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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Oshawa'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 · 11 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Oshawa's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 7 similar Ontario places. 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.
$1,050,000cut from the 2026 contribution to the Infrastructure Reserve (the Financial Strategy projects a $99 million reserve deficit by 2028 if all forecast projects are approved)
A reserve is money a city sets aside for later, here for roads, buildings and other things it must repair or replace. When council amended the 2026 budget on November 28, 2025, one change cut the yearly top-up of the Infrastructure Reserve by $1,050,000. The mayor approved it in writing on December 1, 2025. The city's 2025 to 2029 Financial Strategy says this same reserve is projected to be $99 million in deficit in 2028 if all projects in the forecast were approved, and the 2026 budget book says the city has a yearly gap between what its assets need and what it spends.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$83,863,004development charge balance at December 31, 2025, down from $98,097,813 a year earlier
Development charges are fees paid by builders to cover the cost of roads, sewers and parks that growth needs. The city holds them as "deferred revenue" until a project is built. The development charge balance fell from $98,097,813 to $83,863,004 in one year, because the city used far more than it collected. The 2026 capital budget plans to pay for 41.1% of its projects ($18.3 million) from development charges.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$61,515,8902025 expenses for protection to persons and property, against $51,812,565 in 2024
Protection covers fire, by-law enforcement, building inspection and security. The audited statements show its expenses rose about 19% in one year, with the "other expenses" part more than doubling. The 2025 budget had already planned $60,703,400. For 2026, the Fire Suppression program adds a new "Contributions and Financial Charges" line of $2,058,100, and the budget book's explanation of the change does not mention it.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$34,529,169taxes receivable at December 31, 2025, up from $25,248,147
"Taxes receivable" is property tax billed but not yet paid. It grew by about 37% in 2025. For 2026 the budget raises the amount it expects to earn from penalties and interest on unpaid taxes by $1,000,000.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 2 sources
In 2025, Oshawa collected $14.2M more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 8% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. Only 1 of 7 similar places raised theirs by more.
Found automatically from the city's financial reports · 3 sources
10 to 3 daysreview period for amendments to the 2026 budget, shortened by mayoral decision on December 1, 2025
Oshawa's mayor has strong-mayor powers, which means the mayor proposes the budget. Council can amend it, and the mayor can veto those amendments within a set time. The city's published timetable gave the mayor 10 days. On December 1, 2025 the mayor decided to shorten that to 3 days, and approved the amendments the same day. The decision does not say why.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 2 sources
$634,700net 2026 operating cost of the airport, against $115,200 budgeted in 2025
The airport is run by the city. Its net cost in the 2026 operating budget is about five and a half times the 2025 figure. The city explains why: the flight school left.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 1 source
Jan 31, 2024end of the only Integrity Commissioner annual report listed for the 2022 to 2026 term
The Integrity Commissioner investigates complaints that a council member broke the Code of Conduct. Oshawa's page lists one annual report, covering November 2022 to January 31, 2024, and shows "N/A" under individual reports for the whole term (November 15, 2022 to November 14, 2026). We did not find an annual report after January 31, 2024.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 1 source
$1,050,000cut from the 2026 contribution to the Infrastructure Reserve (the Financial Strategy projects a $99 million reserve deficit by 2028 if all forecast projects are approved)
A reserve is money a city sets aside for later, here for roads, buildings and other things it must repair or replace. When council amended the 2026 budget on November 28, 2025, one change cut the yearly top-up of the Infrastructure Reserve by $1,050,000. The mayor approved it in writing on December 1, 2025. The city's 2025 to 2029 Financial Strategy says this same reserve is projected to be $99 million in deficit in 2028 if all projects in the forecast were approved, and the 2026 budget book says the city has a yearly gap between what its assets need and what it spends.
Why it matters
Roads, rinks and sewers wear out on a schedule. Money not set aside now has to come from higher taxes, debt or fewer repairs later.
It could be because…
The Financial Strategy's $99 million figure is stated as a condition (if all the projects were approved), and the capital forecast changes every year.
Council may have judged that a smaller increase in the tax levy was worth a smaller top-up this year, and plans to catch up later.
The 2026 capital program is small ($44.4 million, about $38.1 million lower than 2025), so less money may be needed in the reserve this year.
Questions you could ask
Which reserve balances and which year-end projections did council see on November 28, 2025 when it voted to cut the Infrastructure Reserve contribution by $1,050,000?
What is the current projection for the Infrastructure Reserve balance for each year to 2035, and does the 2027 budget plan restore the $1,050,000?
How does the city plan to close the annual capital funding gap its Asset Management Plan reports?
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 Oshawa?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The mayor approved a resolution that read: "That the contribution to the Infrastructure Reserve be reduced by $1,050,000." It was passed at the November 28, 2025 council meeting. The decision is dated December 1, 2025. The same decision approved two other cuts: $60,000 for the Fire Master Plan and $200,000 of overtime.
The Financial Strategy says of the Infrastructure Reserve: "Based on the current capital infrastructure forecast this reserve is projected to be in a deficit position of $99 million in the year 2028 if all the projects were approved."
The 2025 Asset Management Plan key statistics list an "Annual Capital Funding Gap Estimate" of $32.7 million for non-core assets and $14.5 million for core assets. The forecast for 2027 to 2035 lists infrastructure projects of "approximately $1.6 billion".
The 2026 operating budget book prints the program that carries tax-levy contributions to reserves at 17,946,300 in the 2025 budget and 20,367,900 in 2026, a change of 2,421,600. We could not tell from the book whether 20,367,900 is before or after the December 2025 amendment.
$83,863,004development charge balance at December 31, 2025, down from $98,097,813 a year earlier
Development charges are fees paid by builders to cover the cost of roads, sewers and parks that growth needs. The city holds them as "deferred revenue" until a project is built. The development charge balance fell from $98,097,813 to $83,863,004 in one year, because the city used far more than it collected. The 2026 capital budget plans to pay for 41.1% of its projects ($18.3 million) from development charges.
Why it matters
Development charges are meant to let growth pay for growth. A smaller balance means fewer projects the city can pay for this way, and the part that is not growth-related falls on taxpayers.
It could be because…
Fees are collected when permits are issued and spent when projects are built, so balances rise and fall with the building cycle.
A large balance exists to be spent: using it on growth projects is its purpose.
Fewer new building permits in a slower housing market would explain lower collections.
Questions you could ask
What does the city expect development charge collections to be in 2026 and 2027, and what projects depend on them?
At the 2026 pace of use, in what year would the balance run out, and what is the plan then?
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 Oshawa?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The statements show development charges in deferred revenue of 83,863,004 in 2025 and 98,097,813 in 2024.
The continuity table shows "Developer contributions collected" of 4,550,385 in 2025 (11,377,544 in 2024) and "Developer contributions used" of 20,228,025 (21,589,359 in 2024).
The 2026 capital budget is funded 41.1%, $18.3 million, from Development Charges, 39.7%, $17.6 million, from Reserve and Reserve Funds, and 19.2%, $8.5 million, from the Canada Community-Building Fund, with 0.0% from the tax levy.
$61,515,8902025 expenses for protection to persons and property, against $51,812,565 in 2024
Protection covers fire, by-law enforcement, building inspection and security. The audited statements show its expenses rose about 19% in one year, with the "other expenses" part more than doubling. The 2025 budget had already planned $60,703,400. For 2026, the Fire Suppression program adds a new "Contributions and Financial Charges" line of $2,058,100, and the budget book's explanation of the change does not mention it.
Why it matters
Fire and enforcement are the city's second-largest group of services after recreation. A large jump should be tied to named causes so residents can judge whether it will repeat.
It could be because…
The budget already planned $60,703,400, so the rise was expected rather than an overrun.
A new line labelled contributions and financial charges is often a transfer to a reserve or an accounting reclassification, not new spending.
Wage settlements and added staff in fire and enforcement can lift salary costs by several million dollars at once.
Questions you could ask
What makes up the $2,058,100 in Fire Suppression, and is it a transfer to a reserve, a charge from another department, or new spending?
What caused "other expenses" in protection to rise from $4,390,812 to $8,956,291 in 2025?
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 Oshawa?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Protection to persons and property: budget 60,703,400, 2025 expenses 61,515,890, 2024 expenses 51,812,565.
Program 393, Fire Suppression: personnel costs 28,881,500 (2025 budget) and 30,434,800 (2026), "Contributions and Financial Charges" nil and 2,058,100, total 29,523,300 and 32,750,200, a change of 3,226,900. The city's explanation reads: "General wage and benefit increases, partially offset by decreased bunker gear requirements, and new vehicle collision fee for at fault accidents approved in Report CF-25-44 Fees and Charges By-law Update."
$34,529,169taxes receivable at December 31, 2025, up from $25,248,147
"Taxes receivable" is property tax billed but not yet paid. It grew by about 37% in 2025. For 2026 the budget raises the amount it expects to earn from penalties and interest on unpaid taxes by $1,000,000.
Why it matters
Unpaid taxes still have to be covered. If more households or businesses are behind on payments, it may point to affordability strain, and the city is partly budgeting around it.
It could be because…
Part of the rise may be timing, for example a due date falling just after year end.
Property tax bills grew with the levy and with assessment growth, so the amount outstanding at any date grows too.
Penalties and interest are budgeted from past experience; raising the line may reflect what was actually collected in 2025.
Questions you could ask
How much of the $34,529,169 is more than one year overdue, compared with a year earlier?
Does the city have a tax arrears collection plan, and is it tied to the new Accounts Receivable policy in the Financial Strategy?
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 Oshawa?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Taxes receivable 34,529,169 at December 31, 2025 and 25,248,147 in 2024. The cash flow statement shows a change in taxes receivable of (9,281,022).
Program 807, Penalties and Interest on tax: 2025 budget (4,050,000), 2025 projected actuals (4,678,900), 2026 budget (5,050,000), a change of (1,000,000). The book says the program is "used to account for interest revenues on outstanding property tax accounts."
In 2025, Oshawa collected $14.2M more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 8% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. Only 1 of 7 similar places raised theirs by more.
Why did Oshawa's property tax go up 8% in 2025?
$0$50M$100M$150M$200M
$185M
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
City property tax
2019
$145M
2020
$148M
2021
$144M
2022
$154M
2023
$165M
2024
$171M
2025
$185M
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 $199 more each year.
It could be because…
Costs the city cannot control went up, such as policing, insurance or county charges.
The city kept taxes too low in earlier years and is catching up.
The city is rebuilding savings or paying for a big project like a bridge or equipment.
Questions you could ask
What were the three biggest reasons for the 2025 increase, in dollars?
Is a similar increase planned for next 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 Oshawa?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
City property tax: $170,886,260 in 2024, $185,042,804 in 2025.
Oshawa spent $34.9M on police, fire and safety in 2019 and $59.9M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Why did the cost of police, fire and safety grow 72% in 6 years?
Police, fire and safety
Prices (inflation)
+0%+20%+40%+60%+80%
+72%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Police, fire and safety
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
+13%
+1%
2021
+14%
+4%
2022
+23%
+11%
2023
+28%
+16%
2024
+44%
+18%
2025
+72%
+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 city 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 $25M a year pay for?
Why did fire department go from $27.4M to $44.1M?
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 Oshawa?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Police, fire and safety: 2019 $34.9M, 2020 $39.3M, 2021 $39.8M, 2022 $42.9M, 2023 $44.5M, 2024 $50.3M, 2025 $59.9M.
10 to 3 daysreview period for amendments to the 2026 budget, shortened by mayoral decision on December 1, 2025
Oshawa's mayor has strong-mayor powers, which means the mayor proposes the budget. Council can amend it, and the mayor can veto those amendments within a set time. The city's published timetable gave the mayor 10 days. On December 1, 2025 the mayor decided to shorten that to 3 days, and approved the amendments the same day. The decision does not say why.
Why it matters
The review period is the time council and the public have to see how a veto might be used and respond. Shortening it is allowed by the rules, but the reason is worth knowing.
It could be because…
No amendment was likely to be vetoed (the three amendments were small cuts), so waiting was not needed.
The city may have wanted the budget in force before year end so spending could continue on January 1.
The shortening was done in the open, in writing, as the rules require, and was listed on the city's public decisions page.
Questions you could ask
What reason did the mayor have for shortening the veto review period, and was council told before the decision?
Does the city plan to use the full 10 days for 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 Oshawa?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The mayor wrote that he agreed "to shorten the time period to review amendments to the proposed 2026 budget from 10 days to 3 days as identified in the budget timetable adopted by City Council on March 31, 2025 related to Report CNCL-25-16." The decision is dated December 1, 2025 and gives no reason.
The city's page lists a public chart of mayoral decisions and directions, including "MDE-2025-018 Decision to shorten the time period to veto amendments to the 2026 Budget" and "MDE-2025-019 Written approval of resolutions to amend the proposed 2026 Budget", and says the mayor "is required to exercise these powers in writing and make them available to the public".
$634,700net 2026 operating cost of the airport, against $115,200 budgeted in 2025
The airport is run by the city. Its net cost in the 2026 operating budget is about five and a half times the 2025 figure. The city explains why: the flight school left.
Why it matters
An airport carries fixed costs whether or not planes use it. Residents pay any gap through the tax levy.
It could be because…
The city has published its reason (the flight school left), and it describes a period of transition toward an executive airport.
Part of the change is a planned larger contribution to the airport reserve, not day-to-day running cost.
Questions you could ask
What airport net cost does the city expect for 2027 and 2028, and what revenue target would bring it back to break-even?
How much of the $634,700 is the reserve contribution and how much is operating loss?
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 Oshawa?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Program 381, Airport Operations: operating revenue (5,041,400) in the 2025 budget and (4,400,600) in 2026; total 115,200 in 2025 and 634,700 in 2026, a change of 519,500. The city's explanation: "Reduction in operating revenues/expenses related to reduced flight movements due to the departure of the flight school." It adds that "Oshawa is in a period of transition as it looks to strengthen the role of the Airport as an executive Airport" and that contributions to the airport reserve are increased "as per Report CNCL-24-116 (airport improvement fees)."
Jan 31, 2024end of the only Integrity Commissioner annual report listed for the 2022 to 2026 term
The Integrity Commissioner investigates complaints that a council member broke the Code of Conduct. Oshawa's page lists one annual report, covering November 2022 to January 31, 2024, and shows "N/A" under individual reports for the whole term (November 15, 2022 to November 14, 2026). We did not find an annual report after January 31, 2024.
Why it matters
A reader cannot tell whether no complaints were made, none were upheld, or reports are simply not posted.
It could be because…
No complaint may have led to a report; the page lists none.
Reports may go to council in public agendas without being copied to this page.
The page also says that in an election year no requests for an inquiry may be accepted from Nomination Day (August 21, 2026) to Voting Day (October 26, 2026).
Questions you could ask
Has the Integrity Commissioner reported on any complaint or inquiry since January 31, 2024, and where are those reports posted?
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 Oshawa?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The page lists "Annual Reports (November 15, 2022 to November 14, 2026)" with "Annual Report - November 2022 to January 31, 2024" and "Individual Reports (November 15, 2022 to November 14, 2026)" with "N/A". It names Principles Integrity (co-principals Jeffrey A. Abrams and Janice Atwood-Petovski) as the contact for complaints.
Oshawa spent about $94 per home on garbage, dump and recycling in 2025. The typical similar city spent $0. Only 1 of 7 similar places 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 places 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 places?
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 Oshawa?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Garbage, dump and recycling per home: Oshawa $94; typical similar city $0; ranked 2nd highest of 8.
Oshawa spent about $139 per home on snow ploughing in 2025. The typical similar city spent $125. Only 1 of 7 similar places 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 places 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 places?
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 Oshawa?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Snow ploughing per home: Oshawa $139; typical similar city $125; ranked 2nd highest of 8.
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