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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Leamington'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.
A clear, checkable guide to Leamington's budget, taxes and council decisions. A municipality of about 30,000 people in Southwestern Ontario. Every figure links back to the public record.
4.70%municipal levy increase in 2025 (3.80% in 2024, 2.50% in 2026)
The levy is the total tax the Municipality raises from property owners. Its own table shows the levy increase was 0.00% in 2021, then 3.00% (2022), 3.46% (2023), 3.80% (2024), 4.70% (2025) and 2.50% (2026). The 2026 general and sewer levies together are $41.8M. The same budget memo says the Municipality is "in a strong financial position" with reserves (its savings) forecast at about $97M at the end of 2026. The Municipality explains both sides: property values have been frozen at January 1, 2016 levels by the Province, and most reserves are set aside for a named purpose, including an infrastructure gap of $22.1M a year.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$8.3Mof the 2024 surplus the Municipality says it will recommend moving to five reserves (worked out by us from five printed amounts)
A surplus is what is left when a year's revenue is more than its spending. The 2026 budget memo, dated November 21, 2025, says the opening 2026 reserve balances include the 2024 surplus, which "will be presented to Council soon when the 2024 financials and variance report are completed". It lists five transfers it will recommend: $2.5M, $2M, $500k, $1.5M and $1.8M, which add up to $8.3M (worked out by us). The Municipality also says it budgets bank interest and extra property tax income cautiously on purpose, and that this has let it "realize surpluses" that can pay for strategic land purchases. We could not read the amount of the 2024 surplus itself: the audited statements are posted as scanned images with no text, so we have left that figure out.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$464kfrom rate stabilization surpluses to partly fund 2026 operations, plus $100k for policing
The memo says that in 2026 "rate stabilization surpluses from prior years have been used to partially fund operations totalling approximately $464k plus the additional $100k for the increased policing costs". It calls this "not a sustainable financial strategy" and says that within three years the funding will not be required. The budget also pays $6,395,520 to the OPP for policing, up 11% or $634k from 2025. The Municipality has given its reason in the same memo: it needs staff and resources now for growth and the $56M North East Trunk Sanitary Sewer, and it wants today's taxpayers not to carry the whole cost.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$79.0Mcapital budget for 2026, up $24.2M from the prior year
Capital spending is money spent on building and replacing things like roads, sewers and buildings. The 2026 capital budget is $79.0M, up $24.2M from the year before and over 11 times the $7M spent in 2014, according to the memo. The Province is paying $41M (73%) of the $56M first phase of the North East Trunk Sanitary Sewer. Reserves, reserve funds and deferred revenue are to pay $34.4M, about 43.5% of the capital budget. The memo says no new debt is proposed for 2026, but that borrowing "should be considered in the near future". It also refers to a yearly infrastructure deficit of $22.1M from its 2025 Asset Management Plan. The memo says some of the $79M is carried forward from 2025 projects that "could not be completed".
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
15 daystotal review time used for the 2026 budget, against 55 days in the legislated timeline
Since May 1, 2025, Leamington's Mayor has had "strong mayor" powers under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act. Under them the Mayor proposes the budget, Council has a set time to amend it, the Mayor may veto changes, and Council may override a veto. The 2026 budget memo says Council approved shortened timelines through report FIN-22-25, and the Mayor shortened the veto period to 3 days by a Mayoral Decision, MD-015-2025. The law's periods total 55 days; Leamington's total 15. The memo says the budget will be adopted by December 16, 2025 or earlier.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
At the end of 2024, $6.9M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 10% of everything billed. Only 7 of 42 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $7.3M.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$1,662,226Legal Services 2026 budget, against $1,143,327 for 2025
Legal Services is budgeted at $1,662,226 for 2026, against $1,143,327 for 2025, a rise of $518,899 or 45.38%. Salaries and benefits make up most of it, from $806,542 to $1,186,116. The Municipality has explained the rise: the 2026 budget adds a second lawyer, and moves a coordinator for its new penalty system (AMPS) from another department and makes the post permanent. Legal Services also lists a long run of active matters in 2025, including litigation and Ontario Land Tribunal files. This is context, not a concern, but the cost of outside lawyers in the same budget is worth asking about.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$752,637Council Services spending to November 21, 2025, against a $522,019 budget
Council Services covers the costs of Council itself. Its 2025 budget was $522,019. The 2025 actuals column, which the memo says runs only to November 21, 2025, shows $752,637. Grants to non-profits were $446,006 against $174,000 budgeted. The Municipality has explained it: the grants increase "is offset by the reserve transfer from the contingency reserve in support of the development at the Bridge Youth Resource Centre". The actuals also show a reserve transfer in of $262,627, so most of the extra spending was covered from reserves, not from the tax budget.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$81,623the Mayor's total 2025 pay and expenses; the lowest council total was $32,185
In 2025 five of the seven council members earned the same council salary of $30,585, and the Deputy Mayor $37,295. The Mayor's salary was $54,722. But conferences and per diems ranged from nothing (Anthony Abraham, Timothy Wilkinson) to $9,833 (Heather Latam), and committee and board pay from $1,305 to $19,794 (the Mayor). Total pay and expenses ranged from $32,185 to $81,623. The same pattern shows in 2024. The Municipality says council members sit on different committees, and its 2026 budget adds a 3.0% increase for Council and funds a Council compensation review for the new term.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
2024 tax year · Leamington, Ontario
Your tax bill, worked out.
Enter your home's assessed value to see roughly what you pay in property tax each year, who gets it, and what Leamington's share pays for.
Ontario still uses property values from January 1, 2016 for tax, so your assessed value is probably well below what your home would sell for today.
$
It is on your property assessment notice from MPAC, and on your tax bill. We filled in the typical value in Leamington.
An estimate. It uses the residential tax rate, and splits Leamington's share by what each service cost in 2024 after its own fees and grants (for example, water bills pay for much of a water system). Real bills also depend on your property class, local charges and any rebates.
How Leamington's share of the bill compares with similar towns
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