Questions · 6 so far
We read Highlands East's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 50 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
Ontario municipalities must have their yearly accounts audited. Highlands East's budget page says its statements are 'available upon request'. We did not find them posted on its website, so a resident cannot check how the year actually turned out without asking.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
The budget page shows summaries headed 2025. The tax rates page shows rates for 2026. We did not find a 2026 budget summary or any detailed budget online.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
0.00621746the 2026 municipal residential tax rate, up from 0.00593766 in 2025
The town's residential rate went from 0.00593766 in 2025 to 0.00621746 in 2026, about 4.7% higher (worked out by us). The county's part rose from 0.00268732 to 0.00285878, about 6.4% higher (worked out by us). A rate rise does not by itself mean a bill rise, because property values used for tax can change too.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$1.8Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2024
At the end of 2024, $1.8M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 14% of everything billed. Only 4 of 50 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $1.2M.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
$3,480,682net tax money budgeted for roads in 2025, out of $8,021,409 in total
The 2025 budget summary sets the net tax money needed for roads at $3,480,682 out of $8,021,409 for the whole town, about 43% (worked out by us). 'Net' means the cost left after fees and grants. This is a plan, not what was spent.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$208,417budgeted for council expenses in 2025, as one line
The 2025 general government summary shows 'Total Council Expenses' of $208,417 as one line. It does not say what is in it, such as pay, benefits, training and travel, or how many members it covers.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
Ontario municipalities must have their yearly accounts audited. Highlands East's budget page says its statements are 'available upon request'. We did not find them posted on its website, so a resident cannot check how the year actually turned out without asking.
Budgets are plans. The audited statements show what was really spent and earned, and how much the town owes and has saved. Without them, nobody can compare the plan with the result.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. Your town office can tell you how to reach council.
Speak for Highlands East? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The Municipal Act requires that every Ontario municipality prepare annual audited financial statements. These statements are available upon request.
Budget and Financial Reports, Municipality of Highlands East · section 'Audited Financial Statements'
The budget page shows summaries headed 2025. The tax rates page shows rates for 2026. We did not find a 2026 budget summary or any detailed budget online.
Tax rates are set to raise the money a budget says the town needs. Residents can see the rates but not the plan behind them.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. Your town office can tell you how to reach council.
Speak for Highlands East? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The Municipality has published departmental totals that summarize the current annual budget. Detailed budget documents are available upon request.
Budget and Financial Reports, Municipality of Highlands East · section 'Detailed Budget Documents'; the summaries listed under '2025 Budget Summaries'
2026 Tax Rates. Residential: County 0.00285878, Municipal 0.00621746, School 0.00153000, Total 0.01060624.
Tax Rates, Municipality of Highlands East · table '2026 Tax Rates', Residential row
0.00621746the 2026 municipal residential tax rate, up from 0.00593766 in 2025
The town's residential rate went from 0.00593766 in 2025 to 0.00621746 in 2026, about 4.7% higher (worked out by us). The county's part rose from 0.00268732 to 0.00285878, about 6.4% higher (worked out by us). A rate rise does not by itself mean a bill rise, because property values used for tax can change too.
Households pay the rate times their assessed value. Knowing what the extra money pays for helps residents judge whether it is fair.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. Your town office can tell you how to reach council.
Speak for Highlands East? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
2026 Tax Rates, Residential: County 0.00285878, Municipal 0.00621746, School 0.00153000, Total 0.01060624.
Tax Rates, Municipality of Highlands East · table '2026 Tax Rates', Residential row
2025 Tax Rates, Residential: County 0.00268732, Municipal 0.00593766, School 0.00153000, Total 0.01015498.
Tax Rates, Municipality of Highlands East · table '2025 Tax Rates', Residential row
$1.8Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2024
At the end of 2024, $1.8M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 14% of everything billed. Only 4 of 50 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $1.2M.
| Year | Unpaid property tax at year end |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $861K |
| 2020 | $933K |
| 2021 | $719K |
| 2022 | $1.1M |
| 2023 | $1.2M |
| 2024 | $1.8M |
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. Your town office can tell you how to reach council.
Speak for Highlands East? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Taxes receivable: 2019 $861K, 2020 $933K, 2021 $719K, 2022 $1.1M, 2023 $1.2M, 2024 $1.8M. Of the 2024 total, $452K was from earlier years.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 70, lines 0610 to 0699 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: 8.5% of taxes billed.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 50 similar municipalities · Schedules 26 and 70 · archived copy
$3,480,682net tax money budgeted for roads in 2025, out of $8,021,409 in total
The 2025 budget summary sets the net tax money needed for roads at $3,480,682 out of $8,021,409 for the whole town, about 43% (worked out by us). 'Net' means the cost left after fees and grants. This is a plan, not what was spent.
Roads are often the biggest cost in a large, spread-out rural township. Residents may want to know what the money buys.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. Your town office can tell you how to reach council.
Speak for Highlands East? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Total Roads Revenue ($1,066,009); Total Roads Expenses $4,546,691; Net Roads Taxation Requirement $3,480,682.
Budget and Financial Reports, Municipality of Highlands East · table '2025 Roads Budget Summary'
Total Revenues ($6,200,965); Total Expenses $14,222,374; Net Taxation Requirement $8,021,409.
Budget and Financial Reports, Municipality of Highlands East · table '2025 Overall Budget Totals Summary'
$208,417budgeted for council expenses in 2025, as one line
The 2025 general government summary shows 'Total Council Expenses' of $208,417 as one line. It does not say what is in it, such as pay, benefits, training and travel, or how many members it covers.
Council pay and costs are public money. A single total tells residents little without the parts.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. Your town office can tell you how to reach council.
Speak for Highlands East? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Total Council Expenses $208,417; Total Administration Expenses $1,530,278; General Government Total Expenses $1,738,695.
Budget and Financial Reports, Municipality of Highlands East · table '2025 General Government Budget Summary'