Your town, in plain words
A clear, checkable guide to East Garafraxa's budget, taxes and council decisions. A rural township in Dufferin County, with a mayor, a deputy mayor and three councillors. Every figure links back to the public record.
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Questions worth asking
Each one is a question, not an accusation. Every one lists ordinary reasons it could be true, and the documents it comes from.
+14%town property tax, 2024 to 2025
In 2025, East Garafraxa collected $553K more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 14% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. None of the 28 similar towns raised theirs by more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$664,818capital assets acquired in 2025, against $3,070,000 in the restated budget
Capital means roads, bridges, vehicles and buildings that last many years. The Township's 2025 budget set aside $3,070,000 to buy or build them. The statements show $664,818 actually spent. The same budget counted on $1,003,000 of new long-term borrowing. The 2025 statements list no long-term debt on the balance sheet. The Township's own note explains how the budget was restated for the statements, but not why the work was not done.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$2,707,668in Township reserves at December 31, 2025 (not counting the fire board's capital reserve fund)
Reserves are savings set aside for later costs. The Township's 2026 Asset Management Plan says its reserves are "currently insufficient" for coming capital needs and that forecasts show reserves and other funding "substantially depleted" over the planning period. At the end of 2025 the reserves (not counting the fire board's) stood at $2,707,668, down from $2,773,406 a year earlier, after rising from $1,854,305 at the end of 2023. The plan says borrowing may be needed.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
62.8average Bridge Condition Index in 2025, down from 71.6 in 2023
The Township's 2026 Asset Management Plan says the 2025 inspection found 17 structures in Good condition, 10 in Fair and 4 in Poor. The average Bridge Condition Index (a score out of 100 where lower is worse) was 62.8 in 2025, down from 71.6 in 2023.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$4,562,452taxation revenue in 2025, up from $3,579,104 in 2023
Taxation revenue (property taxes kept by the Township, not the school boards or the County) was $3,579,104 in 2023, $4,009,157 in 2024 and $4,562,452 in 2025. That is a rise of $983,348 over two years, or about 27%, both worked out by us. The 2025 figure was close to what the budget planned ($4,457,261). The statements do not say how much of the rise is a higher tax rate and how much is new buildings or other growth.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$1,854,468salaries and benefits in 2025, against $1,613,692 in 2024
The Township's pay and benefits line was $1,854,468 in 2025 and $1,613,692 in 2024, a rise of $240,776, or about 14.9% (both worked out by us). About half of the 2025 total sits in transportation services (roads), and most of the rest in general government. The statements do not explain the rise.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
+67%roads and snow, 2019 to 2025
East Garafraxa spent $1.2M on roads and snow in 2019 and $1.9M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 3 of 28 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$1.1Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2025
At the end of 2025, $1.1M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 13% of everything billed. Only 6 of 28 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $1.1M.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$(56,129)the Township's share of the fire board's surplus (deficit) at December 31, 2025
East Garafraxa includes a share of the shared Grand Valley and District Fire Board in its own statements. The Township's share of the Board's surplus was $4,435 at the end of 2024 and a deficit of $(56,129) at the end of 2025. Over the same year the Board's capital reserve fund (savings for equipment) rose from $348,404 to $517,475. The Township's share of the Board's operating costs was 15.3% in 2025 and 16.2% in 2024.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$3,839,818gravel inventory on the balance sheet at December 31, 2025
The balance sheet lists gravel inventory (gravel the Township holds for extraction) at $3,839,818 at the end of 2025, down from $3,904,120. That is nearly a quarter of the $17,296,285 the statements list as non-financial assets (a share worked out by us, about 22%). The Township's note says cost is based on engineer estimates of the tonnes available, less what was taken out in the year. The 'gravel' operating reserve is $130,000.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$572per home on snow ploughing, 2025
East Garafraxa spent about $572 per home on snow ploughing in 2025. The typical similar town spent $150. None of the 28 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
A property tax bill in East Garafraxa pays for three governments. Only part of it goes to the town, and that part is what East Garafraxa council controls.
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