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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Prince Edward County'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 · 12 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Prince Edward County's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 2 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.
$131,174,615total borrowing projected for the end of 2026, up from $73,294,113 at the end of 2024
The 2026 budget book shows the County's total borrowing (long-term debt plus construction loans) at $73,294,113 at the end of 2024 and $131,174,615 projected for 2026. The 2026 figure includes a $62.5 million construction loan for the new Long Term Care home. In the same section the County writes that it "does not have a clear debt strategy" and gives no debt payment projections after 2026, because four plans and studies are not finished. Yearly debt payments rise from $4,800,270 in 2024 to $6,152,438 in 2026. The Province's yearly indicator rates the County's debt payments as a share of revenue as low risk (4.9% in 2024), so this is a question about planning, not a sign of trouble today. The County says the missing plans are under way.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$40,725,064bridge loan owed at the end of 2024, due on demand at the lender's prime rate
At the end of 2024 the County owed $40,725,064 on a "temporary borrowing" bridge loan from Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation (OILC), up from $29,891,064 a year before. The statements say it is due on demand, charges the lender's prime rate, and stays in place until the projects are finished and the loan is turned into fixed-term debt. The same statements show $64,553,476 in cash. The 2026 budget book shows a construction loan balance for 2025 of $40,725,064, the same figure as 2024, so we cannot tell from the book what was owed at the end of 2025.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$48,785,725total reserves projected for 2026, down from $70,972,989 in 2024
Reserves are savings set aside for later costs. The 2026 budget book says total reserves "peaked in 2024" at $70,972,989 and are projected at $60,531,218 for 2025 and $48,785,725 for 2026, as big capital projects go ahead. The County says it will write a long-term reserve strategy in 2026 with minimum and target balances. The book's 2024 balances do not match the audited 2024 statements: it shows obligatory reserve funds of $30,414,722, the statements $30,161,349; it shows discretionary reserve funds of $14,640,212, the statements $15,463,302; and it shows reserves of $25,918,055, the statements $25,807,825. The Province still rates the County's reserves as a share of expenses as low risk, but the share fell from 52.7% in 2023 to 42.2% in 2024.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 5 sources
7.3%levy increase the budget book says the asset plan requires, against 3.56% approved for 2026
The 2026 budget book says the approved 2026 tax levy increase is 3.56% after growth, or $99.81 a year ($8.32 a month) for an average home assessed at $267,000. It also says that "to support the infrastructure asset management plan, an increase on the levy of 7.3% is required", or $14.97 a month, and that keeping the operating budget at its current level needs $7.58 a month more. The book does not say how these amounts relate to the $8.32 a month that was approved. The total to be raised from the tax levy rises from $54,011,445 to $56,867,895, a rise of $2,856,450 (5.3%, worked out by us, before growth). The County also says its Pavement Condition Index for roads is 65 and that Council approved a goal of 83.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 5 sources
$3,987,624deficit before capital items in 2024, against a budgeted surplus of $1,686,812
In the 2024 audited statements, budgeted expenses were $88,305,294 and actual expenses were $96,131,750, which is $7,826,456 more (worked out by us). Budgeted revenue was $89,992,106 and actual revenue was $92,144,126. The result was an annual deficit before capital items of $3,987,624 against a planned surplus of $1,686,812. Materials and supplies were $20,576,560 against a budget of $15,010,564. General government expenses were $12,281,157 against $8,731,317, and transportation services $22,935,289 against $19,168,268. The statements say the budget figures are an adjusted version of the budget Council approved, but we did not find a published explanation of why spending ran over. The County's own unrestricted balance fell from a surplus of $75,664 to a deficiency of $946,781.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 6 sources
14.9%of taxes billed in 2024 were unpaid, against a median of 6.8% for southern single tiers
The Province's yearly indicators for the County show taxes receivable (billed and not yet paid, less an allowance for amounts unlikely to be collected) as 14.9% of taxes levied in 2024, up from 5.3% in 2021 and 10.6% in 2023. The median for southern single-tier municipalities was 6.8% in 2024 and the average 8.2%. The audited statements show taxes receivable of $9,059,160 at the end of 2024, up from $6,046,957. We did not find a County explanation of the rise. The 2026 budget book says corporate revenues rose partly because of "increased penalty and interest on taxes", and it describes a Municipal Financial Relief Program that gave property owners $363,500.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
At the end of 2024, Prince Edward County owed $40.7M on temporary loans. That is like putting 43% of a year's income on a line of credit. This is short-term borrowing for building projects, which is normal while waiting for a grant or a long-term loan. But it was already $29.9M a year earlier, so it has lasted more than a year. Only 0 of 2 similar places had any temporary loans at the end of 2024.
Found automatically from the city's financial reports · 1 source
$527,202budgeted for 2026, against $94,000 in the 2025 budget
The County's 2026 operating budget shows the Human Resources department's "Professional & Contracted Services" line at $527,202 for 2026, against a 2025 budget of $94,000. By the end of October 2025 the department had already spent $179,932 on that line, nearly twice its budget. The department's total budget rises from $986,267 to $1,513,402 (53%). The budget book says "unanticipated legal settlements drove up the expenditures in Human Resources", which explains the 2025 overspending. We did not find an explanation of why the 2026 figure is more than five times the 2025 budget. A Non-Union Compensation By-law review has been added to the CAO's Office for 2026.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 2 sources
46 pagesin the 2025 audited statements (by our count of the PDF file), posted as images with no readable text
The County's finance page links "2025 Consolidated Financial Statements", its procurement page links "Procurement By-law 107-2026", and its strong mayor page links the Mayoral Decisions on the 2026 budget. When we opened these PDFs, each page was a single image, and our text extraction returned no text at all (for the Mayoral Decisions, one page each). That means a screen reader may not read them, and residents cannot search them. The County's 2024 statements, its budget book and its budgets are ordinary searchable PDFs. We did not read the 2025 statements and have used no figure from them, so the most recent audited year is missing from this pack.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$131,174,615total borrowing projected for the end of 2026, up from $73,294,113 at the end of 2024
The 2026 budget book shows the County's total borrowing (long-term debt plus construction loans) at $73,294,113 at the end of 2024 and $131,174,615 projected for 2026. The 2026 figure includes a $62.5 million construction loan for the new Long Term Care home. In the same section the County writes that it "does not have a clear debt strategy" and gives no debt payment projections after 2026, because four plans and studies are not finished. Yearly debt payments rise from $4,800,270 in 2024 to $6,152,438 in 2026. The Province's yearly indicator rates the County's debt payments as a share of revenue as low risk (4.9% in 2024), so this is a question about planning, not a sign of trouble today. The County says the missing plans are under way.
Why it matters
Borrowing is paid back by taxpayers and water users over decades. A new care home, a hospital contribution and road and water projects are each worth doing, but residents are entitled to see how much debt the County can carry in total, and what it will cost in 2027 and later, before more is added.
It could be because…
A long-term care home is a once-in-a-generation project, and construction loans are normally replaced by fixed-term debt once it is built.
The County says the Asset Management Plan update, the Water and Wastewater Rate Study, the Development Charges Background Study and the Fire Master Plan are needed first, so waiting for them may be sensible.
The Province's indicator puts the County's debt payments at 4.9% of revenue in 2024, in the low-risk range.
Some of the debt is paid by water and wastewater users, not property taxes.
Questions you could ask
When will the County publish a debt strategy and a multi-year forecast of debt payments?
How much of the $62.5 million Long Term Care construction loan will be repaid by the Province or other partners, and how much by County taxpayers and users?
The budget says it "does not include any new debt" but also adds a $62.5 million construction loan in 2026. Which of the two do the 2026 tax numbers assume?
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 Prince Edward County?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
18. Debt: "The County does not have a clear debt strategy." "Debt payment projections beyond 2026 have not been provided". Table, 2026 / 2025 / 2024: Long-Term Debt $68,674,615 / $30,445,477 / $32,569,049; Construction Loan $62,500,000 / $40,725,064 / $40,725,064; Total Borrowing $131,174,615 / $71,170,541 / $73,294,113; Debt Payments $6,152,438 / $4,842,334 / $4,800,270. "In 2026, a $62.5 million construction loan for the new Long Term Care home will be added upon substantial completion."
Impact on taxpayers: "The 2026 budget does not include any new debt; however, two existing rate-based construction loans will be rolled into debt in 2026."
Continuing capital projects, tax-supported: "Long-term Care New Build $97,408,000"; "County Road 49 Rehabilitation $44,533,100".
2026 Municipal Budget Book · Section 1, 19. 2026 Capital Program, Continuing capital projects, PDF page 32
Debt Servicing Cost as a % of Total Revenues (Less Donated TCAs): 2024 4.9% (median of southern single tiers 3.9%, average 4.3%), level of risk LOW. Net Financial Assets or Net Debt as % of Own Source Revenues: 2024 -67.5% (2023 -51.6%), level of risk MODERATE.
$40,725,064bridge loan owed at the end of 2024, due on demand at the lender's prime rate
At the end of 2024 the County owed $40,725,064 on a "temporary borrowing" bridge loan from Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation (OILC), up from $29,891,064 a year before. The statements say it is due on demand, charges the lender's prime rate, and stays in place until the projects are finished and the loan is turned into fixed-term debt. The same statements show $64,553,476 in cash. The 2026 budget book shows a construction loan balance for 2025 of $40,725,064, the same figure as 2024, so we cannot tell from the book what was owed at the end of 2025.
Why it matters
A loan that can be called at any time and floats with the prime rate is riskier and can cost more than fixed-term debt. Residents will want to know how long it has run, what it cost in interest, and why cash was not used instead.
It could be because…
Much of the $64,553,476 in cash is likely not free to spend. Deferred obligatory reserve funds (development charges, gas tax and similar money that must be used for set purposes) were $30,161,349, and Council has also set aside reserves.
Bridge loans are an ordinary way to pay for large projects while they are built, and the loan has a ceiling of $44,798,215, which is not yet reached.
The loan may be cheaper than fixed-term debt while interest rates are falling.
The 2025 figure in the budget book may be a projection copied across, not a year-end result.
Questions you could ask
What interest did the County pay on the OILC bridge loan in 2024 and 2025, and how does that compare with fixed-term debt?
Which projects does the $40,725,064 pay for, and when will it be converted to fixed-term debt?
What was owed on the bridge loan at the end of 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 Prince Edward County?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 4, Temporary borrowing: "The County has arranged bridge funding for a number of capital projects through the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation (OILC). This loan has a borrowing capacity of $44,798,215, bears interest at the lender's prime rate and is due on demand until such time that the related capital projects are completed and the loan is converted into a fixed term debenture. As at December 31, 2024, $40,725,064 (2023 - $29,891,064) was outstanding."
$48,785,725total reserves projected for 2026, down from $70,972,989 in 2024
Reserves are savings set aside for later costs. The 2026 budget book says total reserves "peaked in 2024" at $70,972,989 and are projected at $60,531,218 for 2025 and $48,785,725 for 2026, as big capital projects go ahead. The County says it will write a long-term reserve strategy in 2026 with minimum and target balances. The book's 2024 balances do not match the audited 2024 statements: it shows obligatory reserve funds of $30,414,722, the statements $30,161,349; it shows discretionary reserve funds of $14,640,212, the statements $15,463,302; and it shows reserves of $25,918,055, the statements $25,807,825. The Province still rates the County's reserves as a share of expenses as low risk, but the share fell from 52.7% in 2023 to 42.2% in 2024.
Why it matters
Reserves are the cushion that keeps a surprise bill from becoming a tax jump or new debt. Falling reserves, rising borrowing and a plan with no target balances yet is a combination residents will want explained. If two County documents disagree about the same year's balances, residents also need to know which one to trust.
It could be because…
Spending reserves on the projects they were saved for is what reserves are for. The County says the decline comes from planned withdrawals for capital projects.
Part of the 2024 peak was money that arrived early and is meant to be spent, such as development charges and gas tax money.
The budget book's 2024 balances may have been taken from a draft or from the Financial Information Return, before the audit was finished.
The Province's indicator for reserves is still in the low-risk range.
Questions you could ask
Why do the budget book's 2024 balances for obligatory funds, discretionary funds and reserves differ from the audited statements, and which are correct?
What minimum and target reserve balances will the 2026 reserve strategy set, and when will Council see it?
How much of the projected fall to $48,785,725 is money that must be spent on growth projects, and how much is money Council chose to spend?
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 Prince Edward County?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Table, 2024: Obligatory Reserve Funds $30,414,722; Discretionary Reserve Funds $14,640,212; Reserves $25,918,055; Total $70,972,989. Projected 2025: $27,583,741; $15,974,127; $16,798,350; Total $60,531,218. Projected 2026: $23,409,990; $9,730,832; $15,644,904; Total $48,785,725. "Total reserves peaked in 2024 due to higher development charge collections, Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF) allocations, and project timing." "Overall, planned withdrawals for capital projects will result in a decrease in reserves."
Budget Summary: "Reserve levels are expected to decline in 2025–2026 as major capital projects continue. This highlights the importance of developing a long-term reserve strategy and debt strategy in 2026."
Note 8, Deferred obligatory reserves funds, total at December 31, 2024: $ 30,161,349 (2023 $ 15,190,620), of which development charges 21,327,717 and gasoline tax - Federal 5,812,389.
Total Reserves and Discretionary Reserve Funds as a % of Municipal Expenses: 2023 52.7%, 2024 42.2% (median of southern single tiers 55.9%), level of risk LOW.
7.3%levy increase the budget book says the asset plan requires, against 3.56% approved for 2026
The 2026 budget book says the approved 2026 tax levy increase is 3.56% after growth, or $99.81 a year ($8.32 a month) for an average home assessed at $267,000. It also says that "to support the infrastructure asset management plan, an increase on the levy of 7.3% is required", or $14.97 a month, and that keeping the operating budget at its current level needs $7.58 a month more. The book does not say how these amounts relate to the $8.32 a month that was approved. The total to be raised from the tax levy rises from $54,011,445 to $56,867,895, a rise of $2,856,450 (5.3%, worked out by us, before growth). The County also says its Pavement Condition Index for roads is 65 and that Council approved a goal of 83.
Why it matters
If an asset plan says a certain rise is needed each year and the budget funds less, the difference is either paid from reserves, borrowed, or not done. Residents should know which, so the current tax bill is not the whole picture.
It could be because…
The 7.3% may be a long-run target that Council decided to phase in, not a required rise in 2026.
The County says its taxes are lower than in neighbouring municipalities, and an average household pays 3.85% of its income in property tax, so keeping the rise lower may have been a deliberate choice about affordability.
Growth in the tax base (new homes and buildings) can pay part of the cost without raising rates; that is why the 3.56% is given "after growth".
Grants, development charges and reserves, not the levy, may pay for part of the capital program.
Questions you could ask
Is the 7.3% a rise the asset plan requires in 2026, or a long-run average? How much of it is in the approved 3.56%?
If the approved levy funds less than the plan needs, how is the difference paid for: reserves, debt, or projects not done?
How was the $7.58 a month for the operating budget treated in the approved $8.32 a month?
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 Prince Edward County?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Impact on taxpayers: "The approved 2026 tax levy increase of 3.56% (after growth) will result in the average homeowner in Prince Edward County paying an additional $99.81 annually, or $8.32 monthly, in municipal taxes for an assessed home value of $267,000." County annual property taxes (excluding Education Levy): 2026 $3,043.56; 2025 $2,943.74; 2024 $2,824.08.
"To support the infrastructure asset management plan, an increase on the levy of 7.3% is required, resulting in an increase of $14.97 per month on the average assessed tax bill in comparison to 2025." "To maintain the operating budget, an increase on the average assessed tax bill of $7.58 per month is required in comparison to 2025."
2026 Municipal Budget Book · Section 1, 4. Executive summary, Infrastructure Investment and Service Delivery, PDF page 10
Economic Pressure: "Asset Management Plan regulations mean the County needs to plan to spend about 7.3% more on capital projects each year." The County manages "assets valued at over $1.3 billion".
"The current Pavement Condition Index (PCI) for County roads is 65, which falls into the 'fair' category. Council approved to raise the overall PCI to 83, raising the road network to a 'very good' condition." With an average home value of $267,000, "Prince Edward County property owners pay lower property taxes when compared to neighbouring municipalities with similar municipal structures." "Property taxes represent 3.85% of the average income of $87,100".
2026 Municipal Budget Book · Section 1, 6. Infrastructure Investment, PDF page 11; 12. Property taxes in comparison, PDF page 18
$3,987,624deficit before capital items in 2024, against a budgeted surplus of $1,686,812
In the 2024 audited statements, budgeted expenses were $88,305,294 and actual expenses were $96,131,750, which is $7,826,456 more (worked out by us). Budgeted revenue was $89,992,106 and actual revenue was $92,144,126. The result was an annual deficit before capital items of $3,987,624 against a planned surplus of $1,686,812. Materials and supplies were $20,576,560 against a budget of $15,010,564. General government expenses were $12,281,157 against $8,731,317, and transportation services $22,935,289 against $19,168,268. The statements say the budget figures are an adjusted version of the budget Council approved, but we did not find a published explanation of why spending ran over. The County's own unrestricted balance fell from a surplus of $75,664 to a deficiency of $946,781.
Why it matters
A budget is the promise made to taxpayers. A gap this size between promise and result is something Council and residents should be able to read an explanation of. A deficit paid from reserves also shows up later as lower reserves or higher taxes.
It could be because…
The budget in the statements is built by adding estimates (such as amortization) to the budget Council approved, so some of the gap can come from how the two are matched.
Spending on some projects can be counted as an expense in the statements while being funded from reserves or grants. Government grants were $13,823,371 against a budget of $12,260,234, which suggests some of the extra spending was paid for.
Some of the overspending may be planned work carried over from earlier years and paid from reserves.
The deficit is small against the County's size: the Province's indicator puts it at -0.5% of own-source revenue, in the low-risk range.
Questions you could ask
Which accounts make up the extra $5,565,996 in materials and supplies in 2024 (worked out by us as 20,576,560 less 15,010,564), and were they planned work paid for by grants or reserves?
Did the 2024 year-end variance report to the Audit Committee or Council explain the deficit? Can it be published?
How was the deficit covered, and did it come out of reserves?
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 Prince Edward County?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 21, Budget figures: "Estimates for certain revenue and expenses that were not included as part of the approved operating budgets have been included in the 2024 budget figures reported on the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus, including an estimate for amortization expense." Operating expenses in the approved budget 75,368,320; "Total adjusted budget for expenses" 88,305,294.
Budget process: "Once the budget is set, each month, the Finance Division compares planned vs. actual spending. They look for areas where money is saved, overspent, or at risk. Reports are shared with departments for planning purposes and the Audit Committee."
14.9%of taxes billed in 2024 were unpaid, against a median of 6.8% for southern single tiers
The Province's yearly indicators for the County show taxes receivable (billed and not yet paid, less an allowance for amounts unlikely to be collected) as 14.9% of taxes levied in 2024, up from 5.3% in 2021 and 10.6% in 2023. The median for southern single-tier municipalities was 6.8% in 2024 and the average 8.2%. The audited statements show taxes receivable of $9,059,160 at the end of 2024, up from $6,046,957. We did not find a County explanation of the rise. The 2026 budget book says corporate revenues rose partly because of "increased penalty and interest on taxes", and it describes a Municipal Financial Relief Program that gave property owners $363,500.
Why it matters
Unpaid taxes can mean residents are struggling to pay, or that the County collects more slowly than others and so borrows or uses cash it could have used elsewhere. Either is worth knowing before the next budget.
It could be because…
A late billing year or due dates falling close to year end can leave more unpaid on December 31 than in other years.
Rising living costs may be making it harder for households to pay on time. The County has a Municipal Financial Relief Program and its own book notes affordability and food security concerns.
Part of the balance may be a few large accounts, or properties on payment plans, that will be collected.
Taxes that are overdue earn penalty and interest, so the County is partly compensated.
Questions you could ask
Why did unpaid taxes rise from 10.6% to 14.9% of taxes billed between 2023 and 2024, and what is the share at the end of 2025?
How much of the $9,059,160 is more than a year overdue, and how much of it has an allowance set against it?
What does the County's collection policy say about when it starts tax sale proceedings?
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 Prince Edward County?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Total Taxes Receivable less Allowance for Uncollectibles as a % of Total Taxes Levied: 2020 11.0%, 2021 5.3%, 2022 6.5%, 2023 10.6%, 2024 14.9%. Median of southern single tiers 2024 6.8%, average 8.2%. Level of risk 2024: MODERATE.
Finance, Variances: "Corporate revenues increased by 29%, largely due to a higher Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) grant, increased penalty and interest on taxes, and higher development charge revenues associated with growth-related activity." 2025 Municipal highlights: "Municipal Financial Relief Program funding to residential property owners ($363,500)".
2026 Municipal Budget Book · Section 3, Finance and Information Technology, PDF page 104; 3. 2025 Municipal highlights, PDF page 6
Prince Edward County spent $7.1M on running the city office in 2019 and $11.8M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time.
Why did the cost of running the city office grow 66% in 5 years?
Running the city office
Prices (inflation)
+0%+20%+40%+60%+80%
+66%
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Running the city office
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
+34%
+1%
2021
+0%
+4%
2022
+16%
+11%
2023
+25%
+16%
2024
+66%
+18%
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 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 $4.7M a year pay for?
Why did senior management go from $2.1M to $4.4M?
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 Prince Edward County?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Running the city office: 2019 $7.1M, 2020 $9.6M, 2021 $7.2M, 2022 $8.3M, 2023 $8.9M, 2024 $11.8M.
Prince Edward County spent $5.8M on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $8.7M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time.
Why did the cost of parks, arena and library grow 52% in 5 years?
Parks, arena and library
Prices (inflation)
−20%+0%+20%+40%+60%
+52%
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Parks, arena and library
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
−8%
+1%
2021
+1%
+4%
2022
+18%
+11%
2023
+38%
+16%
2024
+52%
+18%
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 $3.0M a year pay for?
Why did arena and buildings go from $2.3M to $3.7M?
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 Prince Edward County?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Prince Edward County spent $10.1M on roads and snow in 2019 and $16.4M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time.
Why did the cost of roads and snow grow 62% in 5 years?
Roads and snow
Prices (inflation)
−20%+0%+20%+40%+60%+80%
+62%
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Roads and snow
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
−10%
+1%
2021
+1%
+4%
2022
+20%
+11%
2023
+21%
+16%
2024
+62%
+18%
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 $6.3M a year pay for?
Why did paved roads go from $3.2M to $11M?
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 Prince Edward County?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
At the end of 2024, Prince Edward County owed $40.7M on temporary loans. That is like putting 43% of a year's income on a line of credit. This is short-term borrowing for building projects, which is normal while waiting for a grant or a long-term loan. But it was already $29.9M a year earlier, so it has lasted more than a year. Only 0 of 2 similar places had any temporary loans at the end of 2024.
What is the $40.7M short-term loan for, and when will it be paid off?
$0$10M$20M$30M$40M$50M
$40.7M
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Temporary loans
2019
$0
2020
$0
2021
$11.5M
2022
$13.2M
2023
$29.9M
2024
$40.7M
Why it matters
Short-term loans usually cost more interest and can be called in. If they roll over year after year, the city is really carrying debt that does not show up as long-term debt.
It could be because…
The city is waiting for a promised grant to arrive for a finished project.
A long-term loan (debenture) for the project has been approved but not yet issued.
Questions you could ask
Which project is the loan for, and what is the interest rate?
When will it be repaid or turned into a long-term loan, and where does that money come from?
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 Prince Edward County?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
$527,202budgeted for 2026, against $94,000 in the 2025 budget
The County's 2026 operating budget shows the Human Resources department's "Professional & Contracted Services" line at $527,202 for 2026, against a 2025 budget of $94,000. By the end of October 2025 the department had already spent $179,932 on that line, nearly twice its budget. The department's total budget rises from $986,267 to $1,513,402 (53%). The budget book says "unanticipated legal settlements drove up the expenditures in Human Resources", which explains the 2025 overspending. We did not find an explanation of why the 2026 figure is more than five times the 2025 budget. A Non-Union Compensation By-law review has been added to the CAO's Office for 2026.
Why it matters
Residents pay for settlements and for outside advisers through taxes. A line that grows more than fivefold deserves a plain explanation of what the money is for, even if the reason is ordinary, such as planned reviews.
It could be because…
The budget may set aside money for legal costs after the 2025 settlements, or for a planned compensation review or job evaluation work that the County lists elsewhere in the book.
Part of the increase is a transfer from reserves of $50,000 shown on the same page, so it may not all fall on taxpayers.
A single one-time item (a consultant or a legal matter) can make a small line look very large.
Questions you could ask
What is the $527,202 for in 2026: legal costs, a compensation review, or something else?
How much did the County pay in legal settlements in 2025, and was that covered by insurance or reserves?
Why was the 2025 budget of $94,000 so far from what was spent?
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 Prince Edward County?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Corporate and Legislative Services, Variances: "Unanticipated legal settlements drove up the expenditures in Human Resources". The same page notes "In 2026, the municipality will be going into an election year".
46 pagesin the 2025 audited statements (by our count of the PDF file), posted as images with no readable text
The County's finance page links "2025 Consolidated Financial Statements", its procurement page links "Procurement By-law 107-2026", and its strong mayor page links the Mayoral Decisions on the 2026 budget. When we opened these PDFs, each page was a single image, and our text extraction returned no text at all (for the Mayoral Decisions, one page each). That means a screen reader may not read them, and residents cannot search them. The County's 2024 statements, its budget book and its budgets are ordinary searchable PDFs. We did not read the 2025 statements and have used no figure from them, so the most recent audited year is missing from this pack.
Why it matters
The audited statements and the by-law that governs how the County spends money are among its most important public documents. Documents that cannot be searched, or read aloud by a screen reader, are harder for residents to check.
It could be because…
The signed copy may be scanned to show signatures, with a searchable version available on request.
The County may be planning to replace them with accessible versions.
This may be a file-preparation step that was missed on a busy day, not a choice.
Questions you could ask
Can the County post searchable versions of the 2025 audited statements, Procurement By-law 107-2026 and the Mayor's budget decisions?
Is a searchable copy of each of these documents available to anyone who asks?
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 Prince Edward County?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The County's Finance page lists "2025 Consolidated Financial Statements", "2024 Consolidated Financial Statements" and each earlier year back to 2015, each as a link to a PDF.
The Strong Mayor Powers and Duties page lists "Mayoral Decision 2025-12" and "Mayoral Decision 2026-01", each as a link to a PDF; the files are named "Mayoral-Decision-2025-12-2026-Budget.pdf" and "2026-01-January-13-2026-Budget.pdf".
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