Questions · 12 so far
We read Shelburne's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 46 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
+77%running the town office, 2019 to 2025
Shelburne spent $1.4M on running the town office in 2019 and $2.6M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 3 of 46 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
+70%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2025
Shelburne spent $1.4M on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $2.4M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 4 of 46 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
+88%roads and snow, 2019 to 2025
Shelburne spent $1.5M on roads and snow in 2019 and $2.8M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 3 of 46 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
$3,930,686capital spending in 2025, against a budget of $8,186,210
Capital spending is money spent on things that last, such as roads, parks and buildings. The Town's budget book shows a capital budget of $8,451,377 for 2024 and $8,186,210 for 2025. The book's year-end columns show $3,697,821 and $3,930,686 spent. The 2026 budget asks for $8,444,758 again. Some of the gap is large single projects that did not start: the Fiddle Park project, the roads workshop, and parks work. In the 2024 audited statements the same pattern shows up: the budget for buying tangible capital assets (things like roads and buildings the Town owns) was $10,567,990 and the actual was $5,161,349. The Town explains part of it: the parks pages say several projects were "moved from 2025" or carried forward, and that the Town will not collect development charges from new development until the wastewater plant expansion is done.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$1,200,000budgeted for the workshop expansion, against $443,000 in the Town's own development charge study estimate
The 2026 capital budget has $1,733,500 for the roads workshop, in three main pieces. Beside each, the Town prints what its development charge (DC) study estimated. A development charge is a fee on new homes and businesses that pays for growth. The workshop expansion is budgeted at $1,200,000 against a study estimate of $443,000. Cold storage is $400,000 against $120,000. The generator is $126,000 against $70,000. The workshop was also in the 2024 budget at $1,415,000 and the 2025 budget at $1,722,500, and the book's year-end columns show $21,516 and $30,421 spent.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$2,401,687speed camera revenue in 2025, against a budget of $100,000
The 2025 budget expected $100,000 from automated speed enforcement (speed cameras). The 2026 budget book's year-end column shows $2,401,687 received in 2025, and $2,380,649 moved into reserves (savings accounts for later use). The Town also shows $319,829 from a provincial road safety fund, moved to its own reserve. For 2026 the budget counts no speed camera revenue. The Town says the proceeds are "to support local public safety (traffic calming) and educational initiatives". The 2026 road budget takes $100,000 from this reserve.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$1,616,204OPP contract in the 2025 budget, down from $3,174,658 in 2024
Shelburne is served by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). The budget book shows the "OPP contract policing agreement" at $3,174,658 in 2024, $1,616,204 in the 2025 budget and $1,648,669 in 2026. It also shows credits for prior years: "OPP prior year reconciliation" of $(666,072) budgeted and $(788,887) in the 2025 year-end column. At the same time the Town moves money to "TSF TO RESERVE FOR FUTURE": $1,882,834 budgeted for 2025 ($2,167,270 in the year-end column) and $1,508,144 in 2026. The 2026 budget also takes $284,436 from a reserve "set up in 2025 for additional savings" to help pay for police. We did not find a printed explanation of the drop or of what the reserve is for, in the 2025 or 2026 budget books.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$14,259,041development charges held at the end of 2024, after the Town recognized $1,677,897 against a budget of $5,602,474
Development charges are fees the Town collects from builders to pay for the roads, water, sewer and parks that growth needs. The 2024 audited statements show the Town's development charge balance at the end of 2024 at $14,259,041, down from $17,580,771 a year before. The Town recognized $1,677,897 as revenue in 2024, against a budget of $5,602,474. The Town's budget book says for the parks projects planned for 2027 and 2028 that "There are not enough DC Reserves available", and that it will not collect development charges from new development "Until the Waste Pollution Control Plant expansion is complete". The Town's development charge page lists yearly summaries only up to 2023.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$1,295,000new long-term loan in the 2026 budget, for a $4,000,000 project
The 2026 budget has a $4,000,000 project to rebuild Pinegrove with urban-style roads, paid by two provincial and federal grants and "LTD - 10 Years @ 3.65%", a new long-term loan of $1,295,000. At the end of 2024 the Town's audited statements showed cash of $30,662,172, of which $15,168,810 is described as restricted (held for particular purposes) and $15,493,362 as unrestricted. The Town's long-term debt was $7,057,096. The Town does not say in the budget why it borrows for this project.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$835,600planned draw on the tax stabilization reserve in 2026, against $300,000 budgeted in 2025 and nothing taken
The 2026 budget raises the Town's tax rate by 5.0%. The Town's own table shows its part of the tax bill on an average single home rising from $2,918.81 to $3,064.75, or $12.16 a month. The administration budget adds a new "special capital levy 2%" transfer of $229,475 into reserves. At the same time the general revenue budget plans to take $835,600 from the "tax stabilization reserve", a savings account used to soften tax increases. That is more than the $300,000 budgeted in 2024 and 2025, when the year-end column shows $0 was taken. The budget also sends the 2025 surplus of $476,138 into the same reserve, and its forecast for 2027 expects the tax levy to rise again by about 5% (worked out by us from the printed totals of $11,636,132 and $12,212,226).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$2.3Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2025
At the end of 2025, $2.3M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 12% of everything billed. Only 7 of 46 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $2.0M.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
$44,984net cost to be raised for Fiddle Park in 2026, after $261,953 of revenue, on $306,937 of spending
Fiddle Park's operating budget goes from $17,000 in 2025 to $306,937 in 2026. Almost all of the change is two new lines: a "Community Harvest Initiative" of $249,937 and a "Commissary Kitchen" of $12,000. The Town says they are "Offset by Grant, Reserves, and other donations". A "Local Food Infrastructure Fund" line shows $187,453. The net cost to be raised from taxes is $44,984, up from $17,000. The Town's explanation is in the budget; this note is to point it out, not to question it.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
+77%running the town office, 2019 to 2025
Shelburne spent $1.4M on running the town office in 2019 and $2.6M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 3 of 46 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Running the town office | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | −11% | +1% |
| 2021 | +24% | +4% |
| 2022 | +37% | +11% |
| 2023 | +55% | +16% |
| 2024 | +71% | +18% |
| 2025 | +77% | +21% |
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
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.
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 Shelburne? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Running the town office: 2019 $1.4M, 2020 $1.3M, 2021 $1.8M, 2022 $2.0M, 2023 $2.2M, 2024 $2.5M, 2025 $2.6M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Senior management, from $1.2M to $1.9M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 45%. Shelburne ranks 4th of 47.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 46 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
+70%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2025
Shelburne spent $1.4M on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $2.4M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 4 of 46 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Parks, arena and library | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | −21% | +1% |
| 2021 | −2% | +4% |
| 2022 | +13% | +11% |
| 2023 | +34% | +16% |
| 2024 | +56% | +18% |
| 2025 | +70% | +21% |
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
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.
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 Shelburne? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Parks, arena and library: 2019 $1.4M, 2020 $1.1M, 2021 $1.4M, 2022 $1.6M, 2023 $1.9M, 2024 $2.2M, 2025 $2.4M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Parks, from $158K to $690K.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 60%. Shelburne ranks 5th of 47.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 46 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
+88%roads and snow, 2019 to 2025
Shelburne spent $1.5M on roads and snow in 2019 and $2.8M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 3 of 46 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Roads and snow | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +6% | +1% |
| 2021 | +9% | +4% |
| 2022 | +31% | +11% |
| 2023 | +42% | +16% |
| 2024 | +53% | +18% |
| 2025 | +88% | +21% |
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
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.
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 Shelburne? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Roads and snow: 2019 $1.5M, 2020 $1.6M, 2021 $1.6M, 2022 $1.9M, 2023 $2.1M, 2024 $2.3M, 2025 $2.8M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Paved roads, from $877K to $1.9M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 43%. Shelburne ranks 4th of 47.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 46 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
$3,930,686capital spending in 2025, against a budget of $8,186,210
Capital spending is money spent on things that last, such as roads, parks and buildings. The Town's budget book shows a capital budget of $8,451,377 for 2024 and $8,186,210 for 2025. The book's year-end columns show $3,697,821 and $3,930,686 spent. The 2026 budget asks for $8,444,758 again. Some of the gap is large single projects that did not start: the Fiddle Park project, the roads workshop, and parks work. In the 2024 audited statements the same pattern shows up: the budget for buying tangible capital assets (things like roads and buildings the Town owns) was $10,567,990 and the actual was $5,161,349. The Town explains part of it: the parks pages say several projects were "moved from 2025" or carried forward, and that the Town will not collect development charges from new development until the wastewater plant expansion is done.
Residents pay tax and fees for projects in the budget. When projects slip year after year, the budget is a weaker promise, the cost of building goes up with inflation, and residents are paying for projects that are not yet built. It also bears on how much the Town borrows.
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 Shelburne? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Capital expenditure summary, "TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES": 2024 final budget 8,451,377, actual 3,697,821; 2025 final budget 8,186,210, actual 3,930,686; 2026 adopted budget 8,444,758. "FIDDLE PARK CAPITAL PROJECTS": 2024 final budget 1,606,867, actual 160,626; 2025 final budget 3,690,089, actual 2,003,463. "ROADS WORKSHOP CAPITAL": 2024 final budget 1,415,000, actual 21,516; 2025 final budget 1,722,500, actual 30,421; 2026 adopted 1,733,500.
Town of Shelburne, 2026 Adopted Budget, capital expenditure summary · PDF page 49 (printed "Page 1 of 21" of the capital budget)
Statement of changes in net financial assets, 2024: "Acquisition of tangible capital assets" budget (10,567,990), actual (5,161,349); 2023 actual (5,565,952).
Town of Shelburne, Consolidated Financial Statements 2024 · PDF page 7 (printed page 7)
Town's note under the parks capital plan: "Until the Waste Pollution Control Plant expansion is complete, DC's from new development will not be collected to pay for these proposed projects". The same pages say "There are not enough DC Reserves available to fund all of the 2027-2028 Projects" and list projects "moved from 2025" and "carry forward from 2024".
Town of Shelburne, 2026 Adopted Budget, parks capital projects · PDF pages 66 and 67 (printed pages 18 and 19 of 21 of the capital budget)
$1,200,000budgeted for the workshop expansion, against $443,000 in the Town's own development charge study estimate
The 2026 capital budget has $1,733,500 for the roads workshop, in three main pieces. Beside each, the Town prints what its development charge (DC) study estimated. A development charge is a fee on new homes and businesses that pays for growth. The workshop expansion is budgeted at $1,200,000 against a study estimate of $443,000. Cold storage is $400,000 against $120,000. The generator is $126,000 against $70,000. The workshop was also in the 2024 budget at $1,415,000 and the 2025 budget at $1,722,500, and the book's year-end columns show $21,516 and $30,421 spent.
Development charges may only pay for the share of a project that growth causes. If a project costs much more than the study assumed, the rest falls on reserves or taxes. A project that sits in three budgets with almost nothing built is also worth a plain explanation.
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 Shelburne? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
2026 road workshop capital project: "Workshop Expansion (2-3 Bays) 1,200,000 (DC study estimated $443,000; DC eligible costs $258,000)"; "Cold Storage 400,000 (DC study estimated $120,000; DC eligible costs $120,000)"; "Generator (Luxton Way) 126,000 (DC study estimated $70,000; DC eligible costs $70,000)"; total 1,733,500. Expenditure 2024 final budget 1,415,000, actual 21,516; 2025 final budget 1,722,500, actual 30,421.
Town of Shelburne, 2026 Adopted Budget, road workshop capital project · PDF page 59 (printed page 11 of 21 of the capital budget)
$2,401,687speed camera revenue in 2025, against a budget of $100,000
The 2025 budget expected $100,000 from automated speed enforcement (speed cameras). The 2026 budget book's year-end column shows $2,401,687 received in 2025, and $2,380,649 moved into reserves (savings accounts for later use). The Town also shows $319,829 from a provincial road safety fund, moved to its own reserve. For 2026 the budget counts no speed camera revenue. The Town says the proceeds are "to support local public safety (traffic calming) and educational initiatives". The 2026 road budget takes $100,000 from this reserve.
This is money collected from drivers. The Town says it is for public safety, but residents cannot see from the budget how large the reserve now is, what it has been or will be spent on, or whether it is held back for something else.
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 Shelburne? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Police revenues: "ASE - AUTOMATED SPEED ENFORCEMT" 2024 0; 2025 final budget 100,000, actual 2,401,687; 2026 adopted budget 0. "ASE - MTO RSIF ROAD SAFETY INIT." 2025 actual 319,829. Note: "Town's portion of Revenue from Speed Enforcement to Sept 30. Proceeds to support local public safety (traffic calming) and educational initiatives".
Town of Shelburne, 2026 Adopted Budget, police revenues · PDF page 27 (printed page 26 of 47 of the operating budget)
Police administration expenditures: "ASE - AUTOMATED SPEED ENFORCEMT" 2025 final budget 74,000, actual 21,038. "ASE TSF TO RESERVES" 2025 final budget 26,000, actual 2,380,649. "TSF TO RSIF RESERVE" 2025 actual 319,829. Note: "ASE Transfer to Reserves, offset by pulling from same reserve under Operations for Traffic Calming initiatves".
Town of Shelburne, 2026 Adopted Budget, police administration · PDF page 29 (printed page 28 of 47 of the operating budget)
Works road administration revenues: "TSF FROM ASE NET RESERVE" 2025 final budget 26,000, actual 70,176; 2026 adopted budget 100,000.
Town of Shelburne, 2026 Adopted Budget, road administration revenues · PDF page 33 (printed page 32 of 47 of the operating budget)
$1,616,204OPP contract in the 2025 budget, down from $3,174,658 in 2024
Shelburne is served by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). The budget book shows the "OPP contract policing agreement" at $3,174,658 in 2024, $1,616,204 in the 2025 budget and $1,648,669 in 2026. It also shows credits for prior years: "OPP prior year reconciliation" of $(666,072) budgeted and $(788,887) in the 2025 year-end column. At the same time the Town moves money to "TSF TO RESERVE FOR FUTURE": $1,882,834 budgeted for 2025 ($2,167,270 in the year-end column) and $1,508,144 in 2026. The 2026 budget also takes $284,436 from a reserve "set up in 2025 for additional savings" to help pay for police. We did not find a printed explanation of the drop or of what the reserve is for, in the 2025 or 2026 budget books.
Police is one of the largest lines in a small town's budget. If the bill fell by about half but the tax rate did not, residents should be told where the difference is going and for what purpose it is being saved.
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 Shelburne? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Police administration and OPP contract: "OPP CONTRACT POLICING AGR." 2024 final budget 3,174,658; 2025 final budget 1,616,204, actual 1,454,587; 2026 adopted 1,648,669. "OPP PRIOR YEAR RECONCILIATION" 2025 final budget (666,072), actual (788,887); 2026 adopted (500,000). "TSF TO RESERVE FOR FUTURE" 2025 final budget 1,882,834, actual 2,167,270; 2026 adopted 1,508,144. "NET FUNDS TO BE RAISED" 2024 final budget 3,240,081; 2025 final budget 2,903,444; 2026 adopted 2,448,387.
Town of Shelburne, 2026 Adopted Budget, police administration and OPP contract · PDF page 29 (printed page 28 of 47 of the operating budget)
Police revenues: "5428 TSF FROM RESERVES" 2026 adopted 284,436. Note: "Tsf from Reserve set up in 2025 for additional savings $284,436".
Town of Shelburne, 2026 Adopted Budget, police revenues · PDF page 27 (printed page 26 of 47 of the operating budget)
$14,259,041development charges held at the end of 2024, after the Town recognized $1,677,897 against a budget of $5,602,474
Development charges are fees the Town collects from builders to pay for the roads, water, sewer and parks that growth needs. The 2024 audited statements show the Town's development charge balance at the end of 2024 at $14,259,041, down from $17,580,771 a year before. The Town recognized $1,677,897 as revenue in 2024, against a budget of $5,602,474. The Town's budget book says for the parks projects planned for 2027 and 2028 that "There are not enough DC Reserves available", and that it will not collect development charges from new development "Until the Waste Pollution Control Plant expansion is complete". The Town's development charge page lists yearly summaries only up to 2023.
Development charges must be spent on the growth projects they were collected for. A large balance is not a surplus, but residents are entitled to see where it is, what it is promised to, and why spending runs behind the 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 Shelburne? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 20, deferred revenue, obligatory reserve funds, "Development charges": opening $17,580,771; contributions received $495,041; investment income $768,206; credits issued $(2,907,080); revenue recognized $(1,677,897); ending $14,259,041.
Town of Shelburne, Consolidated Financial Statements 2024, note 20 · PDF page 21 (printed page 21), note 20
Note 10, other income, "Development charges": 2024 budget 5,602,474, 2024 actual 1,677,897, 2023 actual 2,031,475.
Town of Shelburne, Consolidated Financial Statements 2024, note 10 · PDF page 15 (printed page 15), note 10
Parks capital projects note: "There are not enough DC Reserves available to fund all of the 2027/2028 Projects" and "Until the Waste Pollution Control Plant expansion is complete, DC's from new development will not be collected to pay for these proposed projects".
Town of Shelburne, 2026 Adopted Budget, parks capital projects · PDF page 67 (printed page 19 of 21 of the capital budget)
$1,295,000new long-term loan in the 2026 budget, for a $4,000,000 project
The 2026 budget has a $4,000,000 project to rebuild Pinegrove with urban-style roads, paid by two provincial and federal grants and "LTD - 10 Years @ 3.65%", a new long-term loan of $1,295,000. At the end of 2024 the Town's audited statements showed cash of $30,662,172, of which $15,168,810 is described as restricted (held for particular purposes) and $15,493,362 as unrestricted. The Town's long-term debt was $7,057,096. The Town does not say in the budget why it borrows for this project.
Debt is paid back with interest from the tax and water and sewer rates of future years. When a town holds large cash balances, residents may ask why borrowing is also needed. There are often good reasons, but the budget does not print them.
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 Shelburne? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Infrastructure capital project revenue, 2026 adopted: "OCIF FORMULA BASED GRANT" 1,605,848; "AMO GAS TAX" 1,219,008; "NEW LONG TERM LOAN" 1,295,000; total 4,196,485. Note: AMO Gas Tax "1,099,152 for Pinegrove Urbanization". Expenditure: "CAPITAL EXPENDITURE" 4,000,000.
Town of Shelburne, 2026 Adopted Budget, infrastructure capital project · PDF page 57 (printed page 9 of 21 of the capital budget)
"2026 Pinegrove Urbanization 4,000,000 Funded through OCIF, Gas Tax, LTD - 10 Years @ 3.65%".
Town of Shelburne, 2026 Adopted Budget, infrastructure capital project (continued) · PDF page 58 (printed page 10 of 21 of the capital budget)
Statement of cash flows, December 31, 2024: "NET CASH, END OF YEAR" $30,662,172; "Unrestricted cash" $15,493,362; "Restricted cash" 15,168,810.
Town of Shelburne, Consolidated Financial Statements 2024 · PDF page 8 (printed page 8)
Statement of financial position, December 31, 2024: "Long-term debt (note 5)" 7,057,096 (2023: 7,793,847).
Town of Shelburne, Consolidated Financial Statements 2024 · PDF page 5 (printed page 5)
$835,600planned draw on the tax stabilization reserve in 2026, against $300,000 budgeted in 2025 and nothing taken
The 2026 budget raises the Town's tax rate by 5.0%. The Town's own table shows its part of the tax bill on an average single home rising from $2,918.81 to $3,064.75, or $12.16 a month. The administration budget adds a new "special capital levy 2%" transfer of $229,475 into reserves. At the same time the general revenue budget plans to take $835,600 from the "tax stabilization reserve", a savings account used to soften tax increases. That is more than the $300,000 budgeted in 2024 and 2025, when the year-end column shows $0 was taken. The budget also sends the 2025 surplus of $476,138 into the same reserve, and its forecast for 2027 expects the tax levy to rise again by about 5% (worked out by us from the printed totals of $11,636,132 and $12,212,226).
Taxes, reserves and levies all move together. Residents can ask whether the reserve draw is a one-time bridge, and what happens to the tax rate when it is used up.
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 Shelburne? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Taxation: "INCREASE IN TAX RATE OF 5%"; "Town Portion of Taxes - NO PHASE IN ASSESSMENT INCREASE" $2,918.81 (2025) and $3,064.75 (2026) on an average single home assessed at 335,366; "Tax Rate Increase" 5.0%; monthly increase $12.16; annual increase $145.94; "1% levy increase" $114,737.47.
Town of Shelburne, 2026 Adopted Budget, general government taxation · PDF page 5 (printed page 4 of 47 of the operating budget)
General revenues: "TSF FROM TAX STAB. RESERVE" 2024 final budget 300,000, actual 0; 2025 final budget 300,000, actual 0; 2026 adopted 835,600.
Town of Shelburne, 2026 Adopted Budget, general government revenues · PDF page 6 (printed page 5 of 47 of the operating budget)
Administration expenditures: "new TSF TO SPECIAL CAPITAL LEVY 2%" 2026 adopted 229,475 (2027 estimate 234,064). Note: "Recommended Distribution of 2025 Surplus 476,138", all to "Tax Stabilization Reserve".
Town of Shelburne, 2026 Adopted Budget, administration · PDF pages 9 and 10 (printed pages 8 and 9 of 47 of the operating budget)
$2.3Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2025
At the end of 2025, $2.3M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 12% of everything billed. Only 7 of 46 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $2.0M.
| Year | Unpaid property tax at year end |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $622K |
| 2020 | $1.0M |
| 2021 | $705K |
| 2022 | $1.1M |
| 2023 | $1.6M |
| 2024 | $2.0M |
| 2025 | $2.3M |
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. How to reach council.
Speak for Shelburne? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Taxes receivable: 2019 $622K, 2020 $1.0M, 2021 $705K, 2022 $1.1M, 2023 $1.6M, 2024 $2.0M, 2025 $2.3M. Of the 2025 total, $393K was from earlier years.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 70, lines 0610 to 0699 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: 7.4% of taxes billed.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 46 similar municipalities · Schedules 26 and 70 · archived copy
$44,984net cost to be raised for Fiddle Park in 2026, after $261,953 of revenue, on $306,937 of spending
Fiddle Park's operating budget goes from $17,000 in 2025 to $306,937 in 2026. Almost all of the change is two new lines: a "Community Harvest Initiative" of $249,937 and a "Commissary Kitchen" of $12,000. The Town says they are "Offset by Grant, Reserves, and other donations". A "Local Food Infrastructure Fund" line shows $187,453. The net cost to be raised from taxes is $44,984, up from $17,000. The Town's explanation is in the budget; this note is to point it out, not to question it.
A jump to about eighteen times the old amount (worked out by us) can look alarming, and much of it is offset by grant money. It is also a good example of why residents should be able to see what a new program is, who runs it, and what happens when the grant ends.
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.
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Fiddle Park operating: revenue "LOCAL FOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FUND" 2026 adopted 187,453; "FIDDLE PARK REVENUE" 2025 final budget 0, 2026 adopted 261,953. Expenditures "NEW COMMUNITY HARVEST INITIATIVE" 2026 adopted 249,937; "NEW COMMISSARY KITCHEN EXPENSES" 12,000; "FIDDLE PARK EXPENDITURES" 2025 final budget 17,000, 2026 adopted 306,937 (2027 estimate 28,300); "NET FUNDS TO BE RAISED" 2026 (44,984). Note: "Offset by Grant, Reserves, and other donations".
Town of Shelburne, 2026 Adopted Budget, Fiddle Park operating · PDF page 47 (printed page 46 of 47 of the operating budget)