Not the full picture. Built from public records, which leave things out.Older reportDetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 An older report. We have no 2024 report for Brockville in the Province's latest release, so these pages use its 2023 report. It may simply be filed late. Read by hand. We read Brockville'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 · 9 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Brockville's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 5 similar Ontario places. 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.
$322,217donations and fundraising revenue in 2022, the item the auditor could not fully check
An auditor checks a city's yearly statements and says whether they are fair. A qualified opinion means "fair, except for one problem". For 2022 the auditor said it could not fully check the City's donation and fundraising revenue. The report is dated November 27, 2023, almost eleven months after year end. The City's finance page lists audited statements for 2022 and 2023 only. The 2023 file is a scan we could not read, and we did not find 2024 or 2025.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$2.1 millionRailway Tunnel cost over its planned budget, which the City covers if fundraising falls short (2022 statements)
The City's 2022 statements say that if fundraising for the Aquatarium falls short, the City pays the rest. They say the Railway Tunnel came in $2.1 million over its planned budget, with the cost to be recovered through donations, and the City covers any shortfall. The City also committed $150,000 a year to the Aquatarium and said it gave $619,811 in operating and in-kind funding in 2022. In the Mayor's 2026 draft budget the Aquatarium line rises from $382,260 to $470,681, and the capital list includes $240,000 for Aquatarium roof repairs and $150,000 of debt for Railway Tunnel lighting.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
12.73%year-over-year increase in the cost of policing in the Mayor's 2026 draft budget
In the Mayor's draft, police operating costs rise from $10,588,422 to $11,569,316 (9.26%), and a new $367,280 police capital line is added. The Mayor writes that the total is a 12.73% year-over-year increase and that he asked the Police Services Board to take another look for savings. Community partners, the outside groups the City funds, rise 8.77% against 3.52% for City departments. The Mayor says they are about 40% of the tax levy.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$4,557,975of capital projects deferred in the Mayor's 2026 draft budget
A reserve is savings set aside for later. The City's Fiscal Policy reserve held $3,605,106 at the end of 2022, the latest statements we could read. The Mayor's 2026 package says it was used to hold down tax increases in 2023, 2024 and 2025. The 2025 budget book says the 2024 budget used $800,000 of it and the 2025 draft used none. In December 2024 Council also agreed to fund $191,818 of tunnel kiosk upgrades from it. The 2026 draft defers $4,557,975 of capital projects within a capital list of $10,573,546.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$1,350,3022026 debt charges in the Mayor's draft, down from $1,980,202
Debt charges are what the City pays each year on money it borrowed. In the Mayor's draft they fall from $1,980,202 to $1,350,302. Two lines move: the debt line falls from $3,482,999 to $1,558,473, and an offsetting revenue line of $1,294,626 goes to zero. The 2026 capital list names many items to be paid by debt, such as a plow truck at $449,995 and softball diamonds at $673,000.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
Places keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Brockville had $21.9M saved at the end of 2023, up from $19.2M in 2019. That is 35% of one year's spending. None of the 5 similar places had less, compared with what they spend.
Found automatically from the city's financial reports · 2 sources
$15,602.49billed for Integrity Commissioner services, July 17, 2025 to July 16, 2026
The Integrity Commissioner's annual report for July 17, 2025 to July 16, 2026 says three Code of Conduct complaints were received. One was dismissed on preliminary grounds. Of the two investigated, in one the Commissioner found the member contravened the Code and recommended a reprimand, and in the other found no contravention. The report does not name anyone. Billing for the period was $15,602.49. We did not find the investigation reports on the City's site.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 1 source
5.72%combined increase to the tax levy in the Mayor's 2026 draft
The Mayor's letter says the 2026 budget was brought forward under the strong mayor framework and that no formal budget requests came from members of Council while staff prepared it. It says no incremental items are in the draft, but members can bring them forward as amendments. We read the Mayor's draft package, not the adopted budget book, so we cannot say what Council changed.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 2 sources
$322,217donations and fundraising revenue in 2022, the item the auditor could not fully check
An auditor checks a city's yearly statements and says whether they are fair. A qualified opinion means "fair, except for one problem". For 2022 the auditor said it could not fully check the City's donation and fundraising revenue. The report is dated November 27, 2023, almost eleven months after year end. The City's finance page lists audited statements for 2022 and 2023 only. The 2023 file is a scan we could not read, and we did not find 2024 or 2025.
Why it matters
Residents rely on audited statements to know what the City owns and owes. The money in question is small, but late and hard-to-read statements make it harder to follow the City's finances in an election year.
It could be because…
Auditors often qualify opinions when cash donations cannot be fully traced. The City may have no way to prove every donation was recorded.
The amount is small next to total revenue of $63,917,955, about half of one percent (worked out by us).
The City may have posted newer statements in a place we did not look, such as CivicWeb, which we did not open.
Questions you could ask
When will the 2024 and 2025 audited statements be posted, and in a form people can read?
What did the City change after 2022 to record donations so the auditor can check them?
Why was the 2022 report not signed until November 27, 2023?
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 Brockville?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Independent Auditor's Report, Basis for Qualified Opinion: "The City derives revenue from donations and fundraising, the completeness of which is not susceptible to satisfactory audit verification." The report is signed by MNP LLP, Kingston, "November 27, 2023".
Statement of operations, 2022: "Donations and fundraising" budget 83,150, actual 322,217 (2021 actual 188,234). Total revenues actual 63,917,955. The management report is dated "Dec 12 2023".
$2.1 millionRailway Tunnel cost over its planned budget, which the City covers if fundraising falls short (2022 statements)
The City's 2022 statements say that if fundraising for the Aquatarium falls short, the City pays the rest. They say the Railway Tunnel came in $2.1 million over its planned budget, with the cost to be recovered through donations, and the City covers any shortfall. The City also committed $150,000 a year to the Aquatarium and said it gave $619,811 in operating and in-kind funding in 2022. In the Mayor's 2026 draft budget the Aquatarium line rises from $382,260 to $470,681, and the capital list includes $240,000 for Aquatarium roof repairs and $150,000 of debt for Railway Tunnel lighting.
Why it matters
A promise to cover a shortfall is a cost that does not show up as a budget line until it is used. Residents can ask how much of the $2.1 million has been raised and what the City has paid so far.
It could be because…
The 2022 note says only $23,634 of the Aquatarium's unfunded cost remained and was pledged through donations due by 2026, so that risk may be nearly gone.
Tunnel fundraising may have continued since 2022. The latest readable statements we have are for 2022.
The Aquatarium increase may include roof or insurance costs the City pays on its behalf.
Questions you could ask
How much of the $2.1 million Railway Tunnel overrun has been raised, and how much has the City paid?
What is behind the $88,421 rise in the Aquatarium's 2026 budget?
Is the $23,634 Aquatarium pledge fully collected?
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 Brockville?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 8: "A total of $20,729,363 was spent and a fundraising goal of $4 million was established"; remaining unfunded cost "$23,634"; "If for any reason the fundraising campaign falls short, the City would be responsible for the balance." The City "has committed to annual funding of $150,000"; "In 2022, the City provided $619,811 (2021 - $669,453) in operating funding and in-kind funding to the Aquatarium."
Note 11(b): "The project, after completion, was determined to have costed $2.1 million over the pre-determined budget. The recovery of these costs is expected to be recovered through donations and fundraising events hosted by the Brockville Tunnel Committee. In an event of a shortfall with raising funds, the City would be responsible for covering the costs."
12.73%year-over-year increase in the cost of policing in the Mayor's 2026 draft budget
In the Mayor's draft, police operating costs rise from $10,588,422 to $11,569,316 (9.26%), and a new $367,280 police capital line is added. The Mayor writes that the total is a 12.73% year-over-year increase and that he asked the Police Services Board to take another look for savings. Community partners, the outside groups the City funds, rise 8.77% against 3.52% for City departments. The Mayor says they are about 40% of the tax levy.
Why it matters
Policing is the biggest single cause of the levy rising faster than inflation, according to the Mayor. Residents will want to know what the extra money buys, and whether the review changed the number.
It could be because…
The Mayor says municipalities across Ontario face quickly rising costs for policing and emergency services.
Part of the rise is capital (vehicles and equipment), which is one-time money in a given year.
This is the draft. The adopted number may differ, and we did not read the adopted budget book.
Questions you could ask
What did the Police Services Board change after the Mayor asked for another review?
What does the $367,280 police capital line pay for?
What is the adopted 2026 police figure?
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 Brockville?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
2026 Community Partner Budget: "Police" 10,588,422 (2025) and 11,569,316 (2026), change 980,894, 9.26%. "Police - Capital" 0 and 367,280. "Community Partner Total" 19,216,391 and 20,902,093, change 1,685,702, 8.77%.
Mayor's letter: "The draft budget currently reflects the full 9.26% they have proposed plus an additional amount for capital which brings the overall cost of policing in the City of Brockville to a year over year increase of 12.73%." Also: "I have requested that the Board take another review to hopefully find some savings." Combined levy increase 5.72%; tax rate increase 4.42%.
Mayor's letter, draft budget summary: "City Departments: Operating and Capital Budget: 3.52%" and "Community Partners: 8.77%". Also: "which brings the total tax levy for City departments and Capital to 3.52%."
$4,557,975of capital projects deferred in the Mayor's 2026 draft budget
A reserve is savings set aside for later. The City's Fiscal Policy reserve held $3,605,106 at the end of 2022, the latest statements we could read. The Mayor's 2026 package says it was used to hold down tax increases in 2023, 2024 and 2025. The 2025 budget book says the 2024 budget used $800,000 of it and the 2025 draft used none. In December 2024 Council also agreed to fund $191,818 of tunnel kiosk upgrades from it. The 2026 draft defers $4,557,975 of capital projects within a capital list of $10,573,546.
Why it matters
Using savings to hold taxes down works only while the savings last. Put-off projects still have to be paid for later. Residents can ask what the reserve holds now and what the plan is.
It could be because…
The City may have topped up the reserve since 2022. We have no later balance.
Deferring projects is a normal way to keep a tax increase near 3%, as the Mayor says.
Spending a reserve on a one-time project, as with the kiosks, is what reserves are for.
Questions you could ask
What is the Fiscal Policy reserve balance today?
Which of the $4,557,975 deferred projects are safety or building-condition items, and what happens if they wait?
Does the City plan to use the reserve again in 2026?
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 Brockville?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 12(b), Fiscal policy reserve: balance at the beginning of the year $ 3,982,565; "Net transfers included in budget" (390,955); balance at the end of the year $ 3,605,106.
2025 Budget Book: "The 2024 budget included a contribution from the Fiscal Policy Reserve of $800,000 for budget mitigation ($400,000 for City Departments and $400,000 for Community Partners). No contribution from the Fiscal Policy Reserve is included in this draft budget."
Council minutes of December 10, 2024: "THAT Council approve the expenditure of $191,818 for replacement of existing tunnel kiosk enclosures with NEMA 4X enclosures (Option 3) to be funded by the fiscal policy reserve." Carried 8-0 on a recorded vote.
Mayor's package: "Fiscal Policy was used recently to mitigate both the 2023, 2024 and 2025 tax rate increases due to unprecedented interest rates and inflation." Total 2026 capital projects $ 10,573,546. Total Deferred Capital Projects $ 4,557,975.
$1,350,3022026 debt charges in the Mayor's draft, down from $1,980,202
Debt charges are what the City pays each year on money it borrowed. In the Mayor's draft they fall from $1,980,202 to $1,350,302. Two lines move: the debt line falls from $3,482,999 to $1,558,473, and an offsetting revenue line of $1,294,626 goes to zero. The 2026 capital list names many items to be paid by debt, such as a plow truck at $449,995 and softball diamonds at $673,000.
Why it matters
A drop in debt payments helps the 2026 levy, but new borrowing brings payments later. Residents can ask when the new items' payments start and whether the drop is a one-time effect.
It could be because…
Older loans may be paid off. The 2022 statements say the Province pays $846,192 a year toward St. Lawrence Lodge debentures "until the debentures are repaid in 2025". The City does not say the 2026 drop comes from this.
The $1,294,626 revenue line may have been a one-time offset in 2025 that is not repeated.
New debt is usually issued after the item is bought, so payments may begin after 2026.
Questions you could ask
Which loans ended, and what was the $1,294,626 revenue that does not return in 2026?
What will debt charges be in 2027 once the 2026 items are financed?
How much of the capital list marked Debt will actually be borrowed?
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 Brockville?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
2026 City Department by Object, Debt Charges: "User Fees and Other Revenue" (1,294,626) in 2025 and 0 in 2026; "Grants" (208,171); "Debt" 3,482,999 and 1,558,473; "Debt Charges Total" 1,980,202 and 1,350,302, change (629,900), -31.81%.
Note 18, St. Lawrence Lodge: "The Province of Ontario is committed to providing $846,192 annually until the debentures are repaid in 2025." The City was responsible for $1,543,327 of the year's debenture payments.
Places keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Brockville had $21.9M saved at the end of 2023, up from $19.2M in 2019. That is 35% of one year's spending. None of the 5 similar places had less, compared with what they spend.
Does Brockville have enough saved for repairs and emergencies?
$0$5.0M$10M$15M$20M$25M
$21.9M
20192020202120222023
Show as a table
Year
Savings (reserves)
2019
$19.2M
2020
$18.6M
2021
$21.7M
2022
$21.6M
2023
$21.9M
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 city 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 city has a plan to rebuild its savings.
Questions you could ask
Does the city have a written reserve policy with a target amount?
What were the savings spent on between 2019 and 2023?
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 Brockville?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
$15,602.49billed for Integrity Commissioner services, July 17, 2025 to July 16, 2026
The Integrity Commissioner's annual report for July 17, 2025 to July 16, 2026 says three Code of Conduct complaints were received. One was dismissed on preliminary grounds. Of the two investigated, in one the Commissioner found the member contravened the Code and recommended a reprimand, and in the other found no contravention. The report does not name anyone. Billing for the period was $15,602.49. We did not find the investigation reports on the City's site.
Why it matters
Council members agree to follow the Code of Conduct. Residents can ask whether Council acted on the recommendation and where the report can be read.
It could be because…
Individual reports may be posted with Council agendas on CivicWeb, which we did not open.
A reprimand is a recommendation Council votes on, so the outcome may already be in the minutes.
The annual report is meant to be a summary, so names and details may be left out on purpose.
Questions you could ask
Did Council vote on the recommended reprimand, and when?
Where can residents read the investigation report?
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 Brockville?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
"During this operating period, three Code of Conduct complaints were received. I dismissed one complaint on preliminary grounds, and conducted investigations of the other two complaints." For one, "I determined that the Respondent contravened the Code of Conduct and recommended a reprimand." Billing totalled "$15,602.49 ($13,807.50 plus $1,794.99 HST)".
5.72%combined increase to the tax levy in the Mayor's 2026 draft
The Mayor's letter says the 2026 budget was brought forward under the strong mayor framework and that no formal budget requests came from members of Council while staff prepared it. It says no incremental items are in the draft, but members can bring them forward as amendments. We read the Mayor's draft package, not the adopted budget book, so we cannot say what Council changed.
Why it matters
Under strong mayor rules the Mayor releases the budget and Council can amend it. Residents can ask what amendments were tried and what was adopted.
It could be because…
The Mayor says the process stayed the same as in past years.
Council members may have proposed amendments after the draft came out, which the Mayor's letter invites.
Council may have given its input in earlier meetings we did not read.
Questions you could ask
Which amendments did members of Council propose, and which passed?
How does the adopted 2026 levy differ from the 5.72% in the draft?
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 Brockville?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
"Although the 2026 budget is being brought forward under the strong mayor framework required by recent amendments to the Ontario Municipal Act, the preparation process has remained consistent with past practice." Also: "No formal budget requests were received from members of Council during the preparation phase." and "A list of incremental items is included however none have been incorporated into the draft budget".
Brockville spent about $147 per home on snow ploughing in 2023. The typical similar city spent $94. None of the 5 similar places 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 places 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 places?
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 Brockville?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Snow ploughing per home: Brockville $147; typical similar city $94; ranked 1st highest of 6.
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