Your town, in plain words
A clear, checkable guide to East Hawkesbury's budget, taxes and council decisions. A rural township in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, in eastern Ontario, 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.
+232%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2025
East Hawkesbury spent $111K on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $369K in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 1 of 29 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$893Kin savings at the end of 2025
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. East Hawkesbury had $893K saved at the end of 2025, up from $340K in 2019. That is 21% of one year's spending. None of the 29 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$2,000,000long-term debt in the 2026 fire budget, against $1,131,427 of debts at the end of 2025
The 2026 budget plans to issue $2,000,000 of long-term debt (money borrowed and paid back over years) for a fire hall in St-Eugène. At the end of 2025 the Township's debts came to $1,131,427, so this one loan is about 1.8 times everything it owed (worked out by us). The 2026 fire budget lines for loan payments are the same small amounts as for the loans it already has. We did not find where the Township explains what the new loan will cost each year.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$889,446gain on sale of assets in 2025, against an annual surplus of $1,019,862
In 2025 the Township reported an annual surplus of $1,019,862 and a "gain on sale of tangible capital assets" (a gain from selling buildings, land or equipment) of $889,446. Without that gain the surplus would have been $130,416 (worked out by us). Part of the gain, $64,260, is a non-cash accounting item from a building that was sold. The year before, the gain was $229,817 on a surplus of $372,180. The budget book shows sale lines under Recreation Facilities and Commercial and Industrial.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$286,072more than budget in 2025 once amortization is left out (worked out by us)
The 2025 statements show expenses of $5,014,308 against a budget of $3,902,922. Most of that gap is amortization (the yearly wearing-out cost of buildings, roads and equipment), which the budget does not include: it is "-" in the budget column and $825,314 in the actual column. Set amortization aside and spending was $4,188,994 against $3,902,922, which is $286,072 or 7.3% more (worked out by us). Materials account for $199,289 of that.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
+10%town property tax, 2024 to 2025
In 2025, East Hawkesbury collected $256K more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 10% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. Only 5 of 29 similar towns raised theirs by more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$831Kowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2025
At the end of 2025, $831K of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 13% of everything billed. Only 4 of 29 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $766K.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$3,065,017Township tax levy in the 2026 budget, against $2,850,754 in 2025
The budget summary lists "Taxes - Township" of $3,065,017 for 2026, against $2,850,754 for 2025, an increase of $214,263 or 7.5% (worked out by us). We did not find a staff report or budget message in the documents we read that explains the increase. The 2026 budget also shows the policing contract rising from $482,000 to $535,000.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$830,657taxes receivable at December 31, 2025 (2024: $766,163)
At the end of 2025 the Township was owed $830,657 in taxes, up from $766,163 a year earlier, a rise of $64,494 (8.4%, worked out by us). The Township collected $6,253,867 in taxes in total for 2025, so the unpaid amount is about 13% of that (worked out by us). The budget book shows $60,147 collected in penalties on tax arrears in 2025.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$90,092.62total council pay and mileage allowance for 2024, the newest statement posted
The Municipal Act says the treasurer must give council a statement of pay and expenses paid in the previous year by March 31. The Township's page says so itself. On October 7, 2026 the newest statement on the page was for 2024. Also, the statements for 2023 and 2024 show a "Mileage Allowance" column of the same round amounts ($720.00 for most members and $1440.00 for one) rather than amounts that differ with travel.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$300cheque required with a formal complaint, as printed on the Township's page
The Township's Integrity Commissioner page says a complaint about a member of council must be sent in a sealed envelope with an original form and "Cheque for $300" made payable to the Township. We did not find any Integrity Commissioner report posted on the Township's pages, and we did not check what the Township's by-law says about whether the fee is refunded.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$437per home on snow ploughing, 2025
East Hawkesbury spent about $437 per home on snow ploughing in 2025. The typical similar town spent $159. Only 1 of 29 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
A property tax bill in East Hawkesbury pays for three governments. Only part of it goes to the town, and that part is what East Hawkesbury council controls.
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Each number links to the public document it came from. Check it yourself.
We ask questions. Every one lists ordinary reasons a number could look odd.
Towns are only compared with places of a similar size and kind, from the same yearly reports.
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