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things out.Older reportDetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Midland in the Province's latest release, so these pages use its 2023 report. It may simply be filed late. Read by hand. We read Midland'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 · 8 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Midland's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 71 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.
April 23, 2026date of the auditor's report on the 2023 statements
Audited financial statements are the yearly report card on a town's money, checked by an outside accountant. The 2023 statements carry management's signatures dated April 8, 2026 and the auditor's report dated April 23, 2026, more than two years after the year ended. The Town's Financial Reporting page lists statements only up to 2023, and the 2026 budget shows the 2024 actual figures as "unaudited". The Town's own 2026 budget says completing the 2023 audit was a 2025 achievement and that completing the 2024 and 2025 audits is a major initiative for 2026. The auditor's opinion on 2023 is clean, and it draws attention to a restatement of 2022 figures.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$4,765,147negative balance of the Midland Bay Landing reserve at the start of 2026
A reserve is money set aside for a purpose. The Town's 2026 reserve table shows the Midland Bay Landing reserve starting 2026 at (4,765,147), a negative balance, and ending at (4,606,147). The Town's budget summary says its Community-Wide Initiatives reserve keeps a minimum of $4M to offset the negative balance, and assumes the Town puts $15M into the development of Midland Bay Landing, with the debt on the property repaid in full in 2028. The budget was approved in December 2025. On June 5, 2026 the Town said it will not proceed with awarding the project.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$9.7 millionyearly gap between what the Town invests and what it needs to replace its assets (the Town's figure)
The Town values its roads, pipes, buildings and other assets at $656 million. It says it invests $10.0 million a year to replace them and has a gap of about $9.7 million a year, about $1,238 for each property. Its 10-year capital plan of $209M relies on $78M of outside debt. For 2026 the Town added $598,000 to reserve contributions, which it says is a 2% effect on the tax rate. The Town's own forecast shows its tax-supported capital reserves at a negative $20.5M in 2035 if contributions stay at 2025 levels, a path it says is not recommended. At the end of 2023 the Town's long-term debt was $20,418,696.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$4,694,553government grants in 2023, against a budget of $1,125,531
A budget is the plan council approves. In 2023 the Town's statements show government grants of $4,694,553 against a budget of $1,125,531, and an annual surplus of $9,465,769 against an adjusted budget surplus of $6,923,749. The Town explains part of this: the council budget was prepared on a different basis from the statements, so the statements adjust the budget (Note 3). Note 12 splits the grants into $1,405,304 with conditions attached and $3,289,249 of other grants.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
In August 2026 the Ontario Ombudsman reported on a special meeting of council on March 5, 2025, held in closed session for about two hours to hear consultants and take part in a "visioning exercise" for the Midland Bay Landing project. The Ombudsman found that part of the talk, about how to attract a developer, could be held in private, but the presentation and visioning exercise should have been in open session. The finding is that council contravened the Municipal Act, 2001. The Ombudsman also found the closed-meeting minutes were brief and broadly worded, and recommended that the Town record its closed meetings.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
April 23, 2026date of the auditor's report on the 2023 statements
Audited financial statements are the yearly report card on a town's money, checked by an outside accountant. The 2023 statements carry management's signatures dated April 8, 2026 and the auditor's report dated April 23, 2026, more than two years after the year ended. The Town's Financial Reporting page lists statements only up to 2023, and the 2026 budget shows the 2024 actual figures as "unaudited". The Town's own 2026 budget says completing the 2023 audit was a 2025 achievement and that completing the 2024 and 2025 audits is a major initiative for 2026. The auditor's opinion on 2023 is clean, and it draws attention to a restatement of 2022 figures.
Why it matters
Residents and council use audited statements to see whether the Town's reported results are reliable. When they arrive years late, the figures that council works from are less checked, and the Town may be late on reporting to the Province.
It could be because…
The Town restated its 2022 figures after finding projects funded from reserves that had been counted against development charges (Note 2). Fixing that may have taken time.
The Town's finance staff list upgrading financial software and "knowledge transfer" among their 2025 work, which may point to staffing or system changes.
The statements show the Town's chief financial officer role was held by an acting person when they were signed, which may have slowed the work.
Questions you could ask
When will the audited statements for 2024 and 2025 be signed and posted?
What caused the 2023 audit to finish in April 2026, and what is being changed so later years are not late?
Has the Province been told about the delay, and has the Town's 2024 and 2025 Financial Information Return been filed?
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 Midland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Independent Auditor's Report (BDO Canada LLP, Barrie, Ontario), dated "April 23, 2026": in the auditor's opinion the statements "present fairly, in all material respects" the Town's position at December 31, 2023. It includes an "Emphasis of Matter - Restated Comparative Information" about Note 2, and says the opinion is not modified.
Finance division, "Key successes in 2025": "Completed the 2023 financial audit and the Financial Information Return." "Major initiatives for 2026": "Complete the 2024 and 2025 audits and related compliance reporting."
$4,765,147negative balance of the Midland Bay Landing reserve at the start of 2026
A reserve is money set aside for a purpose. The Town's 2026 reserve table shows the Midland Bay Landing reserve starting 2026 at (4,765,147), a negative balance, and ending at (4,606,147). The Town's budget summary says its Community-Wide Initiatives reserve keeps a minimum of $4M to offset the negative balance, and assumes the Town puts $15M into the development of Midland Bay Landing, with the debt on the property repaid in full in 2028. The budget was approved in December 2025. On June 5, 2026 the Town said it will not proceed with awarding the project.
Why it matters
A negative reserve means the Town spent money on the waterfront site before it had the money set aside, by borrowing from its own other savings. The Town's policy says borrowed reserve money must be repaid with interest. If the project is not going ahead, residents will want to know where the repayment comes from.
It could be because…
The Town may plan to repay the balance by selling or leasing the land in a later process.
The 2026 budget was approved in December 2025, before the June 2026 decision, so its assumptions may now be changing.
The Town says it is still planning to use the east side as informal public open space, and it may keep the waterfront parcel for a later opportunity.
Questions you could ask
How much has the Town spent on Midland Bay Landing in total, and how much of that was borrowed from other reserves?
With no developer being awarded the site, how and when will the negative reserve be repaid, and what will that cost in interest?
Does the $15M contribution in the 2026 budget plan still stand?
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 Midland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Capital Reserve Management, key assumptions: "Contribution of $15M is made by the Town towards the development of Midland Bay Landing. Debt on the property is repaid in full in 2028."
Midland Public Utility Commission Reserves: the Community-Wide Initiatives Reserve "currently holds approximately $12.2M, with a minimum balance of $4M maintained to offset the negative Midland Bay Landing Reserve." It adds that "all amounts borrowed must be repaid with interest at the prevailing borrowing rate" and that repayment "has not been included in the 10-year forecast, as the funding source remains unconfirmed".
2026 Reserve Funds Budget, capital reserve funds: Midland Bay Landing opening balance (4,765,147), transfer from operating 159,000, ending balance (4,606,147). Opening balances are "based on 2025 budget" and "may be affected by year-end adjustments".
"The Town of Midland will not proceed with awarding the proposed Midland Bay Landing (MBL) development project following Council's review of the proposals and considering community input". The Town says it "remains committed to exploring future opportunities for the waterfront".
$9.7 millionyearly gap between what the Town invests and what it needs to replace its assets (the Town's figure)
The Town values its roads, pipes, buildings and other assets at $656 million. It says it invests $10.0 million a year to replace them and has a gap of about $9.7 million a year, about $1,238 for each property. Its 10-year capital plan of $209M relies on $78M of outside debt. For 2026 the Town added $598,000 to reserve contributions, which it says is a 2% effect on the tax rate. The Town's own forecast shows its tax-supported capital reserves at a negative $20.5M in 2035 if contributions stay at 2025 levels, a path it says is not recommended. At the end of 2023 the Town's long-term debt was $20,418,696.
Why it matters
A gap like this is paid for either by higher taxes, by borrowing, or by letting assets wear out. The Town has been open about the size of the gap, which lets residents ask how fast it plans to close it and what each path costs.
It could be because…
Staff say the 10-year plan phases in reserve increases to close the gap over time.
Debt on long-lived assets such as water and sewer plants spreads the cost across the people who will use them.
The Town says its existing debt payments are within the Province's repayment limit (Note 9 of the 2023 statements), and its plan tracks that limit against a lower limit set by council.
Questions you could ask
What yearly debt payments does the Town expect once the $78M is issued, and how close does that come to the Province's limit and to council's own lower limit?
Which projects in the $209M plan could be delayed if reserve increases are held back?
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 Midland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Debt Financing: "The Town does not have sufficient internal financial resources to fund its capital needs. As a result, the 10-Year Capital Plan includes $78M in external debt financing." The Provincial limit "caps debt levels at 25% of own-source revenue".
Funding Capital and the Infrastructure Gap: asset portfolio replacement cost "$656 million"; "we are investing $10.0 million dollars annually"; "approximately a $9.7 million dollar funding gap", about "$1,238 per property". In 2025 reserve contributions rose by $499,563; the 2026 proposed budget "includes an increased contribution to reserves of $598,000."
Scenario 1, no increases to reserve contributions: "a negative balance of $20.5M in 2035 versus a target balance of approximately $1.8M. This scenario is not recommended."
Note 9, Net Long-term Liabilities: total $20,418,696 (2022 $22,167,257). "The annual principal and interest payments required to service these liabilities are within the annual debt repayment limit prescribed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing."
Capital Plan Overview: "The 10-year capital program includes a total of $209M in new capital and project related requests, including water and wastewater."
Midland spent $4.0M on running the town office in 2019 and $6.6M in 2023. Prices only went up about 16% in that time.
Why did the cost of running the town office grow 63% in 4 years?
Running the town office
Prices (inflation)
+0%+20%+40%+60%+80%
+63%
20192020202120222023
Show as a table
Year
Running the town office
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
+17%
+1%
2021
+34%
+4%
2022
+24%
+11%
2023
+63%
+16%
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Why it matters
Money spent running the office is money not spent on roads, water or safety. When office costs grow much faster than the services people see, it is fair to ask what the extra money is buying.
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
What did the extra $2.5M a year pay for?
Why did council go from $616K to $864K?
Was each increase approved by council as a separate decision, or did it happen through the yearly 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 Midland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Running the town office: 2019 $4.0M, 2020 $4.7M, 2021 $5.4M, 2022 $5.0M, 2023 $6.6M.
Midland spent $3.7M on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $5.9M in 2023. Prices only went up about 16% in that time.
Why did the cost of water, sewers and garbage grow 58% in 4 years?
Water, sewers and garbage
Prices (inflation)
+0%+20%+40%+60%+80%+100%+120%
+58%
20192020202120222023
Show as a table
Year
Water, sewers and garbage
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
+18%
+1%
2021
+20%
+4%
2022
+108%
+11%
2023
+58%
+16%
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
What did the extra $2.2M a year pay for?
Why did water treatment go from $993K to $1.8M?
Was each increase approved by council as a separate decision, or did it happen through the yearly 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 Midland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Midland spent about $114 per home on council in 2023. The typical similar town spent $47. Only 9 of 71 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
What makes this cost higher here than in similar towns?
When were the main contracts in this area last put out to competitive tender?
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 Midland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Council per home: Midland $114; typical similar town $47; ranked 10th highest of 72.
$4,694,553government grants in 2023, against a budget of $1,125,531
A budget is the plan council approves. In 2023 the Town's statements show government grants of $4,694,553 against a budget of $1,125,531, and an annual surplus of $9,465,769 against an adjusted budget surplus of $6,923,749. The Town explains part of this: the council budget was prepared on a different basis from the statements, so the statements adjust the budget (Note 3). Note 12 splits the grants into $1,405,304 with conditions attached and $3,289,249 of other grants.
Why it matters
Large gaps between plan and result can mean the plan was cautious, or that one-time money arrived. Knowing which helps residents judge whether the surplus is cash that can lower taxes or money already tied to projects.
It could be because…
Grants often arrive after a budget is set, for projects council approved later, and are matched by spending on those projects.
The budget shown in the statements is council's budget adjusted for accounting, so the two are not like for like (Note 3).
Some of the grants have conditions (Note 12) and may be tied to capital work, not everyday spending.
Questions you could ask
Which grants make up the $3,289,249 of other grants in 2023, and were they approved after the 2023 budget was set?
How much of the $9,465,769 surplus is cash that can be spent, and how much is already committed to projects?
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 Midland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Statement of Operations, 2023: total revenue budget 41,690,131, actual 49,796,792; total expenses budget 34,766,382, actual 40,331,023. The government grants line (note 12) shows 1,125,531 as the budget and 4,694,553 as the 2023 actual.
Note 3, Budget Reconciliation: "The budget was prepared on a modified accrual basis, while Canadian public sector accounting standards now require financial statements to be prepared on a full accrual basis." Total Council approved budget 41,690,131; less budgeted capital expenses 13,097,908; less budgeted principal repayments on long-term debt 1,730,918; add budgeted net reserve transfers and other items 7,905,077; adjusted expense 34,766,382; net 6,923,749.
In August 2026 the Ontario Ombudsman reported on a special meeting of council on March 5, 2025, held in closed session for about two hours to hear consultants and take part in a "visioning exercise" for the Midland Bay Landing project. The Ombudsman found that part of the talk, about how to attract a developer, could be held in private, but the presentation and visioning exercise should have been in open session. The finding is that council contravened the Municipal Act, 2001. The Ombudsman also found the closed-meeting minutes were brief and broadly worded, and recommended that the Town record its closed meetings.
Why it matters
Open meetings are how residents see how decisions about public land and money are made. The report is an official finding about council as a whole, not about any one member.
It could be because…
Council relied in good faith on exceptions that the Ombudsman later read more narrowly, and the Ombudsman accepted that part of the discussion could properly be private.
The Ombudsman records that the Town cooperated fully, and no decisions were made in the closed session.
Questions you could ask
Has council responded to the four recommendations in a public meeting, and will it record closed meetings?
Will the Town publish more detailed closed-meeting minutes from now 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 Midland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Report: "I find that council for the Town of Midland contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 by holding a closed meeting on March 5, 2025." The discussion "did not fit within the cited exceptions" (sections 239(2)(i) and (j)), though part of it fit the exception for negotiation plans (239(2)(k)) and "could have been parsed" from the rest.
"The March 5, 2025 closed meeting was approximately two hours long. However, the minutes of the meeting are brief and broadly worded." The report says "The Town does not make audio or video recordings of its closed meetings."
Recommendation 4: "The Town of Midland should make audio or video recordings of its proceedings, including closed meetings." Recommendation 3: "complete and accurate records are kept of all meetings".
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