Council BooksHaldimand CountyOntarioSign inSubscribe
Not the full picture. Built from public records, which leave things out.Older reportDetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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
An older report. We have no 2024 report for Haldimand County in the Province's latest release, so these pages use its 2023 report. It may simply be filed late.
Read by hand. We read Haldimand County'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.

The money · 2023

How Haldimand County's money works

A town is a bit like a household. Money comes in (mostly taxes and grants), and money goes out to pay for services like roads, fire trucks and the arena. Here is what that looked like in 2023, the latest year the town has reported to the Province.

Why 2023 and not this year? A budget is a plan. These figures are what actually happened, checked by an auditor and reported to Ontario. The 2025 report is not out yet.

Money in: $181M

Where the town's money came from in 2023.

Haldimand County revenue by source, 2023
  • Property taxes$84.8M47%
  • Grants for specific projects$26.5M15%
  • Fees people pay$31.8M18%
  • Other$25M14%
  • Everything else$12.1M7%
Show as a table
CategoryAmountShare
Property taxes$84,803,88447.1%
Grants for specific projects$26,450,38214.7%
Fees people pay$31,760,15217.6%
Other$24,956,35113.9%
Everything else$12,064,2806.7%
Total$180,035,049100%

What each source means

Property taxes
What home and business owners pay each year, based on what their property is worth.
Grants for specific projects
Money from Ontario or Canada that must be spent on a certain thing, often a road or building.
Fees people pay
Water and sewer bills, dump fees, arena rentals, permits and similar charges.
Other
Interest earned, donations, sales of land and equipment.

Money out: $117M on services

Day-to-day spending in 2023, by service. On top of this, the town recorded $26.6M of "wear and tear" on things it owns. That is an accounting cost, not cash out the door, so it is left out here.

Haldimand County spending by service, 2023
  • Running the town office$23.4M20%
  • Police, fire and safety$14M12%
  • Roads and snow$18M15%
  • Water, sewers and garbage$23.3M20%
  • Health$9.8M8%
  • Social services$13.8M12%
  • Housing$1.8M2%
  • Parks, arena and library$9.5M8%
  • Planning and business$3.3M3%
Show as a table
CategoryAmountShare
Running the town office$23,355,05420.0%
Police, fire and safety$13,962,25311.9%
Roads and snow$18,001,04015.4%
Water, sewers and garbage$23,277,15719.9%
Health$9,815,1848.4%
Social services$13,834,76211.8%
Housing$1,817,2751.6%
Parks, arena and library$9,542,4868.2%
Planning and business$3,287,6022.8%
Total$116,892,813100%

Running the town office

$23.4M

Council, managers, the clerk, accounting, computers, insurance and the town hall itself. Every town needs some of this, but it does not fix a road or put out a fire.

+55% since 2019 (prices rose 16%)

Running the town office broken down
  1. Senior management$16.4M+73%

    The top managers who run the town day to day.

  2. Office and administration$6.1M+34%

    Office staff, finance, IT, insurance, legal and the town hall. Towns share this cost out across other services.

  3. Council$867K−20%

    Pay and expenses for the mayor and councillors, and council meetings.

Show as a table
ItemAmountChange
Senior management$16,427,977+73.0%
Office and administration$6,060,380+34.1%
Council$866,697−20.2%

Water, sewers and garbage

$23.3M

Clean tap water, the sewer system, garbage pickup, the dump and recycling.

−14% since 2019 (prices rose 16%)

Water, sewers and garbage broken down
  1. Other environment$5.3M+34%

    Other environmental costs.

  2. Water pipes$4.6M−12%

    The pipes that bring water to homes.

  3. Sewage treatment$4.6M+30%

    Cleaning sewage before it goes back into nature (Tweed uses lagoons).

  4. Recycling$2.2M+19%

    Recycling and composting.

  5. Water treatment$2.1M−48%

    Making lake or well water safe to drink.

  6. Garbage pickup$1.8M+56%

    Trucks that collect garbage.

  7. The dump (landfill)$1.7M−73%

    Running the landfill, and saving up to close it safely one day.

  8. Sewer pipes$492K+30%

    The pipes that carry sewage away from homes.

  9. Rural drainage$424K−23%

    Ditches and drains in the countryside.

  10. Storm drains$72,321−14%

    Drains that carry away rain water.

Show as a table
ItemAmountChange
Other environment$5,298,640+34.4%
Water pipes$4,563,573−11.5%
Sewage treatment$4,559,730+30.1%
Recycling$2,239,370+19.0%
Water treatment$2,142,483−48.5%
Garbage pickup$1,795,333+56.0%
The dump (landfill)$1,690,505−73.2%
Sewer pipes$491,568+30.4%
Rural drainage$423,634−23.1%
Storm drains$72,321−14.2%

Roads and snow

$18M

Fixing and paving roads, bridges and culverts, ploughing snow, and street lights.

−26% since 2019 (prices rose 16%)

Roads and snow broken down
  1. Paved roads$11.3M−21%

    Fixing and repaving paved roads.

  2. Roadsides and signs$2.8M+42%

    Ditches, signs, line painting and roadside brush.

  3. Snow ploughing$2.7M−53%

    Ploughing, salting and sanding roads in winter.

  4. Street lights$483K−23%

    Power and repairs for street lights.

  5. Bridges and culverts$437K−43%

    Keeping bridges and the pipes under roads safe.

  6. Sidewalk snow$229K−16%

    Clearing sidewalks and parking lots.

  7. Gravel roads$70,428−87%

    Grading and fixing gravel roads.

Show as a table
ItemAmountChange
Paved roads$11,264,697−21.5%
Roadsides and signs$2,829,173+42.0%
Snow ploughing$2,687,873−53.4%
Street lights$482,949−23.1%
Bridges and culverts$436,556−43.1%
Sidewalk snow$229,364−16.1%
Gravel roads$70,428−87.3%

Police, fire and safety

$14M

Paying for police, the fire department, building inspectors and by-law officers.

+3% since 2019 (prices rose 16%)

Police, fire and safety broken down
  1. Police (OPP contract)$8.2M+8%

    What the town pays for policing.

  2. Building permits$1.7M+38%

    Checking that new buildings are safe.

  3. Fire department$1.4M−46%

    Firefighters, trucks and fire halls.

  4. By-law and animal control$1.3M+45%

    Enforcing town rules, like noise, parking and dogs.

  5. Conservation authority$672K+3%

    A regional group that manages rivers, flooding and wetlands.

  6. Traffic court$493K+21%

    Handling tickets and fines.

  7. Emergency planning$204K+43%

    Getting ready for floods, storms and other emergencies.

Show as a table
ItemAmountChange
Police (OPP contract)$8,214,588+7.5%
Building permits$1,725,407+37.7%
Fire department$1,356,198−46.2%
By-law and animal control$1,295,885+44.7%
Conservation authority$672,281+3.1%
Traffic court$493,457+21.5%
Emergency planning$204,437+42.9%

Social services

$13.8M

Help for people and families who need it, and child care.

+20% since 2019 (prices rose 16%)

Social services broken down
  1. Seniors$12.9M+22%

    Long-term care and seniors programs.

  2. Income support$796K−2%

    Help for people with very low income.

  3. Child care$113K−25%

    Daycare and early learning.

Show as a table
ItemAmountChange
Seniors$12,925,629+22.4%
Income support$795,704−2.0%
Child care$113,429−25.0%

Health

$9.8M

Public health, ambulances and cemeteries.

+46% since 2019 (prices rose 16%)

Health broken down
  1. Ambulance$8.6M+58%

    Paramedics and ambulances.

  2. Public health$913K−7%

    Health inspections and programs.

  3. Cemeteries$328K+4%

    Looking after town cemeteries.

Show as a table
ItemAmountChange
Ambulance$8,574,141+57.6%
Public health$913,301−7.4%
Cemeteries$327,742+3.6%

Parks, arena and library

$9.5M

Parks, the arena, the pool, sports fields, programs and the library.

+43% since 2019 (prices rose 16%)

Parks, arena and library broken down
  1. Arena and buildings$3.4M+82%

    The arena, pool, community centre and halls.

  2. Library$1.7M+17%

    The public library.

  3. Parks$1.6M+41%

    Parks, beaches, trails and green spaces.

  4. Arts and culture$1.5M+36%

    Festivals, arts and heritage.

  5. Programs$745K+27%

    Classes, camps and activities.

  6. Other recreation$714K+19%

    Other recreation costs.

Show as a table
ItemAmountChange
Arena and buildings$3,372,861+81.7%
Library$1,658,008+16.7%
Parks$1,594,074+40.7%
Arts and culture$1,458,426+36.2%
Programs$744,680+27.1%
Other recreation$714,437+19.2%

Planning and business

$3.3M

Deciding what can be built where, and trying to bring businesses and visitors to town.

+33% since 2019 (prices rose 16%)

Planning and business broken down
  1. Planning and zoning$2.1M+42%

    Deciding what can be built where.

  2. Business and tourism$1.2M+20%

    Attracting businesses and visitors, and helping local shops.

Show as a table
ItemAmountChange
Planning and zoning$2,122,131+41.5%
Business and tourism$1,165,471+20.2%

Housing

$1.8M

Affordable and social housing.

+99% since 2019 (prices rose 16%)

Housing broken down
  1. Public housing$1.8M+99%

    Homes owned by government.

Show as a table
ItemAmountChange
Public housing$1,817,275+98.6%

What the money bought

The same 2023 spending, sorted by what it paid for rather than which service.

Spending by type
  1. Staff pay and benefits$52M

    Wages, benefits and pensions for town workers.

  2. Outside companies$40.7M

    Work the town pays other companies to do, like policing, paving or consultants.

  3. Supplies and utilities$20.5M

    Gravel, salt, fuel, electricity, heating, office supplies and repairs.

  4. Interest on loans$1.7M

    The extra money paid to lenders for money the town borrowed.

  5. Money given to others$1.4M

    Grants and payments to other groups, like the conservation authority.

  6. Rent and money costs$620K

    Renting equipment or space, bank fees, and some accounting costs.

Show as a table
ItemAmount
Staff pay and benefits$52,011,294
Outside companies$40,711,257
Supplies and utilities$20,456,413
Interest on loans$1,736,093
Money given to others$1,357,722
Rent and money costs$620,034

Staff

People on the town's payroll at the end of each year, as reported to the Province.

YearFull-timePart-timeSeasonal
2019373189154
2020384181139
2021383179171
2022413202177
2023434181183

How things have changed since 2019

Money in compared with day-to-day spending, each year. When the orange line is above the blue one, the town spent more than it took in and made up the difference from savings or loans. Grants for big projects arrive in some years and not others, which makes "money in" jump around.

Money in and day-to-day spending by year
$181M
Show as a table
YearMoney inDay-to-day spending
2019$155M$108M
2020$156M$101M
2021$158M$102M
2022$176M$115M
2023$181M$117M

Town property tax

Up 18% since 2019. Prices rose 16%.

Town property tax by year
$84.8M
Show as a table
YearTown property tax
2019$71.7M
2020$73.9M
2021$76.9M
2022$80.3M
2023$84.8M

Savings (reserves)

Money set aside for repairs, equipment and emergencies.

Reserves by year
$210M
Show as a table
YearSavings
2019$165M
2020$175M
2021$190M
2022$205M
2023$210M

What the town owes

Long-term loans plus short-term (temporary) loans at year end.

Debt by year
$52.6M
Show as a table
YearLong-term loansTemporary loans
2019$70M$0
2020$62.4M$0
2021$64M$0
2022$60.7M$0
2023$52.6M$0

Building new things

Spending on new or rebuilt roads, pipes, buildings and equipment, compared with how fast existing ones wear out.

Capital spending and wear by year
$59.4M
Show as a table
YearBuilt or boughtWore out (amortization)
2019$31.1M$24.3M
2020$41.8M$24.9M
2021$28.9M$25.1M
2022$55M$27.6M
2023$59.4M$26.6M

Source: Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), Schedules 10, 40, 51, 60, 70, 74 and 80 (archived copy). Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Retrieved 2026-10-01. Figures are what the municipality reported to the Province for each year, prepared on the same basis as its audited financial statements.