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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Fort Erie'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 · 7 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Fort Erie's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 35 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.
$15Mlevy capital reserves in the January 2026 slides, against $24.0M projected for January 1, 2024
A reserve is money a town sets aside for later, such as replacing a road or a pipe. The Town's January 2024 slides projected $24.0M in levy capital reserves (the money raised from property taxes) and $15.9M in levy operating reserves for January 1, 2024. The January 2026 slides show $15M in levy capital reserves and $15.1M in operating reserves. The 2026 slides say reserves are starting to trend downwards even though contributions have increased slightly, and the 2025 budget used $2.7M of reserves. The two sets of slides may not count exactly the same things, so the drop is not a measured loss. We did not find a table of year-end balances in the documents we could read.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$29M+a year, the AMP gap named in the 2026 capital slides
An asset management plan (AMP) lists what a town owns, how fast it wears out and what it costs to replace. The Town's 2026 slides say it owns assets with a historical cost of $467M and a replacement value of about $2B, and sets aside $16.0M a year in base reserve transfers (levy and water and wastewater together). They also say the yearly investment needed to maintain the levy system is approximately $37M, and that the AMP gap is $29M+ a year and widening. Two years earlier the Town said the gap from its 2019 plan had been closed in 2022. The Town is open about this: it says a financial strategy report would follow, and that reserves are not sufficient and a higher reliance on debt is likely. We could not open that report.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
7.1%forecast base budget increase for 2027, against 3.57% net for 2026
The 2026 levy budget raises the Town's base budget by 5.78% before assessment growth (new buildings that add to the tax base) of 2.21%, leaving 3.57%. A note on the slide says a report in October 2025 had estimated 8.75%. For a typical home the Town's share of the tax bill goes up 3.50% and the whole bill, with the Region and schools, 4.50%. The slides then forecast base budget increases of 7.1% in 2027 and 4.4% in 2028. Two years ago the Town forecast 7.9% for 2025 and 2.7% for 2026. The slides do not say why 2027 is so high, though they list one-time reserve use, wage agreements and the asset gap as pressures.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$87Moutstanding budget on 159 open capital projects, against a 2026 program of $23.8M
A capital project builds or replaces something that lasts, such as a road, a bridge or a pipe. The Town's November 2025 slides say a variance report (CS-10-2025) closed 77 projects with a budget of $27.1M and returned $3.6M to reserves. It also gave a status update on 159 projects that remain open with outstanding budget of $87M. The same slides propose a 2026 program of $23.8M for 61 projects and an average of $35.3M a year from 2026 to 2036. The Town points to that variance report for the detail. We could not open it.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$500,000of 2026 operations funded by the Building Permit Surplus reserve, which cannot be relied upon after 2027
Fees paid by builders and developers help pay for the people who review plans and inspect work. The 2026 levy slides list building and planning fees among the revenue changes at $390,300 (a loss of income, since the slide treats positive numbers as unfavourable). The same slides say the Building Permit Surplus reserve is funding approximately $500,000 of 2026 operations and cannot be relied upon after 2027. They name development volatility as a risk, and the water slides name lower forecast development charge collections. The slides do not say why the fees fell or what replaces the reserve.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
6.5%a year, the forecast water and wastewater bill increase for 2027 to 2031
The Town buys water treatment from Niagara Region and passes the cost on. For 2026 the Region's budget raises the cost by 9.42%, and the Town's slides say that is 79% of the Town's own increase. The Town builds 9.42% into 2027 and every later forecast year, and forecasts bill increases of about 6.5% a year for 2027 to 2031. The Town explains the reasons itself: the Region's charges are more than 62% of its water budget, its customers are spread over a long network of pipes, and it was second highest in Niagara for the base charge in 2025. It also reports 64 watermain breaks so far in 2025, against 34 in 2024 and 25 in 2023.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$500,000one-time Coal Docks grant to NPC, paid from the GLRS reserve
The 2026 levy slides list a one-time cost of $500,000 for a "Coal Docks grant - to NPC", paid from a reserve the slides call GLRS. The slides say it is the one request in that part of the budget that was already the subject of a previous report or resolution, which suggests Council had decided on it earlier. The same budget cuts three grant programs (Heritage Property, Affordable Housing and Industrial development charge grants) by $200,000. The slides do not say what NPC is or what the grant buys, and we could not open the earlier report.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$15Mlevy capital reserves in the January 2026 slides, against $24.0M projected for January 1, 2024
A reserve is money a town sets aside for later, such as replacing a road or a pipe. The Town's January 2024 slides projected $24.0M in levy capital reserves (the money raised from property taxes) and $15.9M in levy operating reserves for January 1, 2024. The January 2026 slides show $15M in levy capital reserves and $15.1M in operating reserves. The 2026 slides say reserves are starting to trend downwards even though contributions have increased slightly, and the 2025 budget used $2.7M of reserves. The two sets of slides may not count exactly the same things, so the drop is not a measured loss. We did not find a table of year-end balances in the documents we could read.
Why it matters
Reserves are what a town spends instead of borrowing or raising taxes in a bad year. If they keep shrinking while needs grow, later councils have fewer choices. Residents can reasonably ask how fast, and why.
It could be because…
Capital reserves exist to be spent. A fall can mean projects were built, which is what they are for.
The two sets of slides may group reserves differently. The 2026 charts say they leave out water and wastewater and business improvement area reserves.
Reserves can be used on purpose to pay one-time items and to hold down a tax increase, as the 2025 budget did.
Questions you could ask
What were the year-end balances of the levy operating and capital reserves for 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, counted the same way each year?
What does "GLRS" stand for, and how much is left in that reserve after the 2026 budget?
At what balance would Council consider a reserve too low, and does the Reserve Policy say?
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 Fort Erie?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
2026 Levy Budget slides, Reserves: "$15.1M Levy Reserves - Operating ($0.9M/yr contribution)"; "$15M Levy Reserves - Capital ($10.1M/yr contribution)"; "The 2025 Budget used $2.7M in Reserves, of which $722K used to mitigate Supplementary requests." A side note says reserves are starting to trend downwards despite slight increases in contributions to reserves. The graphs show 2025 as "Projected".
2024 General Levy Budget slides, Financial Performance: "Balances projected for Jan 1/24": "$4.2M Levy debt ($6.2M including Utility)"; "$15.9M Levy Reserves - Operating ($1.0M/yr contribution)"; "$24.0M Levy Reserves - Capital ($9.5M/yr contribution)".
2026 Levy Budget slides, Risks: "Reserves: Considerable reliance on reserves including the GLRS." The same list names economic, asset management, legislation, assessment, development and Region tax risks.
$29M+a year, the AMP gap named in the 2026 capital slides
An asset management plan (AMP) lists what a town owns, how fast it wears out and what it costs to replace. The Town's 2026 slides say it owns assets with a historical cost of $467M and a replacement value of about $2B, and sets aside $16.0M a year in base reserve transfers (levy and water and wastewater together). They also say the yearly investment needed to maintain the levy system is approximately $37M, and that the AMP gap is $29M+ a year and widening. Two years earlier the Town said the gap from its 2019 plan had been closed in 2022. The Town is open about this: it says a financial strategy report would follow, and that reserves are not sufficient and a higher reliance on debt is likely. We could not open that report.
Why it matters
If a town does not set aside enough to replace what wears out, the bill arrives later as a big tax increase, new debt or worse roads and pipes. The Town has said so in public, which is why residents can ask for the plan.
It could be because…
A gap measured against an ideal replacement schedule is not a bill that must be paid in one year. The Town can phase it in over many years.
Grants from other governments and development charges may pay part of it.
The $37M and $29M+ may be counted on different bases (levy only against all services). The slides we read do not say how they relate.
Questions you could ask
Did the AMP Financial Strategy report go to Council, and what yearly amount and mix of reserves, debt and taxes does it recommend?
How do the $37M a year of needs, the $29M+ gap and the $16.0M set aside fit together?
How much extra debt would the Town take on, and what would it add to the tax bill?
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 Fort Erie?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
2026 Capital Budget slides, AMP Update: "Asset values: $467M historical cost with approximately ~$2B replacement value." "Current base reserve transfers: $16.0M (Levy and W&WW)".
2026 Capital Budget slides, Risks: "AMP: Gap ($29M+/yr) being refined." Key Messages: "AMP gap widening due to inflation and affordability. Financial Strategy to refine."
2026 Levy Budget slides, Reserve Trends: the required annual investment "to maintain the system with approved levels of service is approximately $37M per year"; "Capital Levy reserves total ~$15 million but are not expected to keep pace with increasing investment needs." AMP Financial Strategy: "Reserves not sufficient to sustain long-term needs." "Higher reliance on debt is likely." A report is listed for February 9.
7.1%forecast base budget increase for 2027, against 3.57% net for 2026
The 2026 levy budget raises the Town's base budget by 5.78% before assessment growth (new buildings that add to the tax base) of 2.21%, leaving 3.57%. A note on the slide says a report in October 2025 had estimated 8.75%. For a typical home the Town's share of the tax bill goes up 3.50% and the whole bill, with the Region and schools, 4.50%. The slides then forecast base budget increases of 7.1% in 2027 and 4.4% in 2028. Two years ago the Town forecast 7.9% for 2025 and 2.7% for 2026. The slides do not say why 2027 is so high, though they list one-time reserve use, wage agreements and the asset gap as pressures.
Why it matters
The 2027 budget will be set by the Council elected on October 26, 2026, so voters may want the reasons for a large forecast before they vote. The Town's forecasts have also moved a lot from year to year.
It could be because…
A forecast is a rough planning number, and the 2026 slides themselves moved from 8.75% to 3.57% as work went on.
Some 2026 costs are paid by one-time reserve money that cannot be used again. The slides say the Building Permit Surplus reserve funding "cannot be relied upon >2027".
The Town may be pointing to the asset gap and wage agreements, which are named as risks.
Questions you could ask
What makes up the 7.1% forecast for 2027 (wages, reserve top-ups, debt, the asset gap, one-time items that end)?
Why did the estimate for 2026 fall from 8.75% to 3.57% between October 2025 and January 2026?
Will the 2027 budget timetable be public before the election, and will the new Council see this forecast?
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 Fort Erie?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
2026 Levy Budget slides, Base Summary: "Total Base Budget Increase" $2,129,340, 5.78%; "Assessment Growth" (2.21%); net of assessment growth 3.57%. "Note: Report CS-08-2025 on Oct 6/25 estimated 8.75%."
2026 Levy Budget slides, Forecasts: "Base budget increases of 7.1% in 2027 and 4.4% in 2028." "Supplementary Phase-ins: No 2027 impacts to phase-in previous approvals (e.g., full-year staffing impacts)." Market: "Continued pressures in various areas such as professional services, modernization, utilities and environmental compliance."
2026 Levy Budget slides, Household Impacts: Town tax bill increase 3.50% for the median household; total tax bill increase 4.50%; "$13.65" per month for the total bill. Opportunities: a strong business case for between 3.50% and 4.25% of "$282,000 to address AMP Financial Strategy".
$87Moutstanding budget on 159 open capital projects, against a 2026 program of $23.8M
A capital project builds or replaces something that lasts, such as a road, a bridge or a pipe. The Town's November 2025 slides say a variance report (CS-10-2025) closed 77 projects with a budget of $27.1M and returned $3.6M to reserves. It also gave a status update on 159 projects that remain open with outstanding budget of $87M. The same slides propose a 2026 program of $23.8M for 61 projects and an average of $35.3M a year from 2026 to 2036. The Town points to that variance report for the detail. We could not open it.
Why it matters
Approved money that is not yet spent is tax and reserve money tied up. Large projects do take years, so some of this is normal. The question is how much is still moving and how much is old.
It could be because…
Roads, bridges and water projects often take several years, and grants such as OCIF arrive on their own schedule.
Money is returned to reserves when a project closes, as the $3.6M shows. The system may be working as designed.
Some projects may be waiting on studies, approvals or development.
Questions you could ask
How old are the 159 open projects, and how much of the $87M is committed to signed contracts?
Which open projects have had no spending for more than a year, and why?
Does Council see a yearly list of projects over budget or behind schedule? We did not find it on the pages we could read.
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 Fort Erie?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
2026 Capital Budget slides, Variance Reporting - Report CS-10-2025: "Closed 77 projects with budget of $27.1M. Returned $3.6M to reserves (Appendix 1)." "Status update on 159 projects that remain open with outstanding budget of $87M (Appendix 2)." "2025 added ~$2.7M in additions through award/amendments."
2026 Capital Budget slides: "2026 Request = $23.8M (61 projects)". 10-year Forecast: "Average annual Capital Program is $35.3M (2026 to 2036)". Key Messages: "Total 11-yr horizon of $388M."
$500,000of 2026 operations funded by the Building Permit Surplus reserve, which cannot be relied upon after 2027
Fees paid by builders and developers help pay for the people who review plans and inspect work. The 2026 levy slides list building and planning fees among the revenue changes at $390,300 (a loss of income, since the slide treats positive numbers as unfavourable). The same slides say the Building Permit Surplus reserve is funding approximately $500,000 of 2026 operations and cannot be relied upon after 2027. They name development volatility as a risk, and the water slides name lower forecast development charge collections. The slides do not say why the fees fell or what replaces the reserve.
Why it matters
If a service that runs on development fees is paid from a reserve that runs out in 2027, the cost comes back to the tax bill or to a cut.
It could be because…
Permit fees move with the housing market, and a building permit reserve exists to cover slow years.
The decline may be a cautious forecast and not a fall that has already happened.
Other fee lines went up in the same budget: engineering review fees by $260,000 and beach admissions and facility rentals by $110,587.
Questions you could ask
How much is left in the Building Permit Surplus reserve, and what is planned for building department costs after 2027?
Why was the 2026 budget for building and planning fees reduced by $390,300?
Are building permit fees set to cover the cost of the building service, and is that tested each 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 Fort Erie?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
2026 Levy Budget slides, Revenues: "Revenues (Favourable)/Unfavourable are budgeted to decrease by $75,937". Listed changes include "$390,300 Building & planning fees", "($260,000) Engineering review fees" and "($110,587) Beach admissions & Facility rentals".
2026 Levy Budget slides, Risks: "Reserves: Considerable reliance on reserves including the GLRS. The Building Permit Surplus reserve is funding approximately $500,000 of 2026 operations and cannot be relied upon >2027." "Development: Development volatility impacts fees and charges which help minimize tax burden."
6.5%a year, the forecast water and wastewater bill increase for 2027 to 2031
The Town buys water treatment from Niagara Region and passes the cost on. For 2026 the Region's budget raises the cost by 9.42%, and the Town's slides say that is 79% of the Town's own increase. The Town builds 9.42% into 2027 and every later forecast year, and forecasts bill increases of about 6.5% a year for 2027 to 2031. The Town explains the reasons itself: the Region's charges are more than 62% of its water budget, its customers are spread over a long network of pipes, and it was second highest in Niagara for the base charge in 2025. It also reports 64 watermain breaks so far in 2025, against 34 in 2024 and 25 in 2023.
Why it matters
Water is a bill every household pays, and it is rising faster than the property tax. The Town has explained most of why, so this is a note. What residents can still ask is what the Town and Region are doing about the parts they control.
It could be because…
The Region sets the largest part of the cost, and the Town cannot change it.
A hot dry summer in 2025 made watermains more likely to break, according to the Town, so the break count may fall in a normal year.
A credit of $1,018,238 from the Region for 2024 flows was moved into a stabilization reserve to smooth later years.
Questions you could ask
What did the Region's review of its billing method (Regional Report CSD 59-2024) conclude, and would it lower Fort Erie's share?
How much of the 64 watermain breaks in 2025 cost the Town in repairs and lost water, and what is planned to bring the number down?
How many years of rate increases are covered by the Sewer Stabilization reserve?
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 Fort Erie?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Region Treatment Costs: "Combined increase of 9.42%, or 8.78% Water and 9.74% Wastewater." "Fort Erie Budget includes 9.42% for 2027 and all future forecasts." Regional costs are ">62% of Town's budget." The 2026 reconciliation adjustment is "a credit of $1,018,238".
Rate History & Forecast: "Forecast for 2027-2031 is approx. 6.5% per year and includes Region increase of 9.42% annual increase". Key Messages: "The 9.42% Region budget increase represents 79% of the Town's increase."
Base Charge: "Fort Erie was 2nd highest in Niagara in 2025." "Challenge due to low customers per km of infrastructure." Operational Challenges: "64 ytd in 2025, 34 in 2024, 25 in 2023" watermain breaks, with a "hot dry summer in 2025" contributing.
$500,000one-time Coal Docks grant to NPC, paid from the GLRS reserve
The 2026 levy slides list a one-time cost of $500,000 for a "Coal Docks grant - to NPC", paid from a reserve the slides call GLRS. The slides say it is the one request in that part of the budget that was already the subject of a previous report or resolution, which suggests Council had decided on it earlier. The same budget cuts three grant programs (Heritage Property, Affordable Housing and Industrial development charge grants) by $200,000. The slides do not say what NPC is or what the grant buys, and we could not open the earlier report.
Why it matters
A single half-million-dollar grant stands out in a budget with a 3.50% Town tax increase. Council may have good reasons, but residents should be able to find them in one place.
It could be because…
Council may have approved the grant in an earlier public report or resolution, and the budget only carries it out.
Paying from a reserve set aside for this kind of use means the property tax levy does not rise for it.
The grant may be matched by money from other partners.
Questions you could ask
Which report and resolution approved the $500,000 Coal Docks grant, and who is NPC?
What will the grant pay for, over what years, and what are the conditions if it is not spent as planned?
Why were three grant programs cut by $200,000 in the same 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 Fort Erie?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
2026 Levy Budget slides, Part 1 to Part 4: "Part 2: $500,000 One-time Costs (Reserve funded)"; "2.1 $500,000 Coal Docks grant - to NPC (GLRS Reserve)". The overview says Part 2 covers "requests subject of a previous report/resolution" with "1 request".
Presentation Questions, summary of proposed changes: "3. 3.50% Town Tax Bill % increase, median household" (Town Budget % increase 3.57%; total tax bill 4.50%).
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