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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Halton Hills'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 · 10 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Halton Hills' financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 9 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.
$27,153,557owed by the development charge funds to the Town's other reserves, December 31, 2024
Development charges are fees the Town collects from builders to pay for roads, parks and fire halls that new homes need. Halton Hills has paid for some of that growth work before the fees came in, by borrowing from its own savings accounts (reserves). On December 31, 2024 the growth funds owed $27,153,557 to those reserves. Recreation and Parks is the biggest part, $22,870,868. The Town's budget book says the amount borrowed rises to $34.1 million when commitments are counted, and that the loans, with interest, will be repaid from future development charges as they come in. It also says the growth-related capital program is deferred until the charges are collected.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
6.99%rise in the Town's own part of a typical 2026 tax bill, against a headline of 3.53% for the whole bill
A property tax bill has three parts: the Town, Halton Region and the school boards. The 2026 budget book says the Town's budget rises 6.99%, and prints that as a 3.53% increase to the whole tax bill. On a typical bill the Town's own line goes from $482.11 per $100,000 of assessed value to $515.80, which is the 6.99%. The 2025 budget did the same thing: 8.97% more for the Town's part, 4.42% on the whole bill. Over the two years the Town's part per $100,000 went from $442.17 in 2024 to $515.80 in the 2026 proposal, a rise of 16.7% (worked out by us). The Town prints both numbers in its budget book. The one-page "2026 Budget Key Information" sheet shows only "Tax increase of 3.5%". The 2026 book calls its figures "proposed" and we did not find an adopted version.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
8.46%more for salaries and benefits in the 2026 budget than in 2025
Salaries and benefits are the Town's biggest cost. The 2026 budget book shows them at 66,612 (in thousands of dollars), up from 61,414 in 2025: 5,198 more, or 8.46%. The Town explains that $3.1 million is for the people already on staff: $585K for step increases and 2025 changes, $809K for the second year of a non-union salary and pay equity review, $567K for Fire and outside worker union contracts, $860K for a 2.0% cost-of-living increase for non-union staff and $326K for benefits. The rest is new people: the book asks for 12.2 more full-time equivalent staff (a full-time equivalent is one full-time job; two half-time jobs make one).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$2,881,503investment income in 2024, against a budget of $1,156,000
Investment income is interest on the Town's savings. The 2024 statements show a budget of $1,156,000 and a result of $2,881,503. The Town's own rules explain part of the gap: interest earned on reserve funds that the law sets aside is added to those funds, and its reserve list says interest earned above the budgeted amount goes to the Contingency reserve. The 2026 budget puts corporate investment earnings at $1,355,000. A second number deserves a look: the statements record the Town's $103,664,141 in a pooled fund at cost and say its market value was $99,189,556. That is $4,474,585 less (worked out by us). The statements say these short-term investments are bonds and debentures, recorded at cost and written down only if the loss is not temporary.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$51,034,121the Town's total investment in its electric utility, December 31, 2024
Halton Hills Community Energy Corporation (HHCEC) is the electric utility the Town owns. The Town lent it $7,400,000 through a promissory note (a written IOU) and holds an investment worth $43,634,121 in the books, so its total stake is $51,034,121. The statements say repayment of the note "has been deferred to a future date, which will be determined in December 2028", and that the utility's debt to the Town ranks behind its secured credit with TD bank. In 2024 the utility's income was $2,940,586. It paid the Town dividends of $1,492,000, plus $210,900 interest on the note. The 2026 budget counts on $1,702,900 from dividends and interest, which is those two amounts added together (worked out by us).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
The Town's Financial Information page, which we read on October 5, 2026, links financial reports for 2024, 2023 and 2022 and none for 2025. Council's July 13, 2026 agenda lists a presentation by the auditors (KPMG) on the 2025 annual financial statements, with the statements, management's discussion and an audit findings report attached. We could not open those attachments, because the meeting portal blocked a scripted download, so we do not know what they say. This pack uses the 2024 statements instead, and we make no claim about 2025.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
A whistleblower program is a safe way for staff and others to report suspected wrongdoing. Council's March 9, 2026 agenda lists a motion titled "Establishing a Whistleblower Reporting Framework". On July 13, 2026 the agenda recommended that Council receive report ADMIN-2026-022 and that staff bring forward a program "as part of the 2027 Budget and Business Plan deliberations". The Town's 2027 budget page says the budget will be approved in early 2027. The Integrity Commissioner page says complaints about staff cannot go to the Commissioner. We did not find a staff reporting program on the pages we read. We could not open the motion or the staff report.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
In 2025, Halton Hills collected $6.8M more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 9% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. None of the 9 similar towns raised theirs by more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 4 sources
$27,153,557owed by the development charge funds to the Town's other reserves, December 31, 2024
Development charges are fees the Town collects from builders to pay for roads, parks and fire halls that new homes need. Halton Hills has paid for some of that growth work before the fees came in, by borrowing from its own savings accounts (reserves). On December 31, 2024 the growth funds owed $27,153,557 to those reserves. Recreation and Parks is the biggest part, $22,870,868. The Town's budget book says the amount borrowed rises to $34.1 million when commitments are counted, and that the loans, with interest, will be repaid from future development charges as they come in. It also says the growth-related capital program is deferred until the charges are collected.
Why it matters
Reserves are meant to pay later for replacing roads, buildings and equipment. If growth is slower than planned, or the province lowers the fees (the Town's 2027 budget page mentions provincially directed reductions in development charges), the loans may have to be repaid some other way, such as from taxes. The Town has said how it plans to repay. The open question is how long it can wait and what happens if the money is late.
It could be because…
Growth projects often have to be built before the builders pay their fees, and borrowing from the Town's own reserves can cost less than borrowing from a bank.
The Town says the loans carry accrued interest, so the reserves that lend the money are paid for it.
The Town's long-range plan is built on growth that is already planned (Vision Georgetown and the Premier Gateway are named in its budget). The fees may arrive later than hoped rather than not at all.
The Town has already slowed down: its budget rules say growth-related capital projects wait until the charges are collected.
Questions you could ask
What was the total owed by the development charge funds to other reserves on December 31, 2025, and what does the Town expect at the end of 2026?
What interest rate do the loans carry, and which reserves have lent the most?
If development charge collections stay below plan, what is the backup: slower projects, new borrowing or higher taxes?
Council's July 13, 2026 agenda lists a memorandum on a "Development Charges Reduction Program" (CES-2026-004, June 22, 2026). We could not open it. What does it change for these loans?
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 Halton Hills?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 10, Development Charges Fund table, December 31, 2024: "Loans from Town Reserves" total (27,153,557), of which Recreation and Parks Services (22,870,868). "Net Balance on Development Charges" total (24,587,207), after a fund balance of 2,566,350. The note says the balance "has been fully committed to be spent on active capital projects approved by Council as part of the budget process."
"As of December 31, 2024, an internal loan balance of $27.1 million exists between reserves and reserve funds, representing the borrowing required to address shortfalls in the development charges reserve funds. When factoring in all outstanding commitments, the total amount loaned increases to $34.1 million." It adds that "Repayment of these loans, including accrued interest, will be made from future development charge collections as they become available."
The budget governance framework includes: "Defer the growth-related capital program until development charges are collected; (infrastructure servicing discussions with Halton Region ongoing)."
The Town's 2027 budget page lists as a pressure "non-discretionary impacts like provincially directed reductions in development charges and downloaded services."
6.99%rise in the Town's own part of a typical 2026 tax bill, against a headline of 3.53% for the whole bill
A property tax bill has three parts: the Town, Halton Region and the school boards. The 2026 budget book says the Town's budget rises 6.99%, and prints that as a 3.53% increase to the whole tax bill. On a typical bill the Town's own line goes from $482.11 per $100,000 of assessed value to $515.80, which is the 6.99%. The 2025 budget did the same thing: 8.97% more for the Town's part, 4.42% on the whole bill. Over the two years the Town's part per $100,000 went from $442.17 in 2024 to $515.80 in the 2026 proposal, a rise of 16.7% (worked out by us). The Town prints both numbers in its budget book. The one-page "2026 Budget Key Information" sheet shows only "Tax increase of 3.5%". The 2026 book calls its figures "proposed" and we did not find an adopted version.
Why it matters
Most people read "tax increase" as the rise in the part the Town controls. Both numbers are true, but the smaller one is the one on the summary sheet. The two years together are a larger change than either headline suggests.
It could be because…
Residents pay one bill, so the whole-bill percentage is what most households will feel, and the Town prints it as "for the Town's portion".
The Region and the school boards set their own parts, so the Town cannot promise a total.
The Town does print the 6.99% and the 8.97% in its own tables. The question is which number leads.
The two 2025 tax figures differ a little ($481.84 in the 2025 book, $482.11 in the 2026 book), probably because of updated assessment figures. We did not find the Town's reason.
Questions you could ask
Will the Town print the Town-only percentage next to the headline on its one-page budget sheets?
What is the adopted 2026 increase to the Town's share of a typical bill, as opposed to the proposed one?
How much of the 2025 and 2026 increases came from one-time or catch-up items, and how much will repeat in 2027?
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 Halton Hills?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
2026: "The 6.99% increase to the Town's annual operating budget equates to a 3.53% increase to the tax bill (for the Town's portion) and an overall increase of 5.07% when the Region and education components are included." Table 2, per $100,000 of assessed value: Town of Halton Hills 2025 taxes $482.11, 2026 budget impact 6.99%, 2026 taxes $515.80, $33.69 more, 3.53% of the tax bill. The book calls the budget "proposed".
2025: "The increase to the Town's annual operating budget equates to a 4.42% increase to the tax bill (for the Town's portion) and an overall increase of 6.50% when the Region and education components are included." The tax table, per $100,000: Town 2024 taxes $442.17, 2025 budget impact 8.97%, 2025 taxes $481.84, $39.67 more, 4.42% on the tax bill.
8.46%more for salaries and benefits in the 2026 budget than in 2025
Salaries and benefits are the Town's biggest cost. The 2026 budget book shows them at 66,612 (in thousands of dollars), up from 61,414 in 2025: 5,198 more, or 8.46%. The Town explains that $3.1 million is for the people already on staff: $585K for step increases and 2025 changes, $809K for the second year of a non-union salary and pay equity review, $567K for Fire and outside worker union contracts, $860K for a 2.0% cost-of-living increase for non-union staff and $326K for benefits. The rest is new people: the book asks for 12.2 more full-time equivalent staff (a full-time equivalent is one full-time job; two half-time jobs make one).
Why it matters
Pay is a cost that comes back every year and rarely goes down. This item has the Town's answer already, so the open question is how much repeats, how much is paid by reserves or fees instead of taxes, and what the final year of the pay review will cost.
It could be because…
Union contracts are signed and must be paid. The Fire and outside worker increases follow them.
A pay review and pay equity review bring pay in line with the market and the law, and help the Town keep staff.
The Town says new Fire positions come from the part-time pool and are meant to cut overtime. Their cost is paid from the Fire Services Reserve and the Fire special levy.
Part of the growth is staffing for a growing town: Georgetown and the Premier Gateway are expanding.
Questions you could ask
How many of the 10.0 new full-time positions are paid by property tax, and how many by reserves, fees or grants?
What will the last year of the non-union salary and pay equity review cost in 2027?
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 Halton Hills?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Table 3, gross expenditures by category, in thousands of dollars: Salaries & Benefits 2025 budget 61,414, 2026 budget 66,612, change 5,198, 8.46%. Contributions to Reserves 18,180 to 20,379. Total Gross Expenditures 101,958 to 111,282.
"An additional $3.1 million has been included in the 2026 Budget to cover estimated salary and benefit cost increases for the existing 2025 staff complement." It lists $585K for step increases, $809K for the second year of the Non-Union Salary Survey and Pay Equity Review, $567K for Fire and outside worker union contract adjustments, $860K for a non-union cost of living adjustment and $326K for benefit increases.
Staff complement, Table 6: Town full time 2025 final budget 361.0, 2026 net additions 10.0, 2026 submission 373.0. Combined total (Town and Library) 527.0 in the 2025 final budget and 539.0 in the 2026 submission. The page says the book requests 12.2 full-time equivalent staff in the 2026 operating budget.
The Fire request for two full-time suppression firefighters (2.0 FTE) has a total cost of $309,900, funded through the Fire Services Reserve and the Fire Special Levy. The department calls it Year 2 of its Five-Year Fire Staffing Plan and says hiring from its part-time pool is expected to reduce overtime costs.
$2,881,503investment income in 2024, against a budget of $1,156,000
Investment income is interest on the Town's savings. The 2024 statements show a budget of $1,156,000 and a result of $2,881,503. The Town's own rules explain part of the gap: interest earned on reserve funds that the law sets aside is added to those funds, and its reserve list says interest earned above the budgeted amount goes to the Contingency reserve. The 2026 budget puts corporate investment earnings at $1,355,000. A second number deserves a look: the statements record the Town's $103,664,141 in a pooled fund at cost and say its market value was $99,189,556. That is $4,474,585 less (worked out by us). The statements say these short-term investments are bonds and debentures, recorded at cost and written down only if the loss is not temporary.
Why it matters
Budgeting interest low and setting the extra aside may reflect caution, but it also means the budget does not show how much money the Town really has to work with. A market value below the books is not a loss while bonds are held to maturity, and it should be watched.
It could be because…
Interest rates were higher than expected, and the Town budgets cautiously on purpose.
Much of the interest belongs to reserve funds and development charge funds and is credited to them, not spent.
A pooled bond fund can be worth less than its cost when rates rise and still pay back its full amount at maturity.
The reserve policy sends the extra to a contingency fund for emergencies, which is a use of the money.
Questions you could ask
How much of the $2,881,503 was earned on reserve funds and added to them, and how much reached the operating budget?
What was the market value of the pooled fund at the end of 2025, and does the Town plan to hold the bonds to maturity?
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 Halton Hills?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 1, investment income: "Investment income earned on obligatory reserve funds and deferred revenue balances for which the nature of the restriction requires it, is added to the fund balance and forms part of the respective deferred revenue balances."
Note 3: "The Town has $103,664,141 (2023 - $97,745,283) invested in the fund as at December 31, 2024. The market value of the investment is $99,189,556 (2023 - $91,580,555)." The realized rate of return, net of fees, was 2.98% (2023: 2.74%). Note 1 says short-term investments "consist of bonds and debentures and are recorded at amortized cost."
Corporate revenues, 2026 operating budget: Investment Earnings 2025 approved budget (1,155,000), 2026 budget (1,355,000), up 200,000. The budget says this increase, with a net 80,000 more from Provincial Offences Act revenue, offsets higher pay costs from the 2024 Non-Union Salary Review.
The reserve listing says the Contingency reserve is funded by "Contribution of interest earned in excess of budgeted amount" and used for "Unforeseen and emergency expenditures as well as uncertain new expenditures."
$51,034,121the Town's total investment in its electric utility, December 31, 2024
Halton Hills Community Energy Corporation (HHCEC) is the electric utility the Town owns. The Town lent it $7,400,000 through a promissory note (a written IOU) and holds an investment worth $43,634,121 in the books, so its total stake is $51,034,121. The statements say repayment of the note "has been deferred to a future date, which will be determined in December 2028", and that the utility's debt to the Town ranks behind its secured credit with TD bank. In 2024 the utility's income was $2,940,586. It paid the Town dividends of $1,492,000, plus $210,900 interest on the note. The 2026 budget counts on $1,702,900 from dividends and interest, which is those two amounts added together (worked out by us).
Why it matters
The Town uses the utility's payments to lower property taxes, and its savings are partly held in the utility's shares. How safe and how steady that money is affects the Town's budget. The deferral and the ranking behind the bank are printed in the notes, so the question is about the plan, not a hidden fact.
It could be because…
A Town-owned utility needs steady capital to replace poles, wires and meters, and the Town sets the interest rate on its own note, so it may prefer to leave the money there.
The utility earns more than it pays out. Its earnings stay in the utility until dividends are paid, which is normal for a company.
The deferral date is stated in the notes and set by the Town as owner.
The note's interest ($210,900 at 2.85%) is paid every year.
Questions you could ask
What conditions would allow the $7,400,000 to be repaid, and has the Town and the utility's board discussed a plan before December 2028?
What dividend does the Town expect from HHCEC in 2026 and 2027?
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 Halton Hills?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 6: the promissory note balance is $7,400,000 at December 31, 2024. "The repayment of the note has been deferred to a future date, which will be determined in December 2028." "The obligations of HHCEC for the promissory note payable to the Town are subordinated to secured credit agreements of HHCEC to TD bank." Interest received in 2024 was $210,900 at a prescribed rate of 2.85%.
Note 6 (c): investment in HHCEC at December 31, 2024 is $43,634,121; equity change in earnings 2,940,586; dividends on common shares (1,492,000). "Total investment in HHCEC" is 51,034,121 (2023: 49,585,535).
The 2025 budget says: "In 2025 the annual dividends are expected to be reduced by $200K to $1.49M", with $379K of the dividend directed to capital reserves.
The Town's Financial Information page, which we read on October 5, 2026, links financial reports for 2024, 2023 and 2022 and none for 2025. Council's July 13, 2026 agenda lists a presentation by the auditors (KPMG) on the 2025 annual financial statements, with the statements, management's discussion and an audit findings report attached. We could not open those attachments, because the meeting portal blocked a scripted download, so we do not know what they say. This pack uses the 2024 statements instead, and we make no claim about 2025.
Why it matters
Audited statements are the most checked account of what the Town owns and owes. Residents voting on October 26, 2026 would want the most recent one where they can find it. Last year's pattern was the same: Council's agenda of July 7, 2025 lists the 2024 statements.
It could be because…
The Town may post the report later, after it has been formatted for accessibility.
The 2025 report may be posted somewhere we did not look. We read the Financial Information page and the budget page.
The attachments are on the Council agenda, which is a public posting, so the statements are available there.
Questions you could ask
When will the 2025 Financial Report be posted on the Financial Information page?
Could the Town post the audit findings report with the statements, as it appears on the agenda?
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 Halton Hills?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The Financial Information page lists three financial reports for download: 2024 Financial Report, 2023 Financial Report and 2022 Financial Report. It does not list a 2025 report.
Council agenda, July 13, 2026, General Committee: "Carlos Alvarez & Matthew Ciardelli - KPMG Presentation to General Committee regarding 2025 Annual Financial Statements, Management Discussion and Analysis and Financial Information Return." Report CES-2026-018 lists attachments: Financial Statements and FIR, MDA, and 2025 Audit Findings Report.
A whistleblower program is a safe way for staff and others to report suspected wrongdoing. Council's March 9, 2026 agenda lists a motion titled "Establishing a Whistleblower Reporting Framework". On July 13, 2026 the agenda recommended that Council receive report ADMIN-2026-022 and that staff bring forward a program "as part of the 2027 Budget and Business Plan deliberations". The Town's 2027 budget page says the budget will be approved in early 2027. The Integrity Commissioner page says complaints about staff cannot go to the Commissioner. We did not find a staff reporting program on the pages we read. We could not open the motion or the staff report.
Why it matters
The 2026 election is on October 26, and the program would come in after the new Council's budget in early 2027. Residents may want to know what a staff member can do in the meantime.
It could be because…
A program has costs (an outside reporting line, training), and the Town may want Council to decide them with the whole budget.
A new Mayor and Council start in November, and the budget direction is due November 17. Waiting lets the new Council decide.
The Town may already have a policy or an outside reporting line that we did not find.
The Municipal Act does not require a program, so the timing is Council's choice.
Questions you could ask
Until a program exists, where can a staff member report a concern about wrongdoing, and is that published?
What would the program in ADMIN-2026-022 cost, and could part of it start before the 2027 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 Halton Hills?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
July 13, 2026 agenda, item "Whistleblower Reporting Program": "THAT Report No. ADMIN-2026-022, dated July 13, 2026, regarding a Town of Halton Hills Whistleblower Reporting Program, be received; AND FURTHER THAT staff bring forward for Council consideration a Town of Halton Hills Whistleblower Reporting Program as outlined in ADMIN-2026-022 as part of the 2027 Budget and Business Plan deliberations."
March 9, 2026 agenda, item 12 Motions/Communications/Petitions: "Establishing a Whistleblower Reporting Framework", with the attachment "03-09-2026 - Whistleblower motion.pdf".
The Integrity Commissioner page: "Can staff complaints go to the Integrity Commissioner? No. Per the Municipal Act, the Integrity Commissioner is to respond only to complaints against Members of Town Council."
The 2027 budget page says: "The Town budget will be approved in early 2027." Its key dates list the Mayor tabling the budget on January 4, 2027 and budget committee and special council meetings on February 1 and 2, 2027.
In 2025, Halton Hills collected $6.8M more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 9% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. None of the 9 similar towns raised theirs by more.
Why did Halton Hills' property tax go up 9% in 2025?
$0$20M$40M$60M$80M
$79.7M
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Town property tax
2019
$53.1M
2020
$55.5M
2021
$57.8M
2022
$61M
2023
$65M
2024
$72.9M
2025
$79.7M
Why it matters
A big one-year jump usually means something changed: a new cost, a service that grew, savings being rebuilt, or a problem from earlier years being paid for now. Residents should be able to see exactly which. Spread across every home, it is about $298 more each year.
It could be because…
Costs the town cannot control went up, such as policing, insurance or county charges.
The town kept taxes too low in earlier years and is catching up.
The town is rebuilding savings or paying for a big project like a bridge or equipment.
Questions you could ask
How much of the 2025 increase was a one-time step (for example the new Fire levy) and how much carries into later years?
How much of the rise in taxes collected came from new properties and how much from higher rates?
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 Halton Hills?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Town property tax: $72,897,546 in 2024, $79,695,212 in 2025.
The 2025 budget table shows the net operating budget rising 8.97% ($6,337,037) after assessment growth: maintain current service levels $5,040,377 (7.14%), management of existing assets $1,020,000 (1.44%), downloaded and legislated impacts $171,860 (0.24%), corporate and community safety $763,500 (1.08%), council requests $15,000 (0.02%), less assessment growth of -$673,700 (-0.95%). Table 1 splits it into 6.79% general, 1.27% State of Good Repair levy, 0.89% new Fire levy and 0.02% council requests.
Halton Hills spent $11.5M on police, fire and safety in 2019 and $17M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Why did the cost of police, fire and safety grow 48% in 6 years?
Police, fire and safety
Prices (inflation)
+0%+10%+20%+30%+40%+50%
+48%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Police, fire and safety
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
+5%
+1%
2021
+18%
+4%
2022
+23%
+11%
2023
+32%
+16%
2024
+41%
+18%
2025
+48%
+21%
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Why it matters
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.
It could be because…
The town added a service, a building or staff that residents asked for.
Costs were moved from another area, so the total did not really change.
Accounting rules changed how costs are sorted.
Large one-time costs, like a study, lawsuit or repair, landed in one year.
Questions you could ask
How much of the 2019 to 2025 rise is Fire, and how much is by-law enforcement, building services and other protection costs?
What does the five-year Fire staffing plan add in each remaining 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 Halton Hills?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Police, fire and safety: 2019 $11.5M, 2020 $12.1M, 2021 $13.6M, 2022 $14.2M, 2023 $15.2M, 2024 $16.2M, 2025 $17M.
The 2025 budget says: "the 2024 Fire Master Plan identified critical deficiencies that require investment by the municipality" and includes a Fire special levy of $630K in 2025 as part of financing it.
The 2026 budget adds $696,000 to the Fire special levy: "$696,000 increase related to the implementation of the recommendations from the Fire Master Plan, funded by the corresponding increase in the Fire special Levy."
The Fire department lists as a 2025 accomplishment: "Master Fire Plan - Staffing Plan - hired: 8 Firefighters; training instructor; and emergency vehicle & equipment technician (EVET)." It also lists "Hired 24 part-time firefighters."
Halton Hills spent about $102 per home on council in 2025. The typical similar town spent $49. None of the 9 similar towns spent more.
Why it matters
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.
It could be because…
Geography: more roads, more snow, a bigger area or a landfill of its own.
Accounting: some towns record the same cost in a different category.
A one-time cost in this year.
Questions you could ask
How much of the Council budget of $933,600 is the Mayor's pay, regional councillors' pay and local councillors' pay?
How is pay for the two regional councillors split between the Town and Halton Region?
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 Halton Hills?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Council per home: Halton Hills $102; typical similar town $49; ranked 1st highest of 10.
The Town's council page says Halton Hills "consists of four wards with eleven members of Council": the Mayor, two Regional Councillors and eight Local Councillors. The Regional Councillors also sit on Halton Regional Council.
2026 budget, Council: Council Compensation 2024 actuals 812,330, 2025 approved budget 872,489, 2026 budget 906,100. Council expenditures total 895,789 in 2025 and 933,600 in 2026.
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