city fixed.
Why it matters
Residents learn whether elected officials follow the rules from the Commissioner’s published reports. If complaints end quietly, or a complaint inbox does not work for weeks, the public cannot tell whether the system is working.
It could be because…
The Commissioner’s appointment ended in 2022 and an interim Commissioner took over until she was reinstated in January 2023, so the files may have been closed in that period with private disposition letters.
The law and the city’s complaint protocol keep many complaint files confidential unless a report to council is made.
Informal emails are not formal complaints, and the protocol requires a signed complaint form.
We could not open the 2024 and 2025 annual reports, which may answer some of this.
Questions you could ask
How were the four complaints open in 2022 concluded, and where can the public read the dispositions?
Council asked in March 2022 for an investigation of a councillor’s relationship with consultants on the Brampton U file. Was it finished, and is there a public report?
Why did it take until February 27, 2024 to send a complaint form for emails received in December 2023, and how many other emails were affected by the forwarding problem?
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 Brampton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The Commissioner writes: "I was reinstated into my role as of January 25, 2023." For four 2022 complaints (political campaigning, conflict of interest, failure to disclose a pecuniary interest, and intimidating and discreditable conduct) she says: "I cannot comment on and/or confirm how the below complaints were concluded and/or what the outcome was."
The report describes informal emails received on December 6, 2023, December 21, 2023 and January 16, 2024 (and one on April 23, 2024, for which the report prints the same form date, which cannot be right; we quote it as printed). For each: "A complaint form was sent on February 27, 2024 by my office to the complainant. A follow-up email was sent on July 4, 2024, to prompt a response. As no response was received, the matter was closed".
The interim Commissioner's August 18, 2022 report says: "At the time of our appointment, 4 open complaints were transmitted to us by the former Integrity Commissioner." It also reports a March 2, 2022 council referral (C058-2022) to investigate a councillor's relationship with consultants on the "Brampton U file", to be finished when "forensic information" was received. We did not find a later published report on that referral.
Report 2024-02 says a complaint email of January 29, 2024 "had not received this email until it was forwarded to me by the City Clerk’s office on February 23, 2024. At that time, there was an issue with emails being automatically redirected to my correct email address, which was subsequently resolved by the City".
(169,082.12)the Mayor’s "Budget Remaining" in the 2024 Appendix A (negative); the Mayor’s Office statement shows 70,203.10 remaining for the same year
The city publishes a yearly Statement of Remuneration and Expenses (Appendix A) and a separate Mayor’s Office Expense Statement. For the Mayor, Appendix A shows "Budget Remaining" of (169,082.12) in 2024 and (11,187.03) in 2025 (brackets mean negative, so spending above budget). The Mayor’s Office statement shows money left over: remaining budget of 70,203.10 for 2024 and 97,161.48 for 2025. The actuals also differ: for 2024, Appendix A’s sub-total is 1,677,861.15 and the office statement shows actuals of 1,215,937.90. The documents do not say how the two scopes differ.
Why it matters
People can only judge whether the Mayor’s office stayed within budget if the two public statements can be matched. An official who is over budget on one statement and under on another is not wrong, but the public cannot tell which is meant.
It could be because…
The two statements may cover different accounts: the Mayor’s own business account versus the whole office, or different cut-off dates.
Appendix A may count corporate-paid items (conferences, big city mayors caucus) that the office statement leaves out.
One of the figures may have been corrected after the other was posted.
Questions you could ask
What expenses does each statement cover, and why do the Mayor’s totals differ by hundreds of thousands of dollars?
Was the Mayor’s office over its budget in 2024 and, if so, who approved the extra spending and how was it covered?
Can the city publish one reconciliation of the Mayor’s office budget, actuals and corporate-paid costs?
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 Brampton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
In the 2024 Appendix A, the Mayor's row ("Patrick Brown - Business", Jan 1 - Dec 31) shows salary 154,312.24, staff salary and benefits 1,193,005.13, business office expenses and professional development 259,094.77, sub-total 1,677,861.15, budget remaining (169,082.12) and total 1,690,038.33.
In the 2025 Appendix A, the Mayor's row shows salary 155,656.23, staff salary and benefits 1,082,501.46, business office expenses and professional development 129,685.50, sub-total 1,431,217.03, budget remaining (11,187.03) and total 1,461,877.25.
The budget for the whole Mayor and Council department is 5,869 (2025) and 6,172 (2026), in thousands of dollars, with a 2025 year-end forecast of 5,532.
$900,000budgeted for Mayor and Council advertising, marketing and promotion in 2026, up from $650,000 (+38.5%)
The 2026 budget for the Mayor and Council department raises "Advertising, Marketing & Promotion" from 650 to 900 (thousand dollars), up 38.5%. The budget labels the $250,000 increase "Community Outreach". The 2025 forecast for the department’s "Other Expenditures" was 455, against a 2025 budget of 1,088. The municipal election is on October 26, 2026.
Why it matters
Money for advertising and promotion by elected officials can help residents learn about services, but in an election year people reasonably ask who decides how it is used and whether it is used fairly.
It could be because…
The city is about to take over regional roads, waste and water, and residents may need more information about the changes.
The budget’s own text says council will "provide enhanced community engagement and recognition of Brampton’s culture and diversity".
The 2025 forecast shows this department spent less than budgeted, so the larger budget may only restore a normal level.
Questions you could ask
What specifically does the $900,000 buy, and who approves how it is spent?
Is any of it spent between nomination day and election day, and what rules or limits apply to that spending?
How much of the 2025 advertising budget of $650,000 was actually spent?
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 Brampton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The Mayor and Council operating budget, in thousands of dollars, shows Advertising, Marketing & Promotion at 650 (2025 budget) and 900 (2026 budget), a change of 250 or 38.5%. Total expenditures were 5,869 and 6,172. The variance page lists "Base operating growth: Community Outreach 250".
$246,893,000annual surplus in 2025, against a budget of $89,363,000 (2024: $113,559,000)
The audited statements show a 2025 annual surplus almost three times the budgeted one. The city explains that most of the gap is capital money: $77 million more in government transfers (the federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, public transit stream) and $112 million more in development charges earned. A surplus on these statements is not cash left over for spending: grants and developers’ charges are tied to building projects.
Why it matters
A large "surplus" can be read as spare money. Most of it is restricted capital funding and gifts of roads and pipes from builders, so residents should not expect it to lower taxes. It matters that the city says so plainly.
It could be because…
The budget uses cautious assumptions for grants and builder charges, which arrive when projects are built.
Government transfers of $81,288,000 for transit were recognized in 2025 but not yet received, so the surplus is partly a receivable (money still owed to the city).
Questions you could ask
Of the $246,893,000, how much is cash the city can spend freely, and how much is restricted or already spent on capital projects?
When will the $81,288,000 in transit funding recorded as a receivable arrive?
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 Brampton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Statement of operations, in thousands of dollars: Annual Surplus 89,363 (2025 budget), 246,893 (2025) and 113,559 (2024). Total revenues were 1,225,617 budgeted and 1,432,878 actual. Government transfers were 1,214 budgeted and 100,881 actual; development levies earned were 132,000 budgeted and 276,080 actual.
The city's explanation: "The 2025 Annual Surplus was $133 million higher than in 2024. This was primarily driven by increase in revenues." It lists "$77 million increase in Government transfers due to funding related to the Federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), Public Transit Stream".
Note 20: "Included in government transfers revenue on the consolidated statement of operations is $ 81,288 (2024 – nil) recognized under the Investing in Canada infrastructure Program – Public Transit Stream". "As at year-end, the funding had not been received and has been recorded as accounts receivable." Accounts receivable were 205,266 at the end of 2025 and 78,596 at the end of 2024.
$8,238,000,000total of the transit projects the city’s 2026 budget lists as seeking funding, including $2,800,000,000 for the Hurontario LRT extension
LRT is light rail (an electric tram-like train); BRT is bus rapid transit (buses with their own lanes). The city’s 2026 budget lists $2,800,000,000 for extending the Hurontario LRT, marked "Approved - awaiting funding", and $1,100,000,000 for the Queen Street–Highway 7 BRT, in a transit total of $8,238,000,000 that it is asking the other governments to fund. The city says the federal and provincial governments "have committed to funding" the LRT extension and that details "are anticipated shortly". It has drawn $7.8 million of a $400 million bank facility to buy electric buses.
Why it matters
These projects are far larger than the city’s own yearly budget. The city can only build them if other governments pay, and if they do not, the project may stall or the cost may reach Brampton taxpayers.
It could be because…
Big transit projects in this region are normally paid by the federal and provincial governments, as the city’s budget notes.
The Queen Street–Highway 7 cost "is currently under review" and the line is still in the planning stage.
Only $7.8 million of the electric bus facility has been drawn because buses are bought in stages.
Questions you could ask
Has the federal and provincial funding for the LRT extension now been announced, and does it cover the full $2,800,000,000, including any cost overruns?
What would the city pay for the LRT extension and the BRT, and what operating cost will fall on Brampton once they open?
The credit facility is to be repaid from "operating savings" from electric buses. Where is the published estimate of those savings?
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 Brampton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The advocacy list (cost estimates) shows: "Hurontario Light Rail Transit (LRT) Extension Approved - awaiting funding" $2,800,000,000; "Queen Street-Highway 7 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)" $1,100,000,000; "Electric Bus Purchases (unfunded)" $650,000,000. "Total Transit" is $8,238,000,000.
The city's explanation: "The federal and provincial governments have committed to funding the extension of the Hurontario-Main LRT, from Steeles Avenue (Gateway Terminal) to Downtown Brampton. Details on these funding commitments are anticipated shortly. The current projected cost of the LRT completion project is $2.8B." For the BRT: "approximately $1.1B (total costs anticipated for this project are currently under review...)".
Note 21: Council approved a credit facility with the Canada Infrastructure Bank "in an amount of up to $400 million for the period from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2027" at "an interest rate of 1%", with repayments "to be funded from operating savings realized through the conversion of the City’s transit fleet to ZEBs". "As at December 31, 2025, the City had drawn $7.8 million under the credit facility."
5 + 1five councillors and one citizen member sit on the Audit Committee
Brampton has an Internal Audit division, whose reports go to the Audit Committee of five councillors and one citizen. The city’s own pages are not consistent about who Internal Audit reports to. The accountability page says it reports "to the Chief Administrative Officer", while another page says "functionally to the Audit Committee and administratively to the Chief Administrative Officer". The city has no municipal ombudsman of its own, so the Ontario Ombudsman acts as one. We did not find an Auditor General on the city’s accountability page. Internal Audit does publish its reports and says it uses the Global Internal Audit Standards.
Why it matters
An auditor who works for the same people being audited cannot be fully independent. Some large Ontario cities appoint an Auditor General who reports to council alone. How audits are overseen is one of the main checks on spending.
It could be because…
Reporting "functionally" to a committee and "administratively" to the CAO is a common, accepted setup.
Internal Audit publishes frank findings (see the transit and building permit audits), which suggests real independence.
Not having an Auditor General is a choice available to every Ontario city.
Questions you could ask
Who decides which audits Internal Audit performs and which findings go public?
Would the Audit Committee consider appointing an Auditor General who reports only to council?
Will the next council decide on a Municipal Ombudsman, a question the city says is still open?
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 Brampton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The city says: "Internal Audit reports functionally to the Audit Committee and administratively to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) ensuring independence and accountability."
The Accountability and Transparency page says: "Internal Audit reports to the Chief Administrative Officer, and supports the stewardship and oversight responsibilities of Council". It lists the Integrity Commissioner, a Municipal Ombudsman, a lobbyist registry and a closed meeting investigator process. It lists no Auditor General.
The Financial Report says: "The Audit Committee is a Committee of Council comprising five Council members appointed by City Council and one citizen appointee." The auditor's opinion (KPMG LLP, dated June 24, 2026) says the statements "present fairly, in all material respects".
Brampton spent $256M on roads and snow in 2019 and $388M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Why did the cost of roads and snow grow 51% in 6 years?
Roads and snow
Prices (inflation)
−20%+0%+20%+40%+60%
+51%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Roads and snow
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
−8%
+1%
2021
+10%
+4%
2022
+13%
+11%
2023
+26%
+16%
2024
+34%
+18%
2025
+51%
+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 city 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 growth since 2019 is winter maintenance, how much is new roads, and how much is wages?
What did the 2024 winter maintenance contract add per year compared with the one it replaced?
What will the more than 600 lane kilometres of regional roads add from 2026 or 2027?
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 Brampton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The audited statements show Transportation services expenses of 516,004 for 2025, against 458,002 for 2024 and a 2025 budget of 494,743 (thousands of dollars). The city lists causes of the 2025 rise: "Increase in labor expenses, primarily driven by increases resulting from new Union Collective Bargaining Agreements", "vehicle repair and maintenance, utilities and professional services" and "$8 million increase in winter maintenance costs".
The 2026 budget explains: "Costs are increasing due to growth from both development and assumption/download of Regional roads. A new 8 year winter mintenance contract was initiated in Fall of 2024, which resulted in price escalation into 2025 and beyond."
Internal Audit's road resurfacing audit (report date 12/2/2024) says "For 2021-2024, the capital expenditure budget for resurfacing was approximately $75.7 million". It found that "In 2024, of the 54 roads approved for resurfacing, we only found evidence of on-site road condition assessments for 37."
Brampton spent $111M on police, fire and safety in 2019 and $165M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Why did the cost of police, fire and safety grow 49% in 6 years?
Police, fire and safety
Prices (inflation)
+0%+10%+20%+30%+40%+50%
+49%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Police, fire and safety
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
+3%
+1%
2021
+6%
+4%
2022
+13%
+11%
2023
+14%
+16%
2024
+30%
+18%
2025
+49%
+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 city 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 growth since 2019 is fire services, how much is by-law enforcement and how much is building and licensing?
How many more firefighters, fire prevention officers and by-law officers does the city employ than in 2019?
The statements print $189,606,000 for protection in 2025 and the automatic comparison shows $165M. Which items are counted in each?
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 Brampton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Police, fire and safety: 2019 $111M, 2020 $114M, 2021 $118M, 2022 $125M, 2023 $126M, 2024 $144M, 2025 $165M.
The audited statements show Protection to persons and property expenses of 189,606 for 2025, against 168,481 for 2024 and a 2025 budget of 208,062 (thousands of dollars, on the statements' own basis, which is not the same as the FIR figure above). The city lists "Increase in labor expenses, primarily driven by increases resulting from new Union Collective Bargaining Agreements" as a main cause of the 2025 rise in expenses.
On fire services, the budget says "we focused on the Residential Rental Licensing (RRL) program, supported by an increase in Fire Prevention Officers on the team and out in the field" and the number of fire safety orders "increased by 62% compared to 2024". The 2026 variance details add "Firefighters (24 F/T)" at 677 for three months and "Communication Operators (4 F/T)".
The Mayor's budget message says it "strengthens enforcement and accountability by adding new by-law officers and new significant fines for by-law and fire code infractions".
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