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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Brighton'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 · 12 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Brighton's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 91 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.
$51 millioncost of the new sewage plant, with almost $35 million from the Province and the rest to be borrowed
A sewage treatment plant cleans used water before it goes back into the environment. Brighton's 2026 budget presentation says the new plant is a $51 million project. The Municipality says it has received almost $35 million from the Province, and that the rest will come from an outside loan, paid back through water and sewer rates and development charges (fees paid when new homes are built). The 2025 budget already carried $19,936,962 of capital spending under Environmental Services. The newest statements we could read (2023) show long-term debt of $6,319,841. The presentation does not say how large the loan will be. By our working, the loan is at least about $16 million ($51 million less "almost $35 million"), which would be a large step up from today's debt.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$13,167,000Fire Services capital in the 2025 budget, against $673,000 in 2026
The 2025 budget lists $13,167,000 of capital spending for Fire Services, and its key projects slide names a "New Fire/Paramedic Station". The 2026 presentation then says $500,000 is "budgeted for design and site plan of new fire station", and the whole Fire Services capital program for 2026 is $673,000. The 2026 presentation explains why a new station is needed (the current one was built in 1975 and has limited space and poor ventilation) and says an alternative site south of the tracks is being looked at. It does not say whether the 2025 amount was spent, carried forward or dropped.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$14,403,084the 2026 municipal levy, up from $12,240,318 in 2024
The municipal levy is the amount Brighton raises from property taxes for its own services. The 2025 presentation shows it at $12,240,318 for 2024 and $13,544,749 for 2025. The 2026 presentation shows $14,403,084 for 2026, a 4.9% tax increase after assessment growth. That is $2,162,766 more than the 2024 levy (worked out by us). The 2025 increase on a typical home was 6.24%. The 2026 presentation explains much of its increase: pay and benefits up 4.0% ($545,437), including a 4.75% cost-of-living increase, plus higher insurance, grants and physician recruitment costs. On the Municipality's own comparison, a $400,000 home pays $6,190.41 in total tax, third-lowest of the seven municipalities shown (worked out by us).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
The 2024 budget introduced an Automatic Speed Enforcement (ASE) program, the speed-camera program, along with a by-law officer "to support STA/ASE/Enhanced enforcement". The 2026 budget presentation lists the "Elimination of ASE revenue" as a challenge, and "ASE Revenues from 2025" as an opportunity. It also says the 2026 budget lowers building revenues because of a "budget mis-statement in 2025". The presentation gives no dollar amounts for any of these.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
The Municipality's Financial Statements page says audited statements are presented to Council after the audit is complete. The 2023 statements carry a clean opinion ("present fairly") from Baker Tilly KDN LLP dated February 2025, about 14 months after the year ended (worked out by us). The page lists the statements for 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017. We did not find 2021 or 2025. The 2024 file has 56 PDF pages and every page is a picture with no readable text, so we could not read any figure from it and used none. Because of this, the 2023 statements are the newest ones this pack can quote.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
In its accumulated surplus note, Brighton lists "Unfunded capital" of $4,535,222 at the end of 2023, up from $3,760,699 a year earlier. Protection services (fire and similar) make up $2,189,284. This is capital spending that is not yet matched by money set aside, which will have to be paid later from taxes, fees or loans. Over the same year, savings in reserves fell from $4,684,020 to $4,114,490 and in reserve funds from $5,752,132 to $5,001,759. The statements do not explain the rise.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Brighton had $8.9M saved at the end of 2024, up from $8.5M in 2019. That is 54% of one year's spending. Only 13 of 91 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
At the end of 2024, $3.0M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 12% of everything billed. Only 9 of 91 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $2.1M.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
Since May 1, 2025, the Province has given Brighton's Mayor "strong mayor" powers, including writing the budget. For 2025, Council held budget meetings on January 15, January 29 and February 7, plus a public meeting on February 18, and passed the budget by by-law on March 3, 2025. For 2026, the Mayor's June 12, 2025 directive told staff to prepare a draft budget with a budget committee of the Mayor, the CAO and the Treasurer. The Mayor presented the budget on November 17, 2025, Council had 30 days to propose changes, passed one amendment (an extra $50,000 for the Brighton Homelessness Task Force's recommendations), and the budget was deemed adopted on December 27, 2025 with no veto. The Municipality says the amendment "did not impact the presented budget or the municipal tax levy".
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
A surplus is revenue minus spending for the year. Brighton's budget for 2023 planned $3,651,487 and the audited result was $9,369,860. Most of the gap is "Contributed tangible capital assets" of $5,996,493 (roads, pipes and similar things handed over, usually by developers), which the statements record as revenue even though no cash arrives. The Municipality's accounting policy says so. Cash actually fell from $13,840,299 to $12,422,630 and net debt rose from $331,010 to $2,893,279, partly because of a new $2,050,000 liability for asbestos removal and old gravel pit cleanup.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$51 millioncost of the new sewage plant, with almost $35 million from the Province and the rest to be borrowed
A sewage treatment plant cleans used water before it goes back into the environment. Brighton's 2026 budget presentation says the new plant is a $51 million project. The Municipality says it has received almost $35 million from the Province, and that the rest will come from an outside loan, paid back through water and sewer rates and development charges (fees paid when new homes are built). The 2025 budget already carried $19,936,962 of capital spending under Environmental Services. The newest statements we could read (2023) show long-term debt of $6,319,841. The presentation does not say how large the loan will be. By our working, the loan is at least about $16 million ($51 million less "almost $35 million"), which would be a large step up from today's debt.
Why it matters
A loan paid back from water and sewer rates is paid by the people who use the water and sewers, and a loan paid back from development charges depends on enough new homes being built. Residents can only judge the plan if the loan size, the rate rise and the assumptions about growth are public.
It could be because…
The Province's grant is large, so the loan may end up smaller than our rough working suggests.
Development charges from the 3020 new homes the plant is meant to allow may cover much of the repayments, so rates may rise only a little.
Loan terms are normally settled once tenders are in, so the amount may not be known yet.
A new plant replaces an older lagoon system, so some costs of the old system will stop.
Questions you could ask
What is the planned size, term and interest rate of the outside loan for the sewage plant?
How much will water and sewer rates, and development charges, have to rise to repay it, and what growth does that assume?
How does the new loan sit against the Province's annual debt repayment limit for Brighton?
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 Brighton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Mayor's directive on financing the plant: "This $51 million project will lower the environmental impact of sewage treatment, improve the services provided to all those living in Brighton, while expanding Brighton's capacity to build 3020 additional homes." "The Municipality has received almost $35 million from the Ontario Government through the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF). The balance of the project will be financed through an external loan. Annual debenture payments will be funded through the utility rates and development charges."
2025 budget, capital expenditures by department: Environmental Services $19,936,962, out of total capital expenditures of $41,636,762. The key projects slide for Environmental Services lists "Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction".
Statement of financial position: "Long term debt (note 12)" $6,319,841 at December 31, 2023 ($6,952,604 in 2022). Note 12: repayments due 2024 total $821,417 (principal $650,619, interest $170,798), and "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."
$13,167,000Fire Services capital in the 2025 budget, against $673,000 in 2026
The 2025 budget lists $13,167,000 of capital spending for Fire Services, and its key projects slide names a "New Fire/Paramedic Station". The 2026 presentation then says $500,000 is "budgeted for design and site plan of new fire station", and the whole Fire Services capital program for 2026 is $673,000. The 2026 presentation explains why a new station is needed (the current one was built in 1975 and has limited space and poor ventilation) and says an alternative site south of the tracks is being looked at. It does not say whether the 2025 amount was spent, carried forward or dropped.
Why it matters
A $13 million line is about a fifth of the $61,746,217 total in the 2025 budget (worked out by us). Residents should be able to see whether a project of that size is on track, delayed or changed, and how it will be paid for.
It could be because…
The 2025 line may have been the full estimated cost of the building, with only design work actually going ahead in 2025 and 2026.
Construction may be waiting for land or for a decision on where the station goes, which the 2026 presentation says is still being worked out.
Funding (loans, grants, development charges) may not yet be arranged, so Council may be holding the main spending back.
Questions you could ask
Is the $13,167,000 in the 2025 budget still the planned cost of the new fire and paramedic station, and was any of it spent in 2025?
When is construction planned, and how will it be paid for?
Why does the 2026 budget fund only design and site plan, and what is the new cost estimate?
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 Brighton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
2025 budget, capital expenditures by department: Fire Services $13,167,000, out of total capital expenditures of $41,636,762. The Fire key projects slide lists "New Fire/Paramedic Station" under "Capital Projects - Buildings".
2025 budget, "Total 2025 Expenditures": $61,746,217, with Fire Services $14,425,371 of it. The levy slide shows the same 2025 budget of $61,746,217 against revenue of $48,201,468.
Mayoral directive on fire infrastructure: "Proposed Budget Allocation: $500,000*" with the note "*budgeted for design and site plan of new fire station". "While under construction, an alternative location, south of the tracks, is being investigated, which may serve as a future substation." The 2026 capital program for Fire Services is $673,000.
$14,403,084the 2026 municipal levy, up from $12,240,318 in 2024
The municipal levy is the amount Brighton raises from property taxes for its own services. The 2025 presentation shows it at $12,240,318 for 2024 and $13,544,749 for 2025. The 2026 presentation shows $14,403,084 for 2026, a 4.9% tax increase after assessment growth. That is $2,162,766 more than the 2024 levy (worked out by us). The 2025 increase on a typical home was 6.24%. The 2026 presentation explains much of its increase: pay and benefits up 4.0% ($545,437), including a 4.75% cost-of-living increase, plus higher insurance, grants and physician recruitment costs. On the Municipality's own comparison, a $400,000 home pays $6,190.41 in total tax, third-lowest of the seven municipalities shown (worked out by us).
Why it matters
Two increases in a row compound. The Municipality has explained much of the 2026 rise, but residents can ask whether pay and other fixed costs will keep driving increases of this size and what, if anything, could be trimmed.
It could be because…
Most of the rise is pay and benefits set by contracts (a 4.75% cost-of-living increase), which the Municipality does not control year to year.
Brighton is growing, and the growth brings costs for roads, services and staff as well as new tax revenue.
Even after both increases, Brighton's tax bill on a $400,000 home is in the middle of the nearby municipalities the Municipality compares itself with.
Questions you could ask
What share of the 2024 to 2026 levy increase came from pay and benefits, and what share from new services?
What further tax increases does the Municipality's long-term plan assume for 2027 and 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 Brighton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
2025 budget, Municipal Budget Change: Tax Levy $12,240,318 (2024) and $13,544,749 (2025). 2024 Growth $320,423 and Tax Increase $984,009. The slide states "7.83% increase to Municipal Levy". A later slide states "6.24% residential increase".
2026 budget: Tax Levy 2025 $13,544,749, 2026 $14,403,084; Levy Increase $858,335; Assessment Growth $189,626; Tax Increase 4.9%. Key changes to operating expenditures: "Salary and Wage Changes - 4.0% ($545,437) increase", including "4.75% COLA", and "Departmental and Corporate Revenue and Expense Changes - 1.1% ($148,844) increase" with "Insurance, Grants-in-aid, Physician recruitment and animal control cost increases".
2025 municipal tax comparison on $400,000: Hamilton Township $5,155.72, Alnwick/Haldimand $5,657.98, Municipality of Brighton $6,190.41, Cramahe $6,682.55, Trent Hills $6,689.75, Cobourg $7,173.12, Port Hope $7,892.94.
The 2024 budget introduced an Automatic Speed Enforcement (ASE) program, the speed-camera program, along with a by-law officer "to support STA/ASE/Enhanced enforcement". The 2026 budget presentation lists the "Elimination of ASE revenue" as a challenge, and "ASE Revenues from 2025" as an opportunity. It also says the 2026 budget lowers building revenues because of a "budget mis-statement in 2025". The presentation gives no dollar amounts for any of these.
Why it matters
Revenue that is counted on and then does not arrive has to be made up by taxes, reserves or cuts. Residents cannot tell whether these were small or large without the numbers.
It could be because…
ASE revenue may have been planned as a short-term amount, with the 2025 balance carried into 2026 as the presentation suggests.
Building permit revenue depends on how many homes are built in a year, and an over-estimate is a normal kind of budgeting error.
The amounts may be small compared with the $14,403,084 levy.
Questions you could ask
How much ASE revenue was in the 2025 budget, how much came in, and what happens to the by-law officer position and other ASE costs now that the revenue has ended?
How much was the 2025 building revenue budget overstated, and how was the gap covered?
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 Brighton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Budget challenges: "Elimination of ASE revenue". Opportunities: "ASE Revenues from 2025". Key changes to operating expenditures: "Decrease to Building Revenues (budget mis-statement in 2025) and Tourism revenues (previous budgets over estimated)".
The Municipality's Financial Statements page says audited statements are presented to Council after the audit is complete. The 2023 statements carry a clean opinion ("present fairly") from Baker Tilly KDN LLP dated February 2025, about 14 months after the year ended (worked out by us). The page lists the statements for 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017. We did not find 2021 or 2025. The 2024 file has 56 PDF pages and every page is a picture with no readable text, so we could not read any figure from it and used none. Because of this, the 2023 statements are the newest ones this pack can quote.
Why it matters
Audited statements are how residents check what the Municipality owns and owes. Late statements, a missing year and a file that screen readers and search cannot read make that harder.
It could be because…
Many Ontario municipalities were delayed by new accounting standards in 2023 (these statements record a new asset retirement obligation), so a late audit may not be unusual.
The scan may be a signed copy, with a text version held elsewhere.
The 2021 statements and the 2025 statements may exist and just not be posted on this page.
Questions you could ask
When will the audited 2025 statements be finished and posted, and in what form?
What caused the 2023 audit to finish in February 2025, and has the timing improved for 2024?
Can the 2024 statements be posted as a text PDF, and the 2021 statements added?
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 Brighton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Independent Auditor's Report by Baker Tilly KDN LLP, Peterborough: "the accompanying consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Municipality as at December 31, 2023". The report is dated February 2025 (the date is printed over two overlapping lines in the file, so we use only the month and year).
The page lists "Audited Financial Statements" for 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017, and says they "are presented annually to Council after the third-party audit is complete". We did not find statements for 2021 or 2025 on it.
In its accumulated surplus note, Brighton lists "Unfunded capital" of $4,535,222 at the end of 2023, up from $3,760,699 a year earlier. Protection services (fire and similar) make up $2,189,284. This is capital spending that is not yet matched by money set aside, which will have to be paid later from taxes, fees or loans. Over the same year, savings in reserves fell from $4,684,020 to $4,114,490 and in reserve funds from $5,752,132 to $5,001,759. The statements do not explain the rise.
Why it matters
Spending first and funding later is a normal way to build things, but it is a promise on future tax bills. If the amount keeps growing as savings fall, there is less cushion for the sewage plant and fire station now planned.
It could be because…
Unfunded capital is often repaid by grants or development charges that arrive after the work is done.
Reserves are meant to be spent on repairs and equipment, so a fall in a year with large capital work is expected.
The Municipality has a $4,000,000 operating credit line it did not use at the end of 2023.
Questions you could ask
How is the unfunded capital of $4,535,222 expected to be paid for, and by when?
What was the unfunded capital at the end of 2024 and 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 Brighton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 16: "Unfunded capital" (4,535,222) in 2023 and (3,760,699) in 2022, of which "Protection services" (2,189,284) and (1,175,813). "Reserves" 4,114,490 (2022: 4,684,020). "Reserve funds" 5,001,759 (2022: 5,752,132).
Brighton spent about $215 per home on council in 2024. The typical similar town spent $51. Only 6 of 91 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 does the Governance line in Brighton's Financial Information Return include, and why did it jump between 2020 and 2021?
What did Council cost in 2024 (pay, benefits and expenses), counting only members of Council?
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 Brighton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Council per home: Brighton $215; typical similar town $51; ranked 7th highest of 92.
Brighton spent $1.7M on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $2.5M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time.
Why did the cost of water, sewers and garbage grow 44% in 5 years?
Water, sewers and garbage
Prices (inflation)
−20%+0%+20%+40%+60%
+44%
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Water, sewers and garbage
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
−3%
+1%
2021
−3%
+4%
2022
+39%
+11%
2023
+18%
+16%
2024
+44%
+18%
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
What did the extra $767K a year pay for?
Why did sewer pipes go from $2,870 to $1.4M?
Was each increase approved by council as a separate decision, or did it happen through the yearly 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 Brighton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Brighton had $8.9M saved at the end of 2024, up from $8.5M in 2019. That is 54% of one year's spending. Only 13 of 91 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Does Brighton have enough saved for repairs and emergencies?
$0$2.0M$4.0M$6.0M$8.0M$10M$12M
$8.9M
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Savings (reserves)
2019
$8.5M
2020
$9.2M
2021
$10.8M
2022
$10.4M
2023
$9.1M
2024
$8.9M
Why it matters
With little saved, a broken bridge or a storm has to be paid for with a sudden tax increase or a loan. Low savings can also mean past budgets were balanced by spending savings instead of facing the real cost.
It could be because…
The town spent savings on purpose, on projects that were planned and saved up for.
Some savings were used to match grant money, which brings in more than it costs.
The town has a plan to rebuild its savings.
Questions you could ask
Does the town have a written reserve policy with a target amount?
What were the savings spent on between 2019 and 2024?
What is the plan to rebuild them, and by when?
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 Brighton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
At the end of 2024, $3.0M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 12% of everything billed. Only 9 of 91 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $2.1M.
Why are so many property taxes unpaid?
$0$1.0M$2.0M$3.0M
$3.0M
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Unpaid property tax at year end
2019
$1.5M
2020
$1.8M
2021
$1.6M
2022
$2.1M
2023
$2.1M
2024
$3.0M
Why it matters
When taxes go unpaid, everyone else carries the cost, and the town may borrow to cover the gap. The Province's financial indicators treat 10% to 15% as a moderate risk and more than 15% as a high risk. Collection is the town's job, so a rising number is worth asking about.
It could be because…
The final tax bill was due late in the year, so some payments simply arrived in January.
A few large properties are in dispute or being sold for back taxes.
Hard times for residents, which the town may be handling with payment plans.
Questions you could ask
How much is more than one year overdue, and from how many properties?
Are the rules for chasing unpaid taxes applied the same way to everyone?
Has the town registered tax arrears certificates on properties about two years behind? If still unpaid a year after that, Ontario law lets the town sell the property.
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 Brighton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Taxes receivable: 2019 $1.5M, 2020 $1.8M, 2021 $1.6M, 2022 $2.1M, 2023 $2.1M, 2024 $3.0M. Of the 2024 total, $1.3M was from earlier years.
Statement of Financial Position: "Taxes receivable" $2,057,206 at December 31, 2023 and $2,095,171 at December 31, 2022. The 2024 statements are scanned and were not read.
Since May 1, 2025, the Province has given Brighton's Mayor "strong mayor" powers, including writing the budget. For 2025, Council held budget meetings on January 15, January 29 and February 7, plus a public meeting on February 18, and passed the budget by by-law on March 3, 2025. For 2026, the Mayor's June 12, 2025 directive told staff to prepare a draft budget with a budget committee of the Mayor, the CAO and the Treasurer. The Mayor presented the budget on November 17, 2025, Council had 30 days to propose changes, passed one amendment (an extra $50,000 for the Brighton Homelessness Task Force's recommendations), and the budget was deemed adopted on December 27, 2025 with no veto. The Municipality says the amendment "did not impact the presented budget or the municipal tax levy".
Why it matters
Under the new process the elected Council no longer drafts the budget, so the published record of how it was shaped matters more. Residents may want to know how councillors' views reached the draft.
It could be because…
The Province, not Brighton, chose to give the Mayor these powers, and the Mayor followed the legal steps.
The June 2025 letter says the draft should reflect "the input of Council members", so councillors may have had a say before the draft was written.
The amendment may have been paid for from inside the existing budget, which would explain why the levy did not change.
Questions you could ask
How were councillors asked for input before the Mayor's 2026 draft budget was written, and is that recorded?
How was the $50,000 amendment paid for if it did not change the budget or the 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 Brighton?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Budgets page, 2026 Budget: "the Mayor's budget was presented on November 17, 2025. Council was then provided with a 30-day period to bring forward motions to amend the budget as presented." Council passed one amendment on November 24 for "an additional allocation of $50,000 for implementing recommendations of the Brighton Homelessness Task Force". "This amendment did not impact the presented budget or the municipal tax levy." The budget "was deemed adopted on December 27, 2025". For 2025, deliberations began January 15th, 2025 and the budget "was passed with a By-Law on March 3rd, 2025".
Mayoral directive dated June 12, 2025: staff to "Develop a budget committee made up of the Mayor, CAO, and Treasurer (or designate)". The attached letter asks for a draft "on or before October 31, 2025" and says the direction "is intended to support the timely development of a proposed budget that reflects both the strategic priorities of this office and the input of Council members."
The Province announced Strong Mayor Powers for 169 additional municipalities, "Municipality of Brighton included effective May 1, 2025". They include powers to "Propose the Municipality’s annual budget subject to Council amendments, a Mayoral veto, and a Council override process".
A surplus is revenue minus spending for the year. Brighton's budget for 2023 planned $3,651,487 and the audited result was $9,369,860. Most of the gap is "Contributed tangible capital assets" of $5,996,493 (roads, pipes and similar things handed over, usually by developers), which the statements record as revenue even though no cash arrives. The Municipality's accounting policy says so. Cash actually fell from $13,840,299 to $12,422,630 and net debt rose from $331,010 to $2,893,279, partly because of a new $2,050,000 liability for asbestos removal and old gravel pit cleanup.
Why it matters
A big surplus can look like spare money. This one was mostly paper revenue, so it does not mean the Municipality had more to spend or could have taxed less.
It could be because…
Contributed assets are non-cash and expected to vary a lot from year to year.
The $2,050,000 liability is a new accounting requirement, not a new spending decision.
Environmental services spending was below budget ($2,989,234 against $4,101,089), which also adds to the surplus.
Questions you could ask
What was the result for 2024 and 2025 against budget, and how much was non-cash?
Does the Municipality plan to rebuild cash balances, and by how much?
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.
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The evidence
Statement of Operations 2023: "ANNUAL SURPLUS" budget 3,651,487, actual 9,369,860. "Contributed tangible capital assets" budget -, actual 5,996,493. "TOTAL REVENUES" budget 24,045,587, actual 29,329,448. "Environmental services" budget 4,101,089, actual 2,989,234.
Statement of Financial Position: "Cash" 12,422,630 (2022: 13,840,299). "NET DEBT" (2,893,279) (2022: (331,010)). "Asset retirement obligations (note 13)" 2,050,000. Policy note: "Tangible capital assets received as contributions are recorded at their fair value at the date of receipt and are also recorded as revenue."
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