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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Caledon'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 Caledon's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 10 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
What these are, and what they are not. A question here means a number or practice is unusual, or harder to see than it should be. It does not mean anyone did anything wrong. Most unusual numbers turn out to have ordinary explanations, and every question lists some. The only way to know is to ask.
Worth asking
Worth asking
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
-$10,001,120forecast balance of the Development Approvals Stabilization reserve at the end of 2026 (it was -$979,097 at the end of 2024)
A reserve is money the Town sets aside for a purpose, like a savings account. A "stabilization" reserve is meant to even out years when fee income is low. The 2026 budget book forecasts that the Development Approvals Stabilization reserve will stand at minus $10,001,120 at the end of 2026, down from minus $979,097 at the end of 2024. The Building Permit Stabilization reserve fund is forecast to go from $1,565,332 to minus $2,781,108 over the same time. In the same book, the Planning and Development department plans to take $13,121 thousand out of reserves in 2026, against $5,682 thousand in 2024. The Town says the larger withdrawals follow its 2025 update of the Fees and Charges By-law.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$200,082,664cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2025, up from $150,337,357
At December 31, 2025 the Town held $200,082,664 in cash, up from $150,337,357 a year earlier. Much of it is not free money. Deferred revenue (money received before the Town can count it) rose from $117,910,128 to $139,955,702, and includes $87,644,255 of development charges. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (bills the Town owes) rose from $45,172,018 to $76,830,382. The statements say that developer money is part of those payables. In 2025 the Town also moved $17,334,347 of developer deposits out of its trust funds and into its own accounts, and it holds $192,861,575 in non-cash security from developers (such as letters of credit).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$14,410.74the Mayor's training, development and seminar costs in 2025, against $215.49 in 2024
Each year the Town publishes what it paid members of Council. For the Mayor, Annette Groves, the total was $153,009.35 for 2023, $173,384.50 for 2024 and $194,143.33 for 2025 (a rise of about 27%, worked out by us). Her salary went from $122,612.32 to $139,866.02. Her expenses were $4,911.00, $4,570.04 and $20,427.03. The 2025 jump comes mostly from one line, "Training, Development, Seminars": $215.49 in 2024 and $14,410.74 in 2025. Across all of Council, that line came to $36,599.30 in 2025 against a budget of $33,779.78. Councillors' salaries rose by a few percent a year, while their "other benefit costs" (health, dental and insurance paid by the Town) rose from $5,161.80 to $7,859.90 each.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
4of Council's changes to the 2026 budget vetoed by the Mayor on November 27, 2025
Under Ontario law, the Mayor of Caledon has "strong mayor" powers. These include proposing the budget and vetoing changes Council makes to it. On May 29, 2025 the Mayor directed the Town's chief financial officer to prepare the 2026 budget on a schedule that generally follows earlier years. On November 27, 2025 the Mayor vetoed four of Council's changes to the 2026 budget: $165,000 for a shade structure and benches at a park, the removal of $284,073 for a Physician Recruitment position (2 FTE), the addition of $144,834 for one such position, and the removal of $168,343 for an Advisor, Intergovernmental Affairs. She said she did not veto any other change. The final budget book still lists the two staff requests at $284 thousand and $168 thousand.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
4 of 4complaints the Integrity Commissioner investigated and reported on in 2025 ended with a finding of a Code of Conduct breach
The Integrity Commissioner is an independent person who checks whether members of Council follow the Town's Code of Conduct. In 2023 the Commissioner of that time ordered a four-week pay suspension for Mayor Annette Groves. In 2024 a new Commissioner received 11 complaints about four councillors and found violations in two cases. In 2025 he investigated and reported on four complaints and found a breach in all four. For two of them (Councillor Dave Sheen) the penalty was a 15-day pay suspension and an apology, and for the Mayor he found two breaches too minor to penalize. In July 2026 he recommended a 10-day pay suspension for Councillor Lynn Kiernan. We did not read the minutes, so we do not know how Council handled each report.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
Sept. 19 and 20, 2025the email exchange between members of Council that the investigator found was an improper meeting
Ontario's open meeting rule says that when a quorum (enough members to make decisions) of Council discusses Town business in a way that moves it forward, the public must be able to watch. On March 5, 2026 the Town's closed meeting investigator reported on a request about emails among members of Council, all of whom were copied, on September 19 and 20, 2025 about a reserve fund. The investigator found that Council "contravened section 239 of the Municipal Act, 2001". The Town told the investigator it had no comments on the draft report. The investigator recommended training on open and closed meetings for the new Council in the first quarter of 2027.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
July 1, 2027the date regional roads and related stormwater move from Peel to Caledon, according to the 2025 financial statements
The Region of Peel is handing some services to Caledon, Brampton and Mississauga. The 2025 audited statements say that regional roads and the stormwater systems that go with them move to Caledon on July 1, 2027, and that Caledon is partnering with Brampton on waste collection. The 2026 budget book says the Town is working toward "a sustainable funding model" but gives no cost for the new roads. It budgets $1,397 thousand in 2026 for transition staff, paid from a reserve, and says these costs are expected to be recovered from the Region. It also says it will use the Tax Funded Contingency Reserve if tariffs or other costs go over budget, a reserve forecast at $2,033,506 at the end of 2026.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
In 2025, Caledon collected $9.0M more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 9% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. Only 1 of 10 similar towns raised theirs by more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
Caledon spent $18.6M on running the town office in 2019 and $34.3M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 0 of 10 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
Caledon spent $16.6M on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $32.8M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 0 of 10 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Caledon had $34.2M saved at the end of 2025, down from $39.4M in 2019. That is 25% of one year's spending. None of the 10 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$58,764,412annual surplus in 2025, against a budget of $29,982,743
A surplus is what is left when a year's revenue is more than its spending. The audited statements show a 2025 surplus of $58,764,412. The budget in the same statements planned $29,982,743. Most of the gap is on one line: "Developer contributions" were budgeted at $12,020,958 and came in at $37,096,178. The statements also show $24,477,710 of "contributed tangible capital assets", which are roads, sewers and parks that developers built and handed to the Town. That is not cash. The Town explains in its budget books that the budget Council approves is prepared on a cash basis, so it does not match the accrual figures in the statements.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
-$10,001,120forecast balance of the Development Approvals Stabilization reserve at the end of 2026 (it was -$979,097 at the end of 2024)
A reserve is money the Town sets aside for a purpose, like a savings account. A "stabilization" reserve is meant to even out years when fee income is low. The 2026 budget book forecasts that the Development Approvals Stabilization reserve will stand at minus $10,001,120 at the end of 2026, down from minus $979,097 at the end of 2024. The Building Permit Stabilization reserve fund is forecast to go from $1,565,332 to minus $2,781,108 over the same time. In the same book, the Planning and Development department plans to take $13,121 thousand out of reserves in 2026, against $5,682 thousand in 2024. The Town says the larger withdrawals follow its 2025 update of the Fees and Charges By-law.
Why it matters
A reserve with a negative balance means more has been spent from it than has been put in. Something else has to cover the gap now, and it has to be paid back later by higher fees, higher taxes or both. Residents have a stake in which one it will be.
It could be because…
Stabilization reserves are meant to be drawn down when fee income is lower than the cost of the staff who process applications. A temporary negative balance can be a planned loan from other Town money, paid back when fees rise.
The Town says the larger withdrawals follow the 2025 update of the Fees and Charges By-law, so the plan may be to recover the cost through new fees over time.
The 2026 figures are forecasts made in November 2025, not results. Development activity could come in higher or lower.
Money from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund, which the Town lists in the same department budget, may pay for some of the new work.
Questions you could ask
How and when will the Development Approvals Stabilization and Building Permit Stabilization reserves be brought back above zero, and what fees are expected to do it?
Which Town money is covering the shortfall in the meantime, and does it carry interest?
What development-fee income does the Town expect in 2026, and what is that based on?
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 Caledon?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Reserve Balance Forecast, uncommitted balances. Development Approvals Stabilization: 2024 actual $ (979,097); 2025 projected $ (2,131,259); 2026 projected $ (10,001,120). Uncommitted balance for 2024: $ (1,304,097) and $ 727,464. Building Permit Stabilization: 2024 actual $ 1,565,332; 2025 projected $ (1,228,083); 2026 projected $ (2,781,108). Total of all reserves, uncommitted: $ 82,559,183 for 2025 and $ 63,399,681 for 2026.
Planning and Development ($ 000's): "Transfers from Reserves" (5,682) in 2024 actual, (3,019) in the 2025 approved budget, (13,121) in the 2026 budget. Salaries & Benefits 10,007 (2024 actual), 12,976 (2025 approved), 16,152 (2026). The Town's note on the page after says the revenue increase is mainly due to higher withdrawals from the Development Approvals Stabilization Reserve, in line with 2025 updates to the Fees and Charges By-law.
A year earlier, the 2025 budget book forecast the Development Approvals Stabilization reserve at 724,032 for 2024 and (333,661) for 2025, and the Building Permit Stabilization reserve at 3,083,258 for 2024 and 1,387,030 for 2025.
Note 14, Reserves and Reserve Funds: total 34,244,445 at December 31, 2025 against 39,178,795 at December 31, 2024. Reserve funds for "Current purposes" fell from 10,555,895 to 1,757,344. During the same year cash and cash equivalents rose from 150,337,357 to 200,082,664.
$200,082,664cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2025, up from $150,337,357
At December 31, 2025 the Town held $200,082,664 in cash, up from $150,337,357 a year earlier. Much of it is not free money. Deferred revenue (money received before the Town can count it) rose from $117,910,128 to $139,955,702, and includes $87,644,255 of development charges. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (bills the Town owes) rose from $45,172,018 to $76,830,382. The statements say that developer money is part of those payables. In 2025 the Town also moved $17,334,347 of developer deposits out of its trust funds and into its own accounts, and it holds $192,861,575 in non-cash security from developers (such as letters of credit).
Why it matters
Cash that belongs to others must be given back or spent only on set things. If the Town earns interest on it, residents may want to know who keeps that interest. A reader looking only at the cash total could think the Town is far richer than it is.
It could be because…
Developers post deposits and security so the Town can finish work if they do not, and the Town must hold them until the work is done. Large balances can simply reflect a lot of development.
The statements explain that the developer money moved because it was "not required to be held in trust", so the move may be only a change in bookkeeping.
Interest on development charges is added to those funds and stays restricted (Note 8 shows $2,800,369 of investment income added in 2025 across the restricted funds).
Payables also include ordinary bills and holdbacks on construction contracts, so not all of the $76.8 million is developer money.
Questions you could ask
How much of the $76,830,382 in accounts payable and accrued liabilities is held for developers, and how much of that is cash?
Who keeps the interest earned on developer deposits the Town now holds in its own accounts?
What is the mix of the $192,861,575 in non-cash security (letters of credit, bonds, other), and how often does the Town call on it?
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 Caledon?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Statement of Financial Position, December 31, 2025 and 2024 (restated): Cash and cash equivalents 200,082,664 and 150,337,357. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 76,830,382 and 45,172,018. Deferred revenue 139,955,702 and 117,910,128.
Note 8, Deferred Revenue: Development charges, balance at December 31, 2024 79,689,191; contributions received 28,519,537; investment income 2,122,023; revenue recognized (22,097,824); balance at December 31, 2025 87,644,255. Obligatory reserve funds total 117,498,012.
Note 21, Trust Funds: trust funds fell from $17,765,375 to $57,947. "In 2025, developer deposits in the amount of $17,334,347 were transferred to the Town as they were not required to be held in trust." Note 23: "In addition to the funds held in accounts payables and accrued liabilities for developers, the Municipality also held non-cash security from developers for $192,861,575 as at December 31, 2025 (2024 - $151,776,544)."
$14,410.74the Mayor's training, development and seminar costs in 2025, against $215.49 in 2024
Each year the Town publishes what it paid members of Council. For the Mayor, Annette Groves, the total was $153,009.35 for 2023, $173,384.50 for 2024 and $194,143.33 for 2025 (a rise of about 27%, worked out by us). Her salary went from $122,612.32 to $139,866.02. Her expenses were $4,911.00, $4,570.04 and $20,427.03. The 2025 jump comes mostly from one line, "Training, Development, Seminars": $215.49 in 2024 and $14,410.74 in 2025. Across all of Council, that line came to $36,599.30 in 2025 against a budget of $33,779.78. Councillors' salaries rose by a few percent a year, while their "other benefit costs" (health, dental and insurance paid by the Town) rose from $5,161.80 to $7,859.90 each.
Why it matters
Council pay and expenses are paid by taxpayers and are set by Council itself. A fourfold rise in one member's expenses, mostly training, deserves a plain explanation of what it bought.
It could be because…
Training can be a one-time cost such as a leadership course or a conference, and a single event can account for most of it. The 2024 total looks unusually low.
Council pay is set by Council by by-law and may follow a plan to move pay toward what other towns pay. The Mayor's salary rose by about 14% (worked out by us: $122,612.32 to $139,866.02).
The Mayor's 2023 pay may be lower because of a four-week pay suspension ordered in November 2023 by the Integrity Commissioner (see the Code of Conduct question). We did not confirm when or whether it was carried out.
The council training budget was raised from $20,000.00 in 2024 to $33,779.78 in 2025. Spending was over budget in both years.
Questions you could ask
What courses, conferences or events made up the Mayor's $14,410.74 in training, development and seminars in 2025, and where were they held?
What rule or by-law set the Mayor's salary for 2024 and 2025, and why did it rise by about 11% from 2023 to 2024 (worked out by us)?
Why does the 2025 remuneration statement carry a "Schedule B - 2024" heading?
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 Caledon?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
2025 Statement of Remuneration and Expenses of Council Members: Groves, Annette, Mayor: Salary 139,866.02; Statutory Benefit Costs 7,157.49; Pension Costs (OMERS) 16,542.15; Other Benefit Costs 10,150.65; Expenses 20,427.03; TOTAL 194,143.33. Each of the eight councillors: Salary 58,904.13 (Sheen, Dave 55,505.12); Other Benefit Costs 7,859.90 (Kiernan, Lynn 7,694.90; Sheen 7,782.74). Totals 835,297.93. The page also carries a heading "Schedule B - 2024 Statement of Remuneration and Expenses of Council Members" above the 2025 title.
January - December 2025 council expenses, "Training, Development, Seminars": Groves, Annette 14,410.74; all members 36,599.30; 2025 budget 33,779.78; remaining (2,819.52). Mayor's total as of December 2025 20,427.03; all members 53,335.91; budget 59,990.78.
January - December 2024 council expenses, "Training, Development, Seminars": Groves, Annette 215.49; all members 22,795.81; 2024 budget 20,000.00; remaining (2,795.81). Mayor's total as of December 2024 4,570.04.
4of Council's changes to the 2026 budget vetoed by the Mayor on November 27, 2025
Under Ontario law, the Mayor of Caledon has "strong mayor" powers. These include proposing the budget and vetoing changes Council makes to it. On May 29, 2025 the Mayor directed the Town's chief financial officer to prepare the 2026 budget on a schedule that generally follows earlier years. On November 27, 2025 the Mayor vetoed four of Council's changes to the 2026 budget: $165,000 for a shade structure and benches at a park, the removal of $284,073 for a Physician Recruitment position (2 FTE), the addition of $144,834 for one such position, and the removal of $168,343 for an Advisor, Intergovernmental Affairs. She said she did not veto any other change. The final budget book still lists the two staff requests at $284 thousand and $168 thousand.
Why it matters
A veto replaces a vote of the whole Council with a decision by one person. The amounts are small, but the question is who decides how the Town spends money, and whether residents can see why.
It could be because…
Strong-mayor powers are set by the Province. Using them, and shortening the veto period so the budget could be settled, is lawful. The Town's own page says the Mayor must write down each use and post it.
The Mayor gave her reason for each veto in the decision: more consultation on the park project, and the need to address residents who have no family physician, and a staff person focused on federal and provincial funding.
The Mayor said she would not veto any other amendment, so Council's other changes took effect.
The Integrity Commissioner found the Mayor's later public statement about who started the budget early was a technical and minor breach, and accepted that she was trying to explain the process simply.
Questions you could ask
Did Council try to override any of the four vetoes, and how did members vote? We did not read the minutes.
What consultation was done on the Lina Marino Park project after the veto, and what has been spent?
What does the Physician Recruitment program cost in total and what results does the Town expect?
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 Caledon?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Mayoral Decision 2025-04, November 27, 2025: the Mayor exercised the power to veto under subsection 284.16(4) of the Municipal Act, 2001 on four aspects of the 2026 Budget: (1) additional funding of $165,000 for a shade structure and up to six permanent park benches at Lina Marino Park; (2) the removal of Change in Service Level 2026-059 (EC DEV Physician Recruitment - 2 FTE) in the amount of $284,073; (3) the addition of one position, Physician Recruitment and Retention Officer, in the amount of $144,834; (4) the removal of the position of Advisor Intergovernmental Affairs (2026-060) in the amount of $168,343. She would not veto any other amendment.
Mayoral Decision 2025-02, May 29, 2025: "I, Mayor Annette Groves, direct the Commissioner of Finance & Chief Financial Officer to prepare a staff proposed 2026 Town budget according to Council approved meeting schedules and time frames that generally conform with the budget process in previous years during the current Term of Council."
The 2026 budget book lists Change in Service Level request 2026-059, "EC DEV Physician Recruitment - 2 FTE", at gross 284 ($ 000's), and 2026-060, "Advisor, Intergovernmental Relations (1 FTE)", at 168.
Mayoral Decisions page: the Mayor has powers to "Propose the Town’s budget subject to Council amendments, a Mayoral veto and a Council override process". "The Mayor is required to exercise those powers in writing and make them available to the public".
Integrity Commissioner, report 25-004, September 30, 2025: the Mayor's statement that "Town Council directed staff to prepare the budget for early approval" was "strictly speaking, inaccurate" because it was a Mayoral Decision. The Commissioner found a breach of section 3.1 of the Code of Conduct and called it "technical and minor in nature". He accepted the Mayor's explanation that she was trying to explain the process in terms residents can understand.
4 of 4complaints the Integrity Commissioner investigated and reported on in 2025 ended with a finding of a Code of Conduct breach
The Integrity Commissioner is an independent person who checks whether members of Council follow the Town's Code of Conduct. In 2023 the Commissioner of that time ordered a four-week pay suspension for Mayor Annette Groves. In 2024 a new Commissioner received 11 complaints about four councillors and found violations in two cases. In 2025 he investigated and reported on four complaints and found a breach in all four. For two of them (Councillor Dave Sheen) the penalty was a 15-day pay suspension and an apology, and for the Mayor he found two breaches too minor to penalize. In July 2026 he recommended a 10-day pay suspension for Councillor Lynn Kiernan. We did not read the minutes, so we do not know how Council handled each report.
Why it matters
The Code of Conduct is how residents are protected from members of Council treating staff, residents or each other badly. Repeated findings suggest a council that is often in conflict. The Commissioner also said the Town did not ask him for any training in 2024 or 2025, and a review of the Code is on hold.
It could be because…
Complaints about a council's conduct are how the system is meant to work. Findings show the system is working, not necessarily that conduct is worse than in other towns.
Several of the 2025 complaints were about remarks made in heated debate or in the media, and the Commissioner called two of the findings against the Mayor trivial, with no penalty.
The Commissioner reduced the recommended penalty for Councillor Kiernan from 15 to 10 days after reconsidering one of the two findings.
The Commissioner suggested the review of the Code stay on hold because the Province may bring in one code for every municipality.
Questions you could ask
Were the pay suspensions carried out, and did Council adopt the recommended penalty in the 2026 case? We did not read the minutes.
Will the new Council that takes office after the October 26, 2026 election receive Code of Conduct training in its first months?
Is the review of the Code of Conduct, suspended since 2024, going to resume?
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 Caledon?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
2025 annual report, January 5, 2026: "I investigated and reported on 4 Complaints during this reporting period." Complaints 25-001 and 25-002 (Councillor Sheen): "Code of Conduct violation found and penalty of suspension of pay for 15 days and a requirement to apologize". Complaints 25-003 and 25-004 (Mayor Groves): "Code of Conduct violation found but in light of the trivial nature of the breach, no penalty imposed". The Commissioner also summarily dismissed 3 other complaints, and was not asked to conduct training in 2025.
2024 annual report, January 16, 2025: "I received a total of 11 Code of Conduct complaints about Council members over the past year, involving four different councillors." Two complaints ended in violations: in one, a 10-day suspension of pay was recommended, and in the other a reprimand, an apology and cultural sensitivity training. "I was not asked to and therefore did not conduct any MCIA/Code of Conduct/Integrity Commissioner training in 2024."
Final Report to the Council, November 8, 2023, re Mayor Annette Groves: "I am imposing a sanction on Mayor Groves of a 4 (four) week suspension of her compensation from the Town of Caledon for these breaches of the Code of Conduct and associated Policy." The two complaints were found to breach the Code of Conduct including the Council-Staff Relations Policy.
Addendum report, July 24, 2026, complaint 26-001 (Councillor Kiernan): the Commissioner reversed one of his two findings, maintained his finding of a breach of the Code of Conduct for comments made on social media, and reduced the recommended penalty "from a 15-day suspension of pay to a 10-day suspension of pay".
Sept. 19 and 20, 2025the email exchange between members of Council that the investigator found was an improper meeting
Ontario's open meeting rule says that when a quorum (enough members to make decisions) of Council discusses Town business in a way that moves it forward, the public must be able to watch. On March 5, 2026 the Town's closed meeting investigator reported on a request about emails among members of Council, all of whom were copied, on September 19 and 20, 2025 about a reserve fund. The investigator found that Council "contravened section 239 of the Municipal Act, 2001". The Town told the investigator it had no comments on the draft report. The investigator recommended training on open and closed meetings for the new Council in the first quarter of 2027.
Why it matters
The open meeting rule is how residents see how decisions are made. A finding that Council made headway on a decision by email, out of public view, is a finding about the whole Council, not about one member.
It could be because…
Members may not have realized that an email chain with a quorum can count as a meeting. The investigator was told that Council had no formal open meeting training this term.
The Mayor and members were answering a message from a member of the public about a reserve fund, which suggests an effort to respond rather than to hide a decision.
The emails say the reserve had already been raised at a recorded Council workshop on September 10, 2025, so the topic was not secret.
The Town accepted the finding, with no comments on the draft report.
Questions you could ask
Has the Town posted the investigator's report and its response in a way residents can find it, and what has Council done since March 5, 2026?
Will the training the investigator recommended be held for the new Council in early 2027, and will the public be told that it happened?
How is the Town making sure Council business is not advanced in group emails after this finding?
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 Caledon?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Closed Meeting Investigation 2025-02, March 5, 2026, findings: "it is our finding that Council contravened section 239 of the Municipal Act, 2001 when a quorum of members held informal discussions over email on September 19 and 20, 2025 that materially advanced Council business or decision making." The email exchange also contravened sections 5.1.1 and 5.5 of Procedure By-law 2015-108.
The Town was given the draft on February 10, 2026, Council met in closed session with the investigator on February 24, 2026, and "We received a letter from the Town on March 5, 2026 indicating that it had no comments on the Draft Report." Recommendation: "All members of Council shall be required to attend a comprehensive education and training session ... for the new Council sometime in the first quarter of 2027."
"We have been advised that Council did not receive any formal training or education with respect to the open meeting rule during this current term." The request was received on September 26, 2025 and "was unfortunately misplaced due to the writer's error".
July 1, 2027the date regional roads and related stormwater move from Peel to Caledon, according to the 2025 financial statements
The Region of Peel is handing some services to Caledon, Brampton and Mississauga. The 2025 audited statements say that regional roads and the stormwater systems that go with them move to Caledon on July 1, 2027, and that Caledon is partnering with Brampton on waste collection. The 2026 budget book says the Town is working toward "a sustainable funding model" but gives no cost for the new roads. It budgets $1,397 thousand in 2026 for transition staff, paid from a reserve, and says these costs are expected to be recovered from the Region. It also says it will use the Tax Funded Contingency Reserve if tariffs or other costs go over budget, a reserve forecast at $2,033,506 at the end of 2026.
Why it matters
Regional roads are large, expensive to keep up and cannot be put off. If Caledon takes them on without enough money, the cost falls on Caledon property taxpayers. The Town should say what the roads will cost and where the money will come from before the handover.
It could be because…
The legislation was only passed in December 2025, so the Town may not have a settled cost yet. The Town says it is working with the Region and the other towns on a funding model.
The Town says the cost of its transition staff is expected to be recovered from the Region, so more of the cost may be covered than the budget shows. We did not find a published agreement on roads.
The two documents we read give different waste collection dates (the statements say January 1, 2026 and the budget book says the councils agreed on October 1, 2027), possibly because they were written at different times.
Questions you could ask
What will it cost each year to operate and repair the regional roads Caledon takes over in 2027, and how much funding is Peel Region providing?
Which date is current for waste collection, and what will the Town pay for the joint contract with Brampton?
Is a contingency reserve forecast at about $2 million enough to cover both tariff costs and transition costs?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Caledon?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 27, Subsequent Events: "In December 2025 Bill 45, Peel Transition Implementation Act 2025 was passed. The Act transfers Regional roads and associated stormwater from Peel Region to the Town of Caledon July 1, 2027." The Town "will partner with the City of Brampton to jointly provide waste collection to the Town of Caledon effective January 1, 2026." Bill 60 transfers water and waste water to a public service corporation in 2029.
Transition section: "The Town of Caledon remains committed to working closely with Brampton, Mississauga, and the Region of Peel to ensure a seamless transition and to establish a sustainable funding model for any regional services transferred to the Town." Waste collection: Caledon, Brampton, Mississauga and Region of Peel councils agreed on a transition date of October 1, 2027. Transition budget ($ 000's): "Transfers from Reserves" (1,397), Salaries & Benefits 1,392; the withdrawal from the Tax Funded Contingency Reserve is "anticipated to be recovered from the Region."
Tariff Impact: the Town estimates the tariff impact at "approximately $1 million", which "has not been incorporated into the 2026 Budget", and "the Town will utilize the Tax Funded Contingency Reserve to offset the impact". Reserve Balance Forecast: Tax Funded Contingency Reserve (TFCR) uncommitted $ 3,041,169 projected for 2025 and $ 2,033,506 for 2026.
In 2025, Caledon collected $9.0M more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 9% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. Only 1 of 10 similar towns raised theirs by more.
Why did Caledon's property tax go up 9% in 2025?
$0$20M$40M$60M$80M$100M$120M
$108M
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Town property tax
2019
$70.5M
2020
$74.6M
2021
$79.9M
2022
$83.6M
2023
$89.7M
2024
$98.7M
2025
$108M
Why it matters
A big one-year jump usually means something changed: a new cost, a service that grew, savings being rebuilt, or a problem from earlier years being paid for now. Residents should be able to see exactly which. Spread across every home, it is about $333 more each year.
It could be because…
Costs the town cannot control went up, such as policing, insurance or county charges.
The town kept taxes too low in earlier years and is catching up.
The town is rebuilding savings or paying for a big project like a bridge or equipment.
Questions you could ask
What were the three biggest reasons for the 2025 increase, in dollars?
Is a similar increase planned for next year?
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 Caledon?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Town property tax: $98,711,333 in 2024, $107,698,815 in 2025.
Caledon spent $18.6M on running the town office in 2019 and $34.3M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 0 of 10 similar towns had faster growth here.
Why did the cost of running the town office grow 84% in 6 years?
Running the town office
Prices (inflation)
−20%+0%+20%+40%+60%+80%+100%
+84%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Running the town office
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
−1%
+1%
2021
+10%
+4%
2022
+28%
+11%
2023
+45%
+16%
2024
+62%
+18%
2025
+84%
+21%
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Why it matters
Money spent running the office is money not spent on roads, water or safety. When office costs grow much faster than the services people see, it is fair to ask what the extra money is buying.
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 $15.7M a year pay for?
Why did senior management go from $7.7M to $15.4M?
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 Caledon?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Running the town office: 2019 $18.6M, 2020 $18.4M, 2021 $20.4M, 2022 $23.8M, 2023 $26.9M, 2024 $30.1M, 2025 $34.3M.
Caledon spent $16.6M on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $32.8M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 0 of 10 similar towns had faster growth here.
Why did the cost of parks, arena and library grow 97% in 6 years?
Parks, arena and library
Prices (inflation)
−20%+0%+20%+40%+60%+80%+100%
+97%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Parks, arena and library
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
−17%
+1%
2021
−6%
+4%
2022
+26%
+11%
2023
+51%
+16%
2024
+77%
+18%
2025
+97%
+21%
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Why it matters
When one area grows much faster than prices, it is either doing more (which may be great) or paying more for the same thing. Residents deserve to know which.
It could be because…
The town added a service, a building or staff that residents asked for.
Costs were moved from another area, so the total did not really change.
Accounting rules changed how costs are sorted.
Large one-time costs, like a study, lawsuit or repair, landed in one year.
Questions you could ask
What did the extra $16.1M a year pay for?
Why did arena and buildings go from $7.7M to $14.2M?
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 Caledon?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Caledon spent $16M on police, fire and safety in 2019 and $29M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Why did the cost of police, fire and safety grow 81% in 6 years?
Police, fire and safety
Prices (inflation)
−20%+0%+20%+40%+60%+80%+100%
+81%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Police, fire and safety
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
−7%
+1%
2021
+7%
+4%
2022
+21%
+11%
2023
+43%
+16%
2024
+54%
+18%
2025
+81%
+21%
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Why it matters
When one area grows much faster than prices, it is either doing more (which may be great) or paying more for the same thing. Residents deserve to know which.
It could be because…
The town added a service, a building or staff that residents asked for.
Costs were moved from another area, so the total did not really change.
Accounting rules changed how costs are sorted.
Large one-time costs, like a study, lawsuit or repair, landed in one year.
Questions you could ask
What did the extra $13M a year pay for?
Why did fire department go from $9.7M to $18.4M?
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 Caledon?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Police, fire and safety: 2019 $16M, 2020 $14.9M, 2021 $17.1M, 2022 $19.3M, 2023 $22.9M, 2024 $24.6M, 2025 $29M.
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Caledon had $34.2M saved at the end of 2025, down from $39.4M in 2019. That is 25% of one year's spending. None of the 10 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Does Caledon have enough saved for repairs and emergencies?
$0$10M$20M$30M$40M$50M
$34.2M
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Savings (reserves)
2019
$39.4M
2020
$47.3M
2021
$47.8M
2022
$42.7M
2023
$41.4M
2024
$39.2M
2025
$34.2M
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 2025?
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 Caledon?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Caledon spent about $78 per home on council in 2025. The typical similar town spent $49. Only 1 of 10 similar towns spent more.
Why it matters
Spending more than neighbours is not wrong by itself. It might buy better service. But it is the first place to look for costs that could be lower, such as contracts that were not competitively bid.
It could be because…
Geography: more roads, more snow, a bigger area or a landfill of its own.
Accounting: some towns record the same cost in a different category.
A one-time cost in this year.
Questions you could ask
What makes this cost higher here than in similar towns?
When were the main contracts in this area last put out to competitive tender?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Caledon?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Council per home: Caledon $78; typical similar town $49; ranked 2nd highest of 11.
$58,764,412annual surplus in 2025, against a budget of $29,982,743
A surplus is what is left when a year's revenue is more than its spending. The audited statements show a 2025 surplus of $58,764,412. The budget in the same statements planned $29,982,743. Most of the gap is on one line: "Developer contributions" were budgeted at $12,020,958 and came in at $37,096,178. The statements also show $24,477,710 of "contributed tangible capital assets", which are roads, sewers and parks that developers built and handed to the Town. That is not cash. The Town explains in its budget books that the budget Council approves is prepared on a cash basis, so it does not match the accrual figures in the statements.
Why it matters
Residents may reasonably ask how much of a "surplus" is money they could have kept in their tax bill and how much is buildings and roads the Town was handed. Knowing the difference shows what the headline number really means.
It could be because…
The Town says the budget Council approves is on a cash basis and leaves out amortization and contributed assets, so a large gap to the accrual statements is expected.
Much of the gap is developer contributions, which depend on when homes and subdivisions are handed over. The Town cannot predict their timing exactly.
Removing the contributed assets from the surplus, we worked out $34,286,702 ($58,764,412 less $24,477,710). That figure is worked out by us, not printed. It is much closer to the budget.
Questions you could ask
How much of the 2025 surplus is cash the Town can spend, how much is restricted money (for example development charges), and how much is assets handed over by developers?
The 2025 budget book shows a full accrual budget surplus of about $38 million and the statements show $29,982,743. What explains the difference?
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 Caledon?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Consolidated Statement of Operations, 2025: "Annual Surplus from Operations" budget 29,982,743, actual 58,764,412 (2024 actual, restated, 28,094,372). Total revenue budget 188,596,756, actual 222,817,244.
Note 18, Other Income: "Developer contributions" budget 12,020,958, actual 37,096,178 (2024 actual 9,738,517). Total other income budget 21,090,709, actual 46,479,106.
Note 12(b): "The value of contributed assets received during the year was $24,477,710 (2024 - $9,625,930)." They "consist of storm water management ponds, storm sewers, parklands, street lights, roads, sidewalks and curbs."
Transparency and Accountability: the budget Council approves is on a cash basis and the statutory statements on an accrual basis. The 2025 budget book's reconciliation to a full accrual budget shows a "Balanced Budget Surplus" of 38 ($M) for 2025.
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