Questions · 11 so far
We read East Gwillimbury's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 21 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
+100%running the town office, 2019 to 2024
East Gwillimbury spent $5.3M on running the town office in 2019 and $10.5M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 1 of 21 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$104per home on council, 2024
East Gwillimbury spent about $104 per home on council in 2024. The typical similar town spent $58. Only 1 of 21 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
$6,088,966left in the development charge fund at the end of 2025, down from $32,168,164 (a fall of $26,079,198, worked out by us)
Development charges are fees the Town collects from builders to pay for the roads, parks and buildings that new homes need. The Town keeps them in a fund that can only be used for that purpose. At the end of 2024 the fund held $32,168,164. At the end of 2025 it held $6,088,966, after $29,511,383 was spent on approved projects, most of it on the new Health and Active Living Plaza. Builders paid in $5,153,965 during 2025, compared with $13,458,383 in 2024. The Town says development slowed in 2025 and that a slower pace means less charge revenue. It also shows a ten-year plan of more than $343 million in capital spending. The 2026 capital budget draws on development charges for only a small share.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$6,644,012investment income in 2025, against $500,000 in the 2025 budget (a gap of $6,144,012, worked out by us)
The Town keeps its savings in guaranteed investment certificates (GICs) and in principal protected notes (PPNs). A PPN is a bond-like product whose return depends on markets, with the original money promised back if held to the end. Investment income was $6,644,012 in 2025 and $4,841,408 in 2024, and has grown every year since 2021, when it was $907,082. The tax-supported budget for 2026 assumes $500,000, the same as for 2025. The statements show $65,945,830 of the $110,598,335 investment total is in PPNs. The Town has explained part of the rise: investments matured at higher rates.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 6 sources
10 days and 15 dayspay suspensions the Integrity Commissioner recommended for the Mayor and for Councillor Johns
The Integrity Commissioner is an independent person who looks into complaints that a member of council broke the Code of Conduct. She can only recommend penalties. Council decides. The Town's site posts her reports on two members of council. In one, she found Mayor Virginia Hackson broke Code rule 10.1 by taking part in a January 21, 2025 item about a developer when she was owed over $3 million by one of its companies after selling it land. She recommended a formal reprimand and a 10-day suspension of pay. She did not ask a court to rule on the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. In the other, she found Councillor Brian Johns broke several Code rules with a September 24, 2025 letter about a development at 31 Sand Road. She recommended a formal reprimand, a 15-day pay suspension, a public apology to staff and training. We could not read council minutes, so we do not know what council decided.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$4,080,920spending that appears under recreation in the audited statement and under roads in the five-year review (worked out by us)
The audited statement of operations in the Town's 2025 report shows recreation and cultural services spending of $14,220,551 and transportation (roads) spending of $12,838,899. The five-year review at the back of the same report shows recreation at $10,139,631 and transportation at $16,919,819. The segment note prints $10,139,631 as the recreation total too, but the lines above it in that table add up to $14,220,551 (worked out by us). The gap, $4,080,920 (worked out by us), is the same amount in both places, moved from one line to the other. The overall total of $74,026,195 is the same in every table.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
+45%water, sewers and garbage, 2019 to 2024
East Gwillimbury spent $9.7M on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $14.1M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$11.1Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2024
At the end of 2024, $11.1M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 13% of everything billed. Only 3 of 21 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $8.7M.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
$356,000final year of the Town's dedicated tax funding for running the Plaza, in the 2026 budget
The Plaza is a recreation, library and aquatics centre that opened in October 2025. The Town calls it a $100 million facility and says it was paid for from development charges and community capital contributions, with no tax money. To pay for running it, the Town added a dedicated amount to the tax levy over several years. The 2026 budget says 2026 is the final year of that extra funding, about $356,000 in 2026. The Town expects the Plaza's 2026 operating cost to be $2.8 million against about $1.1 million of extra revenue, and says the net cost is covered by money already set aside, with no further tax pressure. The Town has explained this clearly. What residents cannot yet see is how long the set-aside reserve lasts.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$30,390,017cash at the end of 2025, down from $58,343,010
A surplus is revenue less spending in a year. The Town reported a 2025 surplus of $47,433,311 but its cash went from $58,343,010 to $30,390,017. The cash flow statement shows where it went. Part of the surplus is not cash: $12,178,412 is roads and pipes handed over by builders, which count as revenue but bring in no money. The Town spent $42,096,675 on buying and building assets, and its obligatory reserve funds (money it holds for set purposes, such as development charges) fell by $23,861,892 as projects were paid for.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$12,914,134deficit shown in the 2025 budget column of the statements, against an actual surplus of $47,433,311
The statement of operations shows a budgeted 2025 deficit of $12,914,134 next to an actual surplus of $47,433,311. The Town explains this in note 3 of the statements. The budget Council votes on counts big building projects as spending in the year, while the audited statements record them as assets, and developer-contributed assets were not in the budget. The note walks from the budget Council approved to the one shown in the statements. Council's own approved budget had revenue of $135,893,648 and spending of $160,493,160 once transfers are counted.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
+100%running the town office, 2019 to 2024
East Gwillimbury spent $5.3M on running the town office in 2019 and $10.5M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 1 of 21 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Running the town office | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +28% | +1% |
| 2021 | +40% | +4% |
| 2022 | +65% | +11% |
| 2023 | +90% | +16% |
| 2024 | +100% | +18% |
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
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.
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 East Gwillimbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Running the town office: 2019 $5.3M, 2020 $6.7M, 2021 $7.4M, 2022 $8.7M, 2023 $10.0M, 2024 $10.5M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Office and administration, from $2.9M to $6.4M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 57%. East Gwillimbury ranks 2nd of 22.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 21 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
$104per home on council, 2024
East Gwillimbury spent about $104 per home on council in 2024. The typical similar town spent $58. Only 1 of 21 similar towns spent more.
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.
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 East Gwillimbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Council per home: East Gwillimbury $104; typical similar town $58; ranked 2nd highest of 22.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 21 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy
$6,088,966left in the development charge fund at the end of 2025, down from $32,168,164 (a fall of $26,079,198, worked out by us)
Development charges are fees the Town collects from builders to pay for the roads, parks and buildings that new homes need. The Town keeps them in a fund that can only be used for that purpose. At the end of 2024 the fund held $32,168,164. At the end of 2025 it held $6,088,966, after $29,511,383 was spent on approved projects, most of it on the new Health and Active Living Plaza. Builders paid in $5,153,965 during 2025, compared with $13,458,383 in 2024. The Town says development slowed in 2025 and that a slower pace means less charge revenue. It also shows a ten-year plan of more than $343 million in capital spending. The 2026 capital budget draws on development charges for only a small share.
A fund that is nearly empty cannot start the next growth project. If new building stays slow, the Town may need to pay for growth work from reserves or taxes, or wait. Residents can ask which it will be.
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 East Gwillimbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Development charge collections and spending forecast, 2026 to 2030, with wording you can copy.
Note 8, Obligatory reserve funds. Development charges: opening balance $ 32,168,164 (2024: $ 47,226,317). Developer contributions 5,153,965 (2024: 13,458,383). Interest earned 1,094,562. "Amounts used for eligible capital projects" (29,511,383). "Credit issued" (2,816,342). Ending balance 6,088,966 (2024: 32,168,164).
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Note 8, PDF page 56
The Town's own explanation: "In 2025, $29.5 million in DCs were invested in Town-managed growth-related projects. Of this, $27.1 million was spent on the construction of the Health and Active Living Plaza, the largest capital project in East Gwillimbury's history."
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Significant Activities, Development Charge Funded Capital Projects, PDF page 17
The Town on slower development: it says development "was seen in the Town throughout 2025 with relatively lower levels of development than have been seen over the last ten years" and that with fewer new units there is "an associated reduction in development charge revenue".
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Looking Forward, PDF page 25
The Town says Council reviewed a ten-year capital forecast (2025-2034) of "over $343 million in planned investments", and that the 2025 Asset Management Plan says future capital needs "will place increasing pressure on reserve balances".
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Long Term Reserve Strategy, PDF page 30
2026 Capital Program by Funding Source, total $22.8M: Development Charges, $0.9M; Reserves, $19.5M; Grants, $0.9M; Gas Tax, $1.0M.
2026 Business Plan and Budget, Tax Supported section · PDF page 5, chart (read as text from the page)
$6,644,012investment income in 2025, against $500,000 in the 2025 budget (a gap of $6,144,012, worked out by us)
The Town keeps its savings in guaranteed investment certificates (GICs) and in principal protected notes (PPNs). A PPN is a bond-like product whose return depends on markets, with the original money promised back if held to the end. Investment income was $6,644,012 in 2025 and $4,841,408 in 2024, and has grown every year since 2021, when it was $907,082. The tax-supported budget for 2026 assumes $500,000, the same as for 2025. The statements show $65,945,830 of the $110,598,335 investment total is in PPNs. The Town has explained part of the rise: investments matured at higher rates.
If the investment income is real and repeating, it could be easing the tax bill, or building reserves, and residents might expect to see which. If it is partly one-time market gains, it should not be counted on. The budget does not say which.
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 East Gwillimbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: List of investments held at December 31, 2025, with wording you can copy.
Statement of operations. "Investment income": 2025 budget 500,000; 2025 actual 6,644,012; 2024 actual 4,841,408.
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Consolidated Statement of Operations, PDF page 39
Five Year Financial Review, investment income for 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021: 6,644,012; 4,841,408; 3,737,998; 1,835,443; 907,082.
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Five Year Financial Review, PDF page 68
The Town's explanation of the rise: investments "maturing at higher rates than in the previous year"; and, on its notes, "If held to maturity, the fair value of PPNs will always be equal to or greater than carrying value. The original principal will not be lost."
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Financial Highlights, PDF page 19 (revenue) and page 23 (portfolio investments)
Note 5, Investments. Guaranteed investment certificates $ 44,652,505. Principle protected notes (as printed), interest rate between 3.45% and 6.90%: $ 65,945,830. Statement of financial position, Investments: 110,598,335.
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Note 5, PDF pages 52 and 53; Statement of Financial Position, PDF page 38
Consolidated Statement of Accumulated Remeasurement Gains and Losses, 2025: "Realized gains, reclassified to the consolidated statement of operations" (2,317,915); unrealized gains 2,358,876; accumulated gains at end of year 2,956,796.
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Statement of Accumulated Remeasurement Gains and Losses, PDF page 41
2026 tax-supported summary, revenues: "Investment Income" (500,000) in the 2026 budget and (500,000) in the 2025 budget.
2026 Business Plan and Budget, Tax Supported section · Tax Supported Summary, PDF page 15
10 days and 15 dayspay suspensions the Integrity Commissioner recommended for the Mayor and for Councillor Johns
The Integrity Commissioner is an independent person who looks into complaints that a member of council broke the Code of Conduct. She can only recommend penalties. Council decides. The Town's site posts her reports on two members of council. In one, she found Mayor Virginia Hackson broke Code rule 10.1 by taking part in a January 21, 2025 item about a developer when she was owed over $3 million by one of its companies after selling it land. She recommended a formal reprimand and a 10-day suspension of pay. She did not ask a court to rule on the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. In the other, she found Councillor Brian Johns broke several Code rules with a September 24, 2025 letter about a development at 31 Sand Road. She recommended a formal reprimand, a 15-day pay suspension, a public apology to staff and training. We could not read council minutes, so we do not know what council decided.
Penalties only count if Council votes on them in public. Residents can ask whether each recommendation was adopted, changed or set aside, and what the pay suspensions would have cost.
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 East Gwillimbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Report on Complaint #200325, summary: "I find that the Respondent violated the Code at Rule 10 and recommend a sanction as set out below." The Respondent is Mayor Virginia Hackson. The Commissioner says she will not apply to a judge under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.
Integrity Commissioner, Complaint #200325 Investigation Report · page 1, Summary
The report says the Respondent sold 18880 2nd Concession Road to Riverview Hills Assets Ltd. "on December 15, 2023 for the stated price of $2" and "took a vendor take-back mortgage over the property for $3 million at 4% interest and for a five-year term."
Integrity Commissioner, Complaint #200325 Investigation Report · page 6, The Sale of the Respondent's Property to Riverview Hills
The report finds the Respondent "breached s. 10.1 of the Code through her participation in the council meeting on January 2025", and recommends "a Formal Reprimand" and "A suspension of Remuneration for a period of 10 days." It records her reply: "I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for my oversight in not declaring the pecuniary interest".
Integrity Commissioner, Complaint #200325 Investigation Report · pages 16 to 18, Conclusion and Recommendation
Report on Complaint #102625, summary: "I found that the Respondent violated Rules 3.1, 3.2(a), 3.2(b), 9.2, 9.3, 14.1, and 14.4 of the Council Code of Conduct." The Respondent is Councillor Brian Johns, and the letter is dated September 24, 2025. The Commissioner found he did not breach the confidentiality rules.
Integrity Commissioner, Complaint #102625 Investigation Report · page 1, Summary
Recommendations to Council: "1. Issue a formal reprimand to Councillor Brian Johns; 2. Suspend the remuneration paid to Councillor Brian Johns for a period of 15 days"; a public social media apology to affected staff kept visible for a minimum of thirty (30) days; and education or training within six (6) weeks of the decision of Council.
Integrity Commissioner, Complaint #102625 Investigation Report · page 28, Recommendations to Council
$4,080,920spending that appears under recreation in the audited statement and under roads in the five-year review (worked out by us)
The audited statement of operations in the Town's 2025 report shows recreation and cultural services spending of $14,220,551 and transportation (roads) spending of $12,838,899. The five-year review at the back of the same report shows recreation at $10,139,631 and transportation at $16,919,819. The segment note prints $10,139,631 as the recreation total too, but the lines above it in that table add up to $14,220,551 (worked out by us). The gap, $4,080,920 (worked out by us), is the same amount in both places, moved from one line to the other. The overall total of $74,026,195 is the same in every table.
The extra $4,080,920 sits on a different line depending on which table a reader looks at. A resident comparing the cost of the new recreation plaza with the cost of roads could draw the opposite conclusion.
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 East Gwillimbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Consolidated Statement of Operations, 2025 actual expenses: Transportation services 12,838,899; Recreation and cultural services 14,220,551; Total Expenses 74,026,195.
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Consolidated Statement of Operations, PDF page 39
Note 18, Segmented Information, Recreation and Cultural Services, 2025 expenses by item: 8,029,487; 2,843,607; 546,290; 147,482; 2,585,006; 68,679. The total line for 2025 prints 10,139,631 (2024: 10,999,614). These six lines add to 14,220,551 (worked out by us).
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Note 18, PDF page 65
Five Year Financial Review, Expenses by Function, 2025: Transportation services 16,919,819; Recreation and cultural services 10,139,631; Total Expense by Function 74,026,195.
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Five Year Financial Review, PDF page 68
Independent Auditor's Report: the opinion covers the financial statements, and "Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information", which includes the rest of the Annual Report.
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Independent Auditor's Report, PDF page 35
+45%water, sewers and garbage, 2019 to 2024
East Gwillimbury spent $9.7M on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $14.1M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time.
| Year | Water, sewers and garbage | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +6% | +1% |
| 2021 | +19% | +4% |
| 2022 | +30% | +11% |
| 2023 | +38% | +16% |
| 2024 | +45% | +18% |
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
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.
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 East Gwillimbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Water, sewers and garbage: 2019 $9.7M, 2020 $10.3M, 2021 $11.5M, 2022 $12.6M, 2023 $13.5M, 2024 $14.1M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Water pipes, from $5.3M to $7.3M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
$11.1Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2024
At the end of 2024, $11.1M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 13% of everything billed. Only 3 of 21 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $8.7M.
| Year | Unpaid property tax at year end |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $5.9M |
| 2020 | $6.4M |
| 2021 | $6.0M |
| 2022 | $7.0M |
| 2023 | $8.7M |
| 2024 | $11.1M |
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.
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 East Gwillimbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Taxes receivable: 2019 $5.9M, 2020 $6.4M, 2021 $6.0M, 2022 $7.0M, 2023 $8.7M, 2024 $11.1M. Of the 2024 total, – was from earlier years.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 70, lines 0610 to 0699 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: 9.6% of taxes billed.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 21 similar municipalities · Schedules 26 and 70 · archived copy
$356,000final year of the Town's dedicated tax funding for running the Plaza, in the 2026 budget
The Plaza is a recreation, library and aquatics centre that opened in October 2025. The Town calls it a $100 million facility and says it was paid for from development charges and community capital contributions, with no tax money. To pay for running it, the Town added a dedicated amount to the tax levy over several years. The 2026 budget says 2026 is the final year of that extra funding, about $356,000 in 2026. The Town expects the Plaza's 2026 operating cost to be $2.8 million against about $1.1 million of extra revenue, and says the net cost is covered by money already set aside, with no further tax pressure. The Town has explained this clearly. What residents cannot yet see is how long the set-aside reserve lasts.
A new building costs money every year it is open, not just when it is built. Residents can ask how long the set-aside money covers the Plaza, and what happens 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 East Gwillimbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The Town says the Plaza is a "new $100 million facility" and that "The construction of the HALP and park was funded by development as well as community capital contributions."
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Significant Activities, Health and Active Living Plaza, PDF page 18
Message from the Chief Administrative Officer: the Town "implemented a multi-year funding strategy, including a phased-in dedicated annual tax levy."
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Message from the CAO, PDF page 9
2026 budget, Transfers: "For 2026 the final funding required is approximately $356,000. In 2026 the net contribution to reserves is $218,000, taking into account the annualized revenue and expenses."
2026 Business Plan and Budget, Tax Supported section · Budget Summary (continued), PDF page 13
Parks, Recreation and Culture: "Operating expenditures related to the HALP in this department are $2.8 million in 2026." "The increase related to a full year of revenue from the HALP is estimated at $1.1 million in 2026". "The net budget for the HALP is funded from dedicated contributions to reserve and do not create any further tax levy pressures."
2026 Business Plan and Budget, Tax Supported section · Parks, Recreation and Culture Budget Summary, PDF page 83
Taxation in the tax-supported summary: 2026 budget (37,490,193); 2025 budget (35,616,410); variance (1,873,783), 5%. The Town says "A further $1.375 million is the required tax levy increase to cover increased costs, as well as dedicated increases for asset management, community safety, and the operation of the new HALP."
2026 Business Plan and Budget, Tax Supported section · Tax Supported Summary, PDF page 15; Budget Summary (continued), PDF page 12
$30,390,017cash at the end of 2025, down from $58,343,010
A surplus is revenue less spending in a year. The Town reported a 2025 surplus of $47,433,311 but its cash went from $58,343,010 to $30,390,017. The cash flow statement shows where it went. Part of the surplus is not cash: $12,178,412 is roads and pipes handed over by builders, which count as revenue but bring in no money. The Town spent $42,096,675 on buying and building assets, and its obligatory reserve funds (money it holds for set purposes, such as development charges) fell by $23,861,892 as projects were paid for.
A surplus on paper does not mean money in the bank. Residents can see from this that cash has fallen by nearly half in one year, and ask what level the Town wants to keep.
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 East Gwillimbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, 2025: Annual surplus 47,433,311; contributed tangible capital assets (12,178,412); obligatory reserve funds (23,861,892); acquisition of tangible capital assets (42,096,675); increase (decrease) in cash (27,952,993); cash, beginning of year 58,343,010; cash, end of year 30,390,017.
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, PDF page 42
The Town's explanation: "After all activities, cash decreased by $28.0 million in 2025." The change "reflects planned investment in infrastructure and the use of accumulated reserves to support Town operations and capital projects."
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Change in Cash Flows, PDF page 24
Statement of Financial Position, 2025: Investments 110,598,335; Cash 30,390,017.
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, PDF page 38
$12,914,134deficit shown in the 2025 budget column of the statements, against an actual surplus of $47,433,311
The statement of operations shows a budgeted 2025 deficit of $12,914,134 next to an actual surplus of $47,433,311. The Town explains this in note 3 of the statements. The budget Council votes on counts big building projects as spending in the year, while the audited statements record them as assets, and developer-contributed assets were not in the budget. The note walks from the budget Council approved to the one shown in the statements. Council's own approved budget had revenue of $135,893,648 and spending of $160,493,160 once transfers are counted.
A budget that shows a deficit on paper can look alarming, and a large surplus can look like a windfall. Note 3 shows both are mostly how the numbers are presented, which is useful for residents to know.
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 East Gwillimbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Consolidated Statement of Operations, 2025: Total Revenue budget 135,893,648, actual 121,295,061; Total Expenses budget 148,807,782, actual 74,026,195; Annual surplus (deficit) budget (12,914,134), actual 47,433,311.
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Consolidated Statement of Operations, PDF page 39
Note 3, Budget Reconciliation: the approved budget "differs from the budget in the consolidated statement of operations and accumulated surplus. The difference is due primarily to the capitalization of tangible capital assets." Operating fund and capital budget revenue $ 135,893,648, expenses $ 135,893,656; transfer to/from other funds 24,599,504; Total Council approved budget 135,893,648 and 160,493,160; less tangible capital assets capitalized (11,685,378); adjusted budget 148,807,782.
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Note 3, PDF page 50
Note 1(l), Budget figures: "neither the cost of the contributed tangible capital assets nor the revenue was included in the original Council approved budget", and the budget figures "are not audited".
Town of East Gwillimbury, 2025 Annual Financial Report · Note 1(l), PDF page 46