Questions · 10 so far
We read Erin's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 87 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
$6.4Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2024
At the end of 2024, $6.4M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 19% of everything billed. Only 1 of 87 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $5.4M.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
-$15,171,601balance of the "WWTP Front Ended Agreements" fund at the end of 2025, in the 2026 budget book
The Town is building a new wastewater plant (it calls it the Water Resource Recovery Facility). The Town says the builders of new housing are paying the costs up front, which is called front-ending. The 2023 audited statements show $23,254,957 of developer money for the plant still held at the end of 2023. The 2026 budget book's reserve table has a fund called "WWTP Front Ended Agreements" at minus $12,111,059 at the end of 2024 and minus $15,171,601 at the end of 2025. A year earlier, the 2025 budget book had expected that fund to hold $27,903,866 at the end of 2024 and $34,122,659 at the end of 2025. A reserve fund is money set aside for a purpose. A minus balance means more has gone out than has come in. We worked out that the end-of-2025 figure is $49,294,260 lower than the 2025 budget book expected (worked out by us). We could not tell from the documents whether the audited line and the budget fund are the same money.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 6 sources
$30,000,000recreation centre in the 2027 capital plan, funded by development charges
The 2026 budget book lists "Construction of Multi-Use Recreation" at $30,000,000 in 2027, paid for by development charges. Development charges are fees the Town collects from builders of new homes to pay for growth. The Town's reserve table forecasts the recreation development charge fund at $5,654,015 at the end of 2026. The 2025 budget book had put the same $30,000,000 in 2026, so the date has already moved back a year. The budget book also says design and a Class C cost estimate (an early, rough price) for the centre are still to start. So the $30,000,000 may be an early placeholder, not a priced figure. We worked out that the amount is $24,345,985 more than the fund (worked out by us).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$8,959,005labour costs in the 2026 budget, up from $5,941,674 in the 2024 budget
Labour costs in the budget were $5,941,674 for 2024. The 2025 budget raised them to $8,055,293, and the 2026 budget raises them again to $8,959,005. We worked out that this is a rise of about 51% in two years, or $3,017,331 (worked out by us). The 2026 budget book says the number of staff, counting part-time, contract and co-op students, was 135 in 2024, rose to 168 after new positions were approved in 2025, and is expected to fall to 163 in 2026. The Town's own explanation is growth and pay: it says it brought in new positions to prepare for growth, filled 21 permanent full-time positions, and completed a market review of its wage grid. A message from senior staff in the 2026 budget describes the year as one of "cost containment".
Found by reading the town's own documents · 6 sources
$300,000building permit revenue in the 2026 budget, against $1,500,000 in the 2025 budget
The 2025 budget counted on $1,500,000 from building permits, double the year before. The 2026 budget cuts that line to $300,000. The Town explains that new development has slowed, and a message from senior staff in the 2026 budget says housing starts have dropped. To cover the gap in 2026 the Building budget takes $403,451 from reserves. The reserve table then forecasts the "Building Residential" reserve fund at minus $344,139 at the end of 2026. A reserve fund is money set aside for a purpose. The 2025 budget book had forecast building revenue of $1,668,111 for 2026, so the 2026 figure is far from what was expected a year earlier.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$741,517taken from reserves to pay 2026 wastewater costs, up from $183,984
The Town's wastewater budget for 2026 is $1,491,517 of costs. In the 2025 budget it was $183,984, and the 2025 budget book had forecast $187,664 for 2026. The 2026 budget covers the costs with $750,000 of "cost recovery" (charges to users of the new plant) and $741,517 taken from reserves. The Town gives its own explanation: costs rise because of "OCWA operating costs" (OCWA is the operator the budget names for the plant) and cost recovery is up because of new fees for new facilities. We worked out that the 2026 cost is $1,303,853 higher than the 2025 budget book forecast a year earlier (worked out by us).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$(2,047,439)general deficit in the 2023 budget note, against an annual surplus of $74,994,188
The audited 2023 statements show an annual surplus of $74,994,188. Almost all of it is developer money for the wastewater plant. Note 5 lists $75,326,282 of development charge revenue, and the deferred revenue schedule shows $74,790,328 recognized from developer contributions for the plant. A note called "Budget" then shows a "General surplus (deficit)" of $(2,047,439) for 2023 and $(1,751,082) for 2022. The note says budgets are prepared on a cash basis, which means counting money in and out, and are changed to match the statements. So the headline surplus does not describe how the Town's own day-to-day operations did. Unrestricted cash (cash the Town can spend on anything) rose to $11,490,278 from $2,324,494.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 6 sources
$1,369,588taken from reserves to balance the 2026 budget, up from $840,179
The 2026 budget raises the Town's tax rate by 3.8%, which the budget says is about $12 per $100,000 of assessment. The "Tax Levy" line in the budget (money raised from property taxes) rises from $10,063,945 to $10,203,000, a rise of $139,055, or about 1.4% (worked out by us). Other lines carry more of the load. Revenue from supplementary taxes (extra tax billed on new buildings during the year) is budgeted at $625,882, up from $253,000. Transfers from reserves rise from $840,179 to $1,369,588. The Tax Stabilization reserve (a fund meant to smooth tax rises) drops from $827,399 at the end of 2024 to a forecast $332,783 at the end of 2026. The 2025 budget book also shows two different 2025 tax levy figures, $10,123,945 and $10,063,945.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
+72%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2024
Erin spent $1.1M on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $2.0M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 15 of 87 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
+77%police, fire and safety, 2019 to 2024
Erin spent $1.3M on police, fire and safety in 2019 and $2.4M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$6.4Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2024
At the end of 2024, $6.4M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 19% of everything billed. Only 1 of 87 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $5.4M.
| Year | Unpaid property tax at year end |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $2.3M |
| 2020 | $2.6M |
| 2021 | $3.1M |
| 2022 | $3.9M |
| 2023 | $5.4M |
| 2024 | $6.4M |
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 Erin? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Taxes receivable: 2019 $2.3M, 2020 $2.6M, 2021 $3.1M, 2022 $3.9M, 2023 $5.4M, 2024 $6.4M. Of the 2024 total, $1.7M was from earlier years.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 70, lines 0610 to 0699 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: 7.5% of taxes billed.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 87 similar municipalities · Schedules 26 and 70 · archived copy
-$15,171,601balance of the "WWTP Front Ended Agreements" fund at the end of 2025, in the 2026 budget book
The Town is building a new wastewater plant (it calls it the Water Resource Recovery Facility). The Town says the builders of new housing are paying the costs up front, which is called front-ending. The 2023 audited statements show $23,254,957 of developer money for the plant still held at the end of 2023. The 2026 budget book's reserve table has a fund called "WWTP Front Ended Agreements" at minus $12,111,059 at the end of 2024 and minus $15,171,601 at the end of 2025. A year earlier, the 2025 budget book had expected that fund to hold $27,903,866 at the end of 2024 and $34,122,659 at the end of 2025. A reserve fund is money set aside for a purpose. A minus balance means more has gone out than has come in. We worked out that the end-of-2025 figure is $49,294,260 lower than the 2025 budget book expected (worked out by us). We could not tell from the documents whether the audited line and the budget fund are the same money.
A plant that costs tens of millions of dollars is a large part of the Town's finances. If a fund meant to be paid for by developers is below zero, residents will want to know who covers the gap if developers do not pay back what is owed, and 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 Erin? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Wastewater plant front-end fund: ledger and agreements, 2022 to 2026, with wording you can copy.
Schedule of deferred revenue: "Developer contributions - Wastewater plant" 19,225,393 at December 31, 2022, contributions received 77,555,465, investment income 1,264,427, revenue recognized (74,790,328), and a balance of 23,254,957 at December 31, 2023.
The Corporation of the Town of Erin, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2023 (auditor's report dated November 14, 2024) · Consolidated Schedule of Deferred Revenue (Schedule 3), PDF page 20
Reserve fund table, 2024: "WWTP Front Ended Agreements" opening balance 20,182,950, additions 14,873,626, disbursements 7,152,710, projected balance December 31, 2024 of 27,903,866.
Town of Erin, 2025 Operating & Capital Budget & 2026-2028 Forecasts (final version) · Reserves & Reserve Funds 2024, Waste Water lines, PDF page 23
Reserve fund table, 2025: "WWTP Front Ended Agreements" 27,903,866, additions 19,000,000, disbursements 12,781,207, balance December 31, 2025 of 34,122,659.
Town of Erin, 2025 Operating & Capital Budget & 2026-2028 Forecasts (final version) · Reserves & Reserve Funds 2025, Waste Water lines, PDF page 25
Reserve table, 2025: "WWTP Front Ended Agreements" -12,111,059 (balance December 31, 2024), additions 12,009,510, disbursements 15,070,052, balance -15,171,601 (December 31, 2025). "TOTAL Wastewater" -4,589,241 and -7,123,643.
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · Reserves & Reserve Funds Forecasts, 2025 table, Waste Water lines, PDF page 27
Reserve table, 2026: "WWTP Front Ended Agreements" -15,171,601, additions 10,000,000, disbursements 10,000,000, balance -15,171,601 (December 31, 2026).
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · Reserves & Reserve Funds 2026 table, Waste Water lines, PDF page 28
The budget message on finances says the plant's construction "started in 2022 is slated to be completed in 2026, with the developers of the new residential developments front-ending the costs."
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · Budget message on finances, PDF page 5
$30,000,000recreation centre in the 2027 capital plan, funded by development charges
The 2026 budget book lists "Construction of Multi-Use Recreation" at $30,000,000 in 2027, paid for by development charges. Development charges are fees the Town collects from builders of new homes to pay for growth. The Town's reserve table forecasts the recreation development charge fund at $5,654,015 at the end of 2026. The 2025 budget book had put the same $30,000,000 in 2026, so the date has already moved back a year. The budget book also says design and a Class C cost estimate (an early, rough price) for the centre are still to start. So the $30,000,000 may be an early placeholder, not a priced figure. We worked out that the amount is $24,345,985 more than the fund (worked out by us).
A $30,000,000 building is much larger than anything else in the Town's capital plan. If the development charges do not arrive as fast as hoped, the Town may have to borrow or raise taxes, or the project may slip again.
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 Erin? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Financing plan and cost estimates for the new recreation centre, with wording you can copy.
2027 Capital Requests: "Construction of Multi-Use Recreation", Community Services, funding source Development Charges, 30,000,000. "Total Capital Projects 45,390,800". Funding sources: Development Charges 35,000,000 (77%), Debt 3,155,000 (7%).
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · 2027 Capital Requests, PDF page 24
Reserve table, 2026: "PARKS & RECREATION DC" balance December 31, 2025 of 5,204,015, additions 450,000, balance December 31, 2026 of 5,654,015.
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · Reserves & Reserve Funds 2026 table, Recreation lines, PDF page 28
Community Services future goals: "Initiate architectural design and Class C cost estimation for the proposed new recreation centre at Barbour Fields."
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · Community Services, Future Goals, PDF page 74
2026 capital plan in the 2025 budget book: multi-use recreation project funded by DCs of 30,000,000, with total 2026 expenditures of 42,128,500.
Town of Erin, 2025 Operating & Capital Budget & 2026-2028 Forecasts (final version) · 2026 capital expenditures table, PDF page 17
$8,959,005labour costs in the 2026 budget, up from $5,941,674 in the 2024 budget
Labour costs in the budget were $5,941,674 for 2024. The 2025 budget raised them to $8,055,293, and the 2026 budget raises them again to $8,959,005. We worked out that this is a rise of about 51% in two years, or $3,017,331 (worked out by us). The 2026 budget book says the number of staff, counting part-time, contract and co-op students, was 135 in 2024, rose to 168 after new positions were approved in 2025, and is expected to fall to 163 in 2026. The Town's own explanation is growth and pay: it says it brought in new positions to prepare for growth, filled 21 permanent full-time positions, and completed a market review of its wage grid. A message from senior staff in the 2026 budget describes the year as one of "cost containment".
Wages are the largest single cost in the budget and they come back every year. Residents may want to know what the new positions deliver and whether the Town is paying for them from growth in taxes or from reserves.
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 Erin? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Budget by account: "Labour Costs" 2024 total budget 5,941,674, 2025 total budget 8,055,293, variance 2,113,619 (36%).
Town of Erin, 2025 Operating & Capital Budget & 2026-2028 Forecasts (final version) · 2025 Budget vs 2024 Budget (By Account), PDF page 11
Budget by account: "Labour Costs" 2025 budget 8,055,293, 2026 budget 8,959,005, variance 903,712 (11%).
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · 2026 Budget vs 2025 Budget (By Account), PDF page 17
Staffing overview: staff in 2024 "stood at 135"; "Following the approval of the budget for new positions in 2025, the staff count rose to 168"; for 2026 the staff number "is expected to decrease to 163".
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · Budget Summary, F. Staffing Overview, PDF page 12
Corporate & Administrative Services budget note: "Reflecting current staffing and implementing 2025 market review levels." Labour costs 2,292,082 (2025) and 2,757,569 (2026).
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · Corporate & Administrative Services Budget, PDF page 53
Human Resources achievements: "Completed a comprehensive market compensation review, aligning the Town of Erin's wage grid with industry standards and best practices" and "Filled 21 permanent full-time positions".
Town of Erin, 2025 Operating & Capital Budget & 2026-2028 Forecasts (final version) · Corporate & Administrative Services, Human Resources achievements, PDF page 47
budget message from senior staff: "This year’s plan focuses on cost containment, maintaining core service levels".
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · Budget message from senior staff, PDF page 4
$300,000building permit revenue in the 2026 budget, against $1,500,000 in the 2025 budget
The 2025 budget counted on $1,500,000 from building permits, double the year before. The 2026 budget cuts that line to $300,000. The Town explains that new development has slowed, and a message from senior staff in the 2026 budget says housing starts have dropped. To cover the gap in 2026 the Building budget takes $403,451 from reserves. The reserve table then forecasts the "Building Residential" reserve fund at minus $344,139 at the end of 2026. A reserve fund is money set aside for a purpose. The 2025 budget book had forecast building revenue of $1,668,111 for 2026, so the 2026 figure is far from what was expected a year earlier.
Building permit fees pay for the building department. When development slows, fees fall faster than costs. A reserve that goes below zero means the department would have spent more than it saved, and the Town would need to cover 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 Erin? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Building permit revenue and building reserve fund, 2024 to 2026, with wording you can copy.
Building budget: "Building Permits (Note 1)" 2025 budget 1,500,000, 2026 budget 300,000, variance (1,200,000). "Transfer from Reserves and Res Funds" 403,451 in 2026. Note 1: "Building permit revenue declined as a result of a reduction in new development."
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · Building Unit Budget, PDF page 81
Reserve table, 2026: "BUILDING RESIDENTIAL" balance December 31, 2025 of 52,545, additions 6,000, disbursements 402,684, balance December 31, 2026 of -344,139.
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · Reserves & Reserve Funds 2026 table, Building lines, PDF page 28
Building budget by account: "Building Permits" 752,500 (2024) and 1,500,500 (2025). The 2026 forecast for Building shows revenues of 1,668,111.
Town of Erin, 2025 Operating & Capital Budget & 2026-2028 Forecasts (final version) · 2025 Budget vs 2024 Budget (By Account), PDF page 11, and 2026-2028 Forecasts by Department, PDF page 13
A budget message from senior staff: "A slowing economy and a notable reduction in new housing starts have directly impacted our level of new assessment".
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · Budget message from senior staff, PDF page 4
Planning and Development 2025 achievements: "A total of 420 building permits were issued during the year".
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · Planning & Development, 2025 Achievements, PDF page 80
$741,517taken from reserves to pay 2026 wastewater costs, up from $183,984
The Town's wastewater budget for 2026 is $1,491,517 of costs. In the 2025 budget it was $183,984, and the 2025 budget book had forecast $187,664 for 2026. The 2026 budget covers the costs with $750,000 of "cost recovery" (charges to users of the new plant) and $741,517 taken from reserves. The Town gives its own explanation: costs rise because of "OCWA operating costs" (OCWA is the operator the budget names for the plant) and cost recovery is up because of new fees for new facilities. We worked out that the 2026 cost is $1,303,853 higher than the 2025 budget book forecast a year earlier (worked out by us).
A reserve can only be used once. If the plant's running costs are more than the fees from its users, the difference has to come from reserves, taxes or higher fees in the future.
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 Erin? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Wastewater budget: "Waste Water Cost Recovery" 750,000; "Transfer from Reserves and Res Funds" 183,984 (2025) and 741,517 (2026); "Total Expenses" 183,984 (2025) and 1,491,517 (2026). Note 1: "Cost recovery income is projected to increase due to the implementation of fees for new facilities." Note 2: "The rise in expenses is attributable to elevating OCWA operating costs."
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · Wastewater Budget, PDF page 64
2026-2028 Forecasts by Department: Wastewater 2026 forecast expense 187,664.
Town of Erin, 2025 Operating & Capital Budget & 2026-2028 Forecasts (final version) · 2026-2028 Forecasts by Department, PDF page 13
Reserve table, 2026: "WWTP Current Resident Allocation" 3,546,169, additions 75,000, balance 3,621,169; no disbursement shown.
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · Reserves & Reserve Funds 2026 table, Waste Water lines, PDF page 28
Budget overview: "Wastewater Revenue: There is a 4.5% increase in revenue from wastewater cost recovery charges, driven by the commencement of operations at the Water Resource Recovery Facility."
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · 2026 Budget Overview, PDF page 9
$(2,047,439)general deficit in the 2023 budget note, against an annual surplus of $74,994,188
The audited 2023 statements show an annual surplus of $74,994,188. Almost all of it is developer money for the wastewater plant. Note 5 lists $75,326,282 of development charge revenue, and the deferred revenue schedule shows $74,790,328 recognized from developer contributions for the plant. A note called "Budget" then shows a "General surplus (deficit)" of $(2,047,439) for 2023 and $(1,751,082) for 2022. The note says budgets are prepared on a cash basis, which means counting money in and out, and are changed to match the statements. So the headline surplus does not describe how the Town's own day-to-day operations did. Unrestricted cash (cash the Town can spend on anything) rose to $11,490,278 from $2,324,494.
The big surplus is the number most people see. The deficit is the number that says whether taxes covered the cost of running the Town. Residents may want to know how the deficit was covered and whether it was repeated in 2024 and 2025.
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 Erin? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Audited consolidated financial statements for 2024 and 2025, with wording you can copy.
Statement of operations: "ANNUAL SURPLUS" $37,921,638 (2023 budget), 74,994,188 (2023 actual), 26,186,790 (2022 actual). "Other income" 77,006,169.
The Corporation of the Town of Erin, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2023 (auditor's report dated November 14, 2024) · Consolidated Statement of Operations, PDF page 6
Note 5, Other Income: "Development charges (schedule 3)" 37,202,777 (2023 budget), 75,326,282 (2023 actual), 26,323,677 (2022).
The Corporation of the Town of Erin, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2023 (auditor's report dated November 14, 2024) · Note 5, Other Income, PDF page 14
Note 4, Budget: "Prior year general surplus" (1,751,082) for 2023 and 124,982 for 2022; "General surplus (deficit)" $0 (2023 budget), $ (2,047,439) (2023 actual), $ (1,751,082) (2022 actual). The note says the budgeted figures "are prepared on a cash basis of accounting and have been restated to conform to the accrual basis".
The Corporation of the Town of Erin, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2023 (auditor's report dated November 14, 2024) · Note 4, Budget, PDF page 14
Statement of cash flows: "Unrestricted cash" $11,490,278 (2023) and $2,324,494 (2022); "Restricted cash" 20,102,691 and 24,527,164.
The Corporation of the Town of Erin, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2023 (auditor's report dated November 14, 2024) · Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, PDF page 8
Auditor's opinion: the statements "present fairly, in all material respects" the Town's financial position. The report is dated November 14, 2024.
The Corporation of the Town of Erin, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2023 (auditor's report dated November 14, 2024) · Independent Auditor's Report, PDF pages 3 and 4
Schedule 3, Consolidated Schedule of Deferred Revenue (Dec. 31 2022, Contributions Received, Investment Income, Revenue Recognized, Dec. 31 2023): "Developer contributions - Wastewater plant 19,225,393 77,555,465 1,264,427 (74,790,328) 23,254,957".
Town of Erin 2023 Consolidated Financial Statements · PDF page 20 (printed page 20), Schedule 3
$1,369,588taken from reserves to balance the 2026 budget, up from $840,179
The 2026 budget raises the Town's tax rate by 3.8%, which the budget says is about $12 per $100,000 of assessment. The "Tax Levy" line in the budget (money raised from property taxes) rises from $10,063,945 to $10,203,000, a rise of $139,055, or about 1.4% (worked out by us). Other lines carry more of the load. Revenue from supplementary taxes (extra tax billed on new buildings during the year) is budgeted at $625,882, up from $253,000. Transfers from reserves rise from $840,179 to $1,369,588. The Tax Stabilization reserve (a fund meant to smooth tax rises) drops from $827,399 at the end of 2024 to a forecast $332,783 at the end of 2026. The 2025 budget book also shows two different 2025 tax levy figures, $10,123,945 and $10,063,945.
A budget that leans on one-time money (reserves, extra taxes on new buildings) can look balanced this year and leave a bigger tax rise next year. The Town itself says slower new building has cut the growth in assessment it normally relies 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 Erin? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Budget by account: "Tax Levy" 10,063,945 (2025), 10,203,000 (2026), variance (139,055). "PILS and Supplementary Taxes" 253,000 and 625,882. "Transfer from Reserves and Res Funds" 840,179 and 1,369,588, variance 529,409.
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · 2026 Budget vs 2025 Budget (By Account), PDF page 17
The budget message on finances: "the average 2026 increase on the Town’s portion of the tax bill at 3.8%, or about $12 per $100,000 of assessment."
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · Budget message on finances, PDF page 5
Reserve tables: "TAX STABILIZATION RESERVE" 827,399 at December 31, 2024, transfer out 437,517, 389,882 at December 31, 2025; then a transfer out of 57,099 and 332,783 at December 31, 2026. "INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL" 6,750,784, additions 950,000, disbursements 2,027,529, balance 5,673,255 at December 31, 2026.
Town of Erin, 2026 Budget & 2027-2029 Forecasts (budget book) · Reserves & Reserve Funds Forecasts, PDF pages 26 and 28
Budget by department: "Tax Levy" 8,344,275 (2024), 10,063,945 (2025). Budget by account: "Tax Levy" 8,344,275 and 10,123,945. "Trf from Reserves and Res Funds" 788,419 and 780,179. "Tax Rate Change 2.4%".
Town of Erin, 2025 Operating & Capital Budget & 2026-2028 Forecasts (final version) · 2025 Budget by Program, PDF page 10, and 2025 Budget vs 2024 Budget (By Account), PDF page 11
+72%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2024
Erin spent $1.1M on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $2.0M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 15 of 87 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Parks, arena and library | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | −8% | +1% |
| 2021 | −29% | +4% |
| 2022 | +4% | +11% |
| 2023 | +46% | +16% |
| 2024 | +72% | +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 Erin? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Parks, arena and library: 2019 $1.1M, 2020 $1.0M, 2021 $805K, 2022 $1.2M, 2023 $1.7M, 2024 $2.0M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Arena and buildings, from $998K to $1.8M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 39%. Erin ranks 16th of 88.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 87 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
+77%police, fire and safety, 2019 to 2024
Erin spent $1.3M on police, fire and safety in 2019 and $2.4M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time.
| Year | Police, fire and safety | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +20% | +1% |
| 2021 | +7% | +4% |
| 2022 | +38% | +11% |
| 2023 | +85% | +16% |
| 2024 | +77% | +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 Erin? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Police, fire and safety: 2019 $1.3M, 2020 $1.6M, 2021 $1.4M, 2022 $1.9M, 2023 $2.5M, 2024 $2.4M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Building permits, from $264K to $768K.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy