Questions · 11 so far
We read Hawkesbury's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 45 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
$9.7Min savings at the end of 2025
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Hawkesbury had $9.7M saved at the end of 2025, up from $8.3M in 2019. That is 42% of one year's spending. Only 2 of 45 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$3.2Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2025
At the end of 2025, $3.2M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 15% of everything billed. None of the 45 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $2.5M.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$5,329per home on long-term debt, 2025
Hawkesbury spent about $5,329 per home on long-term debt in 2025. The typical similar town spent $1,066. Only 1 of 45 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
$27,068,822debts at the end of 2025, against $17,727,445 at the end of 2023
Debt is money the Town has borrowed and still owes. The statements show it was $17,727,445 at the end of 2023, $21,641,337 at the end of 2024 and $27,068,822 at the end of 2025. Of the 2025 amount, $14,000,000 is what the Town calls temporary debt for construction: short loans that are to be turned into longer debt when the building work ends. That part was $2,500,000 at the end of 2023. The Town's net debt (what it owes minus the money and investments it can spend) went from net financial assets of $303,055 at the start of 2023 to net debt of $15,940,622 at the end of 2025. The 2026 budget plans $1,374,999.00 for repaying debt principal and $855,189.00 for interest.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$3,388,438annual surplus in 2025, against a budget of $9,265,916
A surplus is what is left when a year's revenue is more than its spending. The 2025 budget in the audited statements shows an annual surplus of $9,265,916. The actual result was $3,388,438, which is $5,877,478 less (worked out by us). The Province's transfer payments were budgeted at $7,690,623 and came in at $5,302,845. The Town also bought $13,007,825 of assets against a budget of $18,807,300. The budget surplus is large because it counts grants meant for building projects as revenue, so a shortfall may mean projects slipped to a later year.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
(252,491)"Interest on debt" for waterworks in 2025, against a budget of 219,579
In the Town's supplementary statement for waterworks (the water system), the line "Interest on debt" is a positive cost in 2024 ($200,004) and in the water budget ($219,579), but is printed as (252,491) for 2025, a negative number. Across the whole Town, interest in 2025 was $429,728 against a budget of $700,040, while the Town's borrowing rose. The sewer statement shows ordinary positive interest of $268,215.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$10,771,650.00salaries, wages and benefits in the 2026 budget, up 10.58% from $9,741,246.00
The levy is the part of the budget raised from property taxes. The 2026 operating budget plans salaries, wages and benefits of $10,771,650.00, up from $9,741,246.00 in the 2025 budget, an increase of 10.58%. The tax levy line goes from $13,398,558.00 to $14,258,000.00, up 6.41%. The 2025 audited statements show salaries and benefits actually came in at $10,022,878, so the 2026 plan is $748,772 (about 7.5%) above that result (worked out by us). Part of the budget increase is fire dispatch, which the Town budgets as costing $1,191,200 in 2026 and bringing in the same amount in revenue.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
$3,706,271amortization in 2025 with no budget figure
Amortization is the yearly wear on buildings, roads and pipes, counted as a cost. In the 2025 statements the budget column for amortization is a dash and the actual is $3,706,271. Total expenses were budgeted at $22,803,596 and came in at $26,957,659. Most of that gap is the missing amortization (the rest is worked out by us at about $447,792). The Town's note 13 says the budget figures are presented on a basis consistent with the actuals, but amortization is the one large line that has no budget figure.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$5,423,256the Town's investment in Hawkesbury Hydro Inc. at the end of 2025
The Town owns all 1,000 common shares of Hawkesbury Hydro Inc., the local electricity company. The statements carry that investment at $5,423,256 at the end of 2025 ($4,978,088 a year earlier), which is 76% of the Town's $7,163,145 in investments (worked out by us). The Town's share of the company's earnings was $529,635 in 2025, up from $123,287, while the dividend the Town received was $84,467 in both years. The Town has also endorsed a letter of guarantee of $399,528 and a line of credit of $1,000,000 for the company; the line of credit was unused at the end of 2025.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$233,000 to $833,000estimated groundwater monitoring cost at the contaminated site over the next three years
The statements list three obligations of uncertain size. Legal actions are pending against the Town, and the note says it "is not possible at this time to determine the amount". A former industrial site needs groundwater monitoring and the note puts the cost of the next three years at "between $233,000 and $833,000", the same range and the same three-year wording as the 2024 statements. And the Town has booked $2,470,592 for removing lead and asbestos from its buildings when they are sold or renovated.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
By-Law 4-2026the by-law the 2026 budget schedules are attached to
The mayor's direction of November 28, 2025 says the mayor prepares the proposed budget under section 284.16 of the Municipal Act and orders staff to prepare a budget schedule for Council on December 8, 2025. The Town's summaries show special Council meetings on January 26, 2026 (the 2026 budgets presented) and January 28, 2026 ("Budgets 2026"), and the January 28 summary links the file the Town calls the final 2026 budgets. The budget pages in that file are printed "Feb 03, 2026", after both meetings.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$9.7Min savings at the end of 2025
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Hawkesbury had $9.7M saved at the end of 2025, up from $8.3M in 2019. That is 42% of one year's spending. Only 2 of 45 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
| Year | Savings (reserves) |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $8.3M |
| 2020 | $8.7M |
| 2021 | $8.4M |
| 2022 | $9.6M |
| 2023 | $9.8M |
| 2024 | $9.9M |
| 2025 | $9.7M |
With little saved, a broken bridge or a storm has to be paid for with a sudden tax increase or a loan. Low savings can also mean past budgets were balanced by spending savings instead of facing the real cost.
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 Hawkesbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Savings (reserves and reserve funds): 2019 $8.3M, 2020 $8.7M, 2021 $8.4M, 2022 $9.6M, 2023 $9.8M, 2024 $9.9M, 2025 $9.7M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 70, line 6420 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: savings equal to 102% of a year's spending. Hawkesbury: 42%.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 45 similar municipalities · Schedules 40 and 70 · archived copy
$3.2Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2025
At the end of 2025, $3.2M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 15% of everything billed. None of the 45 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $2.5M.
| Year | Unpaid property tax at year end |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $1.3M |
| 2020 | $1.4M |
| 2021 | $989K |
| 2022 | $1.5M |
| 2023 | $1.8M |
| 2024 | $2.5M |
| 2025 | $3.2M |
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 Hawkesbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Taxes receivable: 2019 $1.3M, 2020 $1.4M, 2021 $989K, 2022 $1.5M, 2023 $1.8M, 2024 $2.5M, 2025 $3.2M. Of the 2025 total, $662K was from earlier years.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 70, lines 0610 to 0699 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: 7.3% of taxes billed.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 45 similar municipalities · Schedules 26 and 70 · archived copy
$5,329per home on long-term debt, 2025
Hawkesbury spent about $5,329 per home on long-term debt in 2025. The typical similar town spent $1,066. Only 1 of 45 similar towns spent more.
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.
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 Hawkesbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Long-term debt per home: Hawkesbury $5,329; typical similar town $1,066; ranked 2nd highest of 46.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 45 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy
$27,068,822debts at the end of 2025, against $17,727,445 at the end of 2023
Debt is money the Town has borrowed and still owes. The statements show it was $17,727,445 at the end of 2023, $21,641,337 at the end of 2024 and $27,068,822 at the end of 2025. Of the 2025 amount, $14,000,000 is what the Town calls temporary debt for construction: short loans that are to be turned into longer debt when the building work ends. That part was $2,500,000 at the end of 2023. The Town's net debt (what it owes minus the money and investments it can spend) went from net financial assets of $303,055 at the start of 2023 to net debt of $15,940,622 at the end of 2025. The 2026 budget plans $1,374,999.00 for repaying debt principal and $855,189.00 for interest.
Borrowing lets a town build things now and pay over many years, and a water filter or a main street may last that long. But the repayment comes out of the tax levy and water and sewer bills for years afterwards, and the Town has not published a plan that shows how the construction loans will be paid off.
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 Hawkesbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 8, Debts, 2025 (2024): "Debts incurred by the Municipality, 2.07% to 4.90%, maturing between 2026 and 2048" 13,068,822 (14,141,337). "Temporary debts for construction, prime rate plus 0.00%, to be converted into debts at the end of the construction" 14,000,000 (7,500,000). Total 27,068,822 (21,641,337). Principal payments: 2026, 1,059,110; 2027, 898,504. "The annual principal and interest payments required to service these debts are within the annual debt repayment limit prescribed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing."
Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 (MNP LLP, June 22, 2026) · Note 8, Debts, PDF page 15 (printed page 13)
Consolidated statement of financial position: "Debts (Note 8)" 21,641,337 (2024) and 17,727,445 (2023). "Net debt" (10,046,526) (2024) and (4,752,426) (2023). Note 8 for 2024 (2023): debts incurred 14,141,337 (15,227,445); temporary debts for construction 7,500,000 (2,500,000).
Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (MNP LLP, October 14, 2025) · Statement of financial position, PDF page 6; Note 8, PDF page 16
Statement of changes in net debt, 2025: "Net debt, end of year" (15,940,622); "Net debt, beginning of year" (10,046,526). Budget for 2025: "Net debt, end of year" (19,587,910). Cash flow statement: "Proceeds from long-term debt" 6,500,000 (2025) and 5,000,000 (2024); "Debt principal repayment" (1,072,515) (2025).
Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 (MNP LLP, June 22, 2026) · Statement of changes in net debt, PDF page 7 (printed page 5); cash flow statement, PDF page 8 (printed page 6)
Statement of changes in net debt, 2024 and 2023 columns: "Net debt" or net financial assets at the beginning of year 303,055 (2023), (4,752,426) (2024).
Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (MNP LLP, October 14, 2025) · Statement of changes in net debt, PDF page 7
2026 operating budget: "2100 - Long-term Debt Repayment - Capital" 1,147,243.00 (Budget 2025), 1,374,999.00 (Budget 2026). "2200 - Long-term Debt Repayment - Interests" 700,040.00 (Budget 2025), 855,189.00 (Budget 2026). Each is on a separate printed line, and each 2025 figure plus the printed variance equals the 2026 figure.
Operating Budget 2026 and Capital Expenditures 2026, Schedules A and B to By-Law 4-2026 · Schedule A, Operating Budget 2026, PDF page 1, expenses
$3,388,438annual surplus in 2025, against a budget of $9,265,916
A surplus is what is left when a year's revenue is more than its spending. The 2025 budget in the audited statements shows an annual surplus of $9,265,916. The actual result was $3,388,438, which is $5,877,478 less (worked out by us). The Province's transfer payments were budgeted at $7,690,623 and came in at $5,302,845. The Town also bought $13,007,825 of assets against a budget of $18,807,300. The budget surplus is large because it counts grants meant for building projects as revenue, so a shortfall may mean projects slipped to a later year.
When a result lands far from the plan, residents cannot tell whether the plan was a guide to what would happen or just a number. The statements do not explain the gap in words, and note 13 only says how the budget figures were presented.
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 Hawkesbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Consolidated statement of operations, 2025: "Annual surplus" budget 9,265,916, actual 3,388,438 (2024 actual 1,725,671). "Province of Ontario" (transfer payments) budget 7,690,623, actual 5,302,845 (2024 actual 4,227,743). "Government of Canada" budget 267,900, actual 31,825.
Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 (MNP LLP, June 22, 2026) · Consolidated statement of operations, PDF page 5 (printed page 3)
Statement of changes in net debt, 2025: "Purchase of tangible capital assets" budget (18,807,300), actual (13,007,825), 2024 actual (10,537,159).
Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 (MNP LLP, June 22, 2026) · Statement of changes in net debt, PDF page 7 (printed page 5)
Note 9: assets were acquired at an aggregate cost of $13,007,825, "of which an amount of $2,706,022 ($1,274,922 in 2024) was paid after year-end". Note 13: "The budget established for capital investments in TCA is on a project-oriented basis, the costs of which may be carried out over one or more years and, therefore, may not be comparable with current year's actual purchase amounts."
Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 (MNP LLP, June 22, 2026) · Note 9, PDF page 16 (printed page 14); Note 13, PDF page 17 (printed page 15)
(252,491)"Interest on debt" for waterworks in 2025, against a budget of 219,579
In the Town's supplementary statement for waterworks (the water system), the line "Interest on debt" is a positive cost in 2024 ($200,004) and in the water budget ($219,579), but is printed as (252,491) for 2025, a negative number. Across the whole Town, interest in 2025 was $429,728 against a budget of $700,040, while the Town's borrowing rose. The sewer statement shows ordinary positive interest of $268,215.
A negative cost means the system was credited with money rather than charged. The statements do not say why. Water customers pay for the water system through their bills, so the interest charged to that system matters to them.
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 Hawkesbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Statement of operations, Waterworks, 2025: "Interest on debt" budget 219,579, actual (252,491), 2024 actual 200,004. Total expenses actual 2,247,769. "Amortization of tangible capital assets" actual 684,096.
Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 (MNP LLP, June 22, 2026) · Supplementary information, Waterworks statement of operations, PDF page 23 (printed page 21)
Statement of operations, Sanitary sewers, 2025: "Interest on debt" budget 275,091, actual 268,215, 2024 actual 290,067. Schedule 5, expenses by object: "Interest" budget 700,040, actual 429,728, 2024 actual 711,710.
Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 (MNP LLP, June 22, 2026) · Sanitary sewers statement of operations, PDF page 24; Schedule 5, PDF page 22 (printed page 20)
$10,771,650.00salaries, wages and benefits in the 2026 budget, up 10.58% from $9,741,246.00
The levy is the part of the budget raised from property taxes. The 2026 operating budget plans salaries, wages and benefits of $10,771,650.00, up from $9,741,246.00 in the 2025 budget, an increase of 10.58%. The tax levy line goes from $13,398,558.00 to $14,258,000.00, up 6.41%. The 2025 audited statements show salaries and benefits actually came in at $10,022,878, so the 2026 plan is $748,772 (about 7.5%) above that result (worked out by us). Part of the budget increase is fire dispatch, which the Town budgets as costing $1,191,200 in 2026 and bringing in the same amount in revenue.
Salaries are the largest single cost in the operating budget, and the levy is what homeowners and businesses pay directly. The budget file we found is a set of tables with no written explanation of what is behind the increase, such as new positions, wage settlements or the fire dispatch service.
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 Hawkesbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Schedule A, Operating Budget 2026: "1000 - Salaries, wages and benefits" Budget 2025 9,741,246.00, Budget 2026 10,771,650.00, variance 1,030,404.00 (10.58%). Revenues: "Tax Levy" 13,398,558.00 and 14,258,000.00, variance 859,442.00 (6.41%). "Total Revenues / Revenus totaux" 26,589,430.00 and 28,350,331.00. Each 2026 figure is on the line after its label; each 2025 figure plus the printed variance equals the 2026 figure.
Operating Budget 2026 and Capital Expenditures 2026, Schedules A and B to By-Law 4-2026 · Schedule A, Operating Budget 2026, PDF page 1
Budget forecast by sub department, Division 3, Protection to person and property: "250 - FIRE - Dispatch" revenues 640,602 (2025) and 1,191,200 (2026), change 550,598, 85.95%. Expenses on the same line: 640,602 and 1,191,200.
Operating Budget 2026 and Capital Expenditures 2026, Schedules A and B to By-Law 4-2026 · Budget Forecast by Sub Department, Division 3, PDF page 5
Schedule 5, expenses by object: "Salaries, wages and benefits" 2025 budget 10,267,746, 2025 actual 10,022,878, 2024 actual 9,515,315.
Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 (MNP LLP, June 22, 2026) · Schedule 5, PDF page 22 (printed page 20)
$3,706,271amortization in 2025 with no budget figure
Amortization is the yearly wear on buildings, roads and pipes, counted as a cost. In the 2025 statements the budget column for amortization is a dash and the actual is $3,706,271. Total expenses were budgeted at $22,803,596 and came in at $26,957,659. Most of that gap is the missing amortization (the rest is worked out by us at about $447,792). The Town's note 13 says the budget figures are presented on a basis consistent with the actuals, but amortization is the one large line that has no budget figure.
A reader who compares actual spending with the budget will think the Town overspent by about $4.2 million (worked out by us), when most of that is a cost the budget never counted. A clear note would stop that misreading.
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 Hawkesbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Schedule 5, expenses by object, 2025: "Amortization of tangible capital assets" budget -, actual 3,706,271, 2024 actual 3,643,473. "Contracted services" budget 6,074,912, actual 6,639,857. Total expenses budget 22,803,596, actual 26,957,659.
Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 (MNP LLP, June 22, 2026) · Schedule 5, PDF page 22 (printed page 20)
Note 13, Budget amounts: "The initial operating budget approved by the Municipality for 2025 is reflected in the consolidated statement of operations." "For the purposes of these consolidated financial statements, budget figures have been presented on a basis consistent with the presentation of actual figures."
Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 (MNP LLP, June 22, 2026) · Note 13, PDF page 17 (printed page 15)
$5,423,256the Town's investment in Hawkesbury Hydro Inc. at the end of 2025
The Town owns all 1,000 common shares of Hawkesbury Hydro Inc., the local electricity company. The statements carry that investment at $5,423,256 at the end of 2025 ($4,978,088 a year earlier), which is 76% of the Town's $7,163,145 in investments (worked out by us). The Town's share of the company's earnings was $529,635 in 2025, up from $123,287, while the dividend the Town received was $84,467 in both years. The Town has also endorsed a letter of guarantee of $399,528 and a line of credit of $1,000,000 for the company; the line of credit was unused at the end of 2025.
Earnings the Town books from the company are not cash in hand: only the dividend is. If the company's guarantee or credit line were ever called on, the Town would be responsible.
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 Hawkesbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 4, Investments: "Hawkesbury Hydro Inc. 1,000 common shares representing 100.00% of the voting shares (Schedule 4)" 5,423,256 (2024: 4,978,088). Total investments 7,163,145 (2024: 8,886,511).
Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 (MNP LLP, June 22, 2026) · Note 4, PDF page 14 (printed page 12)
Schedule 4, statement of operations for investments: Hydro "Equity earnings" budget -, actual 529,635, 2024 actual 123,287. "Hydro's dividend" (84,467) in the 2025 budget, the 2025 actual and 2024.
Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 (MNP LLP, June 22, 2026) · Schedule 4, PDF page 21 (printed page 19)
Note 11, Contingencies: "The Municipality endorsed a letter of guarantee in the amount of $399,528 in favour of the Independent Market Operator for Hawkesbury Hydro Inc." "The Municipality endorsed a line of credit of $1,000,000 for Hawkesbury Hydro Inc. As of December 31, 2025, the line of credit was unused."
Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 (MNP LLP, June 22, 2026) · Note 11, PDF page 16 (printed page 14)
$233,000 to $833,000estimated groundwater monitoring cost at the contaminated site over the next three years
The statements list three obligations of uncertain size. Legal actions are pending against the Town, and the note says it "is not possible at this time to determine the amount". A former industrial site needs groundwater monitoring and the note puts the cost of the next three years at "between $233,000 and $833,000", the same range and the same three-year wording as the 2024 statements. And the Town has booked $2,470,592 for removing lead and asbestos from its buildings when they are sold or renovated.
These are costs the Town could face that are not yet in its yearly budget. A range that does not move, with the same "next three years" window two years running, makes it hard to tell what has been spent and what is left.
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 Hawkesbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Groundwater monitoring costs at the contaminated site, with wording you can copy.
Note 11, Contingencies, 2025: "Legal actions are still pending against the Municipality by third parties. It is not possible at this time to determine the amount, if any, of any awards that may be made against the Municipality." Contaminated site: "The estimated costs over the next three years are between $233,000 and $833,000."
Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 (MNP LLP, June 22, 2026) · Note 11, PDF page 16 (printed page 14)
Note 11, Contingencies, 2024: "The estimated costs over the next three years are between $233,000 and $833,000."
Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (MNP LLP, October 14, 2025) · Note 11, PDF page 17
Note 7, Asset retirement obligation liability: "The Municipality recorded an estimate of asset retirement obligation of $2,470,592 to remove and eliminate lead and asbestos in buildings and installations." Opening balance 2,412,741, accretion expense 57,851.
Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 (MNP LLP, June 22, 2026) · Note 7, PDF page 15 (printed page 13)
By-Law 4-2026the by-law the 2026 budget schedules are attached to
The mayor's direction of November 28, 2025 says the mayor prepares the proposed budget under section 284.16 of the Municipal Act and orders staff to prepare a budget schedule for Council on December 8, 2025. The Town's summaries show special Council meetings on January 26, 2026 (the 2026 budgets presented) and January 28, 2026 ("Budgets 2026"), and the January 28 summary links the file the Town calls the final 2026 budgets. The budget pages in that file are printed "Feb 03, 2026", after both meetings.
Residents can only hold Council to a budget they can identify. The summaries do not say what Council decided on each date, and we did not read the minutes, the by-law or the agenda, so we cannot say whether the file we used is exactly what Council voted 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 Hawkesbury? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
"Pursuant to Section 284.16 of the Municipal Act, 2001 (the "Act"), and Section 7 of Ontario Regulation 530/22, the mayor shall, on or before February 1st, of each year, prepare a proposed budget for the Town of Hawkesbury." The mayor directs the Chief Administrative Officer and the Treasurer to "Prepare a budget schedule to be presented to Council on December 8, 2025." Dated November 28, 2025.
Mayoral Direction, Town of Hawkesbury Budgets (November 28, 2025) · page 1
Summary of the Special Council Meeting, 28 January 2026: "Budgets 2026. For documentation related to this item, please consult the final 2026 budgets", linking the Budget-2026-Schedules.pdf file.
Special Council Meeting - 28 January 2026 (Town of Hawkesbury meeting summary) · meeting summary page, item 'Budgets 2026'
"Annexe "A" au règlement 4-2026 / Schedule "A" to By-Law 4-2026", "OPERATING BUDGET 2026 FINAL VERSION" ["Operating budget 2026, final version"]. Budget forecast pages are printed "Feb 03, 2026 05:38 PM (NST)".
Operating Budget 2026 and Capital Expenditures 2026, Schedules A and B to By-Law 4-2026 · PDF page 1 (title) and PDF page 2 (print date)