Questions · 14 so far
We read The Blue Mountains' financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 47 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
+198%running the town office, 2019 to 2025
The Blue Mountains spent $4.0M on running the town office in 2019 and $11.8M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 0 of 47 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$220per home on council, 2025
The Blue Mountains spent about $220 per home on council in 2025. The typical similar town spent $50. Only 2 of 47 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
$82.4 million to about $6.7 millionprojected reserves and reserve funds, 2021 to the end of 2026, in the Town's 2026 budget book
Reserves are savings that council sets aside for future needs, such as replacing roads and pipes. The Town's own 2026 budget book says its reserves and reserve funds are projected to fall from $82.4 million in 2021 to about $6.7 million by the end of 2026. The audited statements show the reserves total dropped in 2025, and the budget book's table shows far more money planned to go out of reserves in 2026 than the Town expects to hold. The Town has explained why and has added a $345,000 yearly transfer, which it calls a step in the right direction.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 6 sources
$29,849,250recorded cost of closing the landfill and removing asbestos, at December 31, 2025
Under accounting rules the Town must record what it will cost to close its landfill, care for it afterwards and remove asbestos from some buildings and pipes. That total is $29,849,250. The Town's accumulated surplus note lists the same kind of amount as 'unfunded', meaning no money has been set aside for it. We did not find this obligation mentioned in the 2026 budget book.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
150%increase in waste management costs over 2023, per the Town's 2026 budget book
The Town's budget book says waste management costs have risen 150% over 2023 and are rising again. Council took out a proposed $4 fee on each bag of garbage that would have raised about $750K, so the cost stays on the property tax levy. The Town says collecting commercial blue box recycling costs almost $3,500 per tonne.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$380K to just over $1 millionthe salary vacancy factor in the 2026 budget
A 'salary vacancy factor' is an amount taken off the pay budget because some jobs are usually empty. Council raised it from $380K to just over $1 million. That cut the levy but only works if positions stay unfilled. The Town's own forecast says the 2027 tax increase would be 5.50%, driven mainly by lowering this factor again. Salaries and benefits grew from 19,376,318 in 2024 to 21,251,439 in 2025 (about 9.7%, worked out by us).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$645,000of the Town's accommodation tax share set aside for 2026 projects, against an estimated $2.8M generated in 2025
The Town began a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax on short stays of less than 30 days on January 6, 2025. The Town estimated it would generate $2.8M in 2025 and splits it with the local destination marketing group. For 2026 council set aside $645,000 of the Town's share for named projects, including $175,000 to run transit so that it no longer falls on the property tax levy.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
+8%town property tax, 2024 to 2025
In 2025, The Blue Mountains collected $1.9M more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 8% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. Only 8 of 47 similar towns raised theirs by more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$27.4Min savings at the end of 2025
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. The Blue Mountains had $27.4M saved at the end of 2025, down from $47.8M in 2019. That is 66% of one year's spending. Only 8 of 47 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
$50,753,745annual surplus in 2025, while cash fell from $24,343,518 to $22,174,329
The audited statements show an annual surplus of $50,753,745 for 2025. Most of it is not cash the Town can spend. Almost all of it is two things that are not spendable cash: assets such as roads and pipes handed over to the Town ($26,310,664), and restricted money such as development charges counted as revenue ($23,178,341). Together, worked out by us, that is $49,489,005, close to the whole surplus. Cash in the bank went down over the year.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
September 16, 2026date of the auditor's report on the 2025 statements (2024: June 30, 2025)
The auditor, KPMG LLP, gave a clean opinion on the Town's 2025 statements, saying they 'present fairly, in all material respects' the Town's position. The auditor's report is dated September 16, 2026. The 2024 report was dated June 30, 2025, about two and a half months earlier in the calendar year. We did not find the Town's explanation on the pages we read.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
26%increase in council's budgeted expenses, 2025 to 2026, as printed in the budget book
The 2026 approved budget for Council as a whole is $687,642 in expenses, up from $546,502 in 2025. The Town's budget book shows large jumps in communications and in personnel and training. Council added $20,000 in extra training, paid from the Council Reserve.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
−$8.0Mnet financial position, 2025
In 2019, The Blue Mountains had $33.9M more in cash and money owed to it than it owed to others. By 2025 it was −$8.0M. About 71% of that change ($29.8M) is a new accounting rule from 2023: towns must now record the future cost of closing things like a landfill. That is not new spending or borrowing. Even leaving that out, only 25 of 47 similar towns are in a weaker position.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$385per home on garbage, dump and recycling, 2025
The Blue Mountains spent about $385 per home on garbage, dump and recycling in 2025. The typical similar town spent $159. Only 1 of 47 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
+198%running the town office, 2019 to 2025
The Blue Mountains spent $4.0M on running the town office in 2019 and $11.8M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 0 of 47 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Running the town office | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +20% | +1% |
| 2021 | +12% | +4% |
| 2022 | +66% | +11% |
| 2023 | +69% | +16% |
| 2024 | +139% | +18% |
| 2025 | +198% | +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 The Blue Mountains? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Running the town office: 2019 $4.0M, 2020 $4.8M, 2021 $4.4M, 2022 $6.6M, 2023 $6.7M, 2024 $9.5M, 2025 $11.8M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Senior management, from $2.8M to $7.2M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 45%. The Blue Mountains ranks 1st of 48.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 47 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
$220per home on council, 2025
The Blue Mountains spent about $220 per home on council in 2025. The typical similar town spent $50. Only 2 of 47 similar towns spent more.
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.
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 The Blue Mountains? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Council per home: The Blue Mountains $220; typical similar town $50; ranked 3rd highest of 48.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 47 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy
$82.4 million to about $6.7 millionprojected reserves and reserve funds, 2021 to the end of 2026, in the Town's 2026 budget book
Reserves are savings that council sets aside for future needs, such as replacing roads and pipes. The Town's own 2026 budget book says its reserves and reserve funds are projected to fall from $82.4 million in 2021 to about $6.7 million by the end of 2026. The audited statements show the reserves total dropped in 2025, and the budget book's table shows far more money planned to go out of reserves in 2026 than the Town expects to hold. The Town has explained why and has added a $345,000 yearly transfer, which it calls a step in the right direction.
Reserves are what pay for big repairs without borrowing or raising taxes in a hurry. When they run low, the choices left are higher taxes, higher user rates, more debt or fewer services. The Town itself says its debt limit would allow up to nearly $110 million of borrowing, so debt may be how the gap gets filled.
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 The Blue Mountains? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The Town's budget book says: “Reserves and reserve funds remain under significant pressure. Balances are projected to decline from $82.4 million in 2021 to approximately $6.7 million by the end of 2026.” It adds that the Asset Management Reserve “is projected at only $1.8 million”, and that the Town’s Annual Repayment Limit “allows up to nearly $110 million in debt capacity”.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2026 Approved Budget · Financial Overview, Reserves and Financial Outlook, PDF page 8 (printed page 8)
The budget's reserves table shows a total projected 2025 ending balance of $57,414,533 and a total of $(67,269,647) projected to go out in 2026. (In the PDF text the row labels sit apart from the figures, so we used only the Total row, the one with dollar signs, and checked that the five rows above it add up to those totals.)
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2026 Approved Budget · Reserves and Reserve Funds, summary table of contributions and draws, PDF page 168 (printed page 168), Total row
The Town's explanation: staff are “recommending an additional $345,000 transfer to the Asset Management Reserve”, and the approved 2026 municipal levy is shown as (24,609,613), a 4.34% increase. The Town calls the transfer “an important step in the right direction” and says the updated Asset Management Plan will give the full picture.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2026 Approved Budget · Executive Summary, PDF page 8 (the $345,000 transfer and the quotes) and the levy walk from Draft 2 to Approved Budget, PDF page 18 (the 2026 approved municipal levy)
The audited statements list “Reserves and Reserve Funds” of 27,386,162 at the end of 2025 and 44,072,030 at the end of 2024.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2025 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements · Note 10, Accumulated surplus, PDF page 19 (printed page 17)
The budget reconciliation in the audited statements shows “Net transfers from (to) reserves” of 25,721,490 in the 2025 budget, 16,685,868 in 2025 actual and 674,201 in 2024 actual.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2025 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements · Note 11, Budgets, PDF page 20 (printed page 18)
The Town reports contractual commitments: “The anticipated future payments until the completion of these contracts amount to approximately $70,666,655.” It says funding will come from reserve funds, development charges, local improvement charges, government grants, long-term debt and taxation.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2025 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements · Note 16, Contractual commitments, PDF page 22 (printed page 20)
$29,849,250recorded cost of closing the landfill and removing asbestos, at December 31, 2025
Under accounting rules the Town must record what it will cost to close its landfill, care for it afterwards and remove asbestos from some buildings and pipes. That total is $29,849,250. The Town's accumulated surplus note lists the same kind of amount as 'unfunded', meaning no money has been set aside for it. We did not find this obligation mentioned in the 2026 budget book.
The landfill is the only one the Town runs, and it says about 25 years of space are left. The cost is a future bill that taxpayers and rate payers will pay when the site closes, so how it is saved for affects future budgets.
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 The Blue Mountains? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 8 says the Town “owns and operates one active landfill site” with “a remaining capacity of approximately 161,175 m3 and an estimated life expectancy of 25 years”. The table shows a closing balance of 29,849,250 on December 31, 2025, of which 29,030,284 is landfill closure.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2025 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements · Note 8, Asset retirement obligation, PDF page 16 (printed page 14)
Note 10 lists “Unfunded asset retirement obligation” of (29,451,553) in the accumulated surplus for both 2025 and 2024.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2025 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements · Note 10, Accumulated surplus, PDF page 19 (printed page 17)
150%increase in waste management costs over 2023, per the Town's 2026 budget book
The Town's budget book says waste management costs have risen 150% over 2023 and are rising again. Council took out a proposed $4 fee on each bag of garbage that would have raised about $750K, so the cost stays on the property tax levy. The Town says collecting commercial blue box recycling costs almost $3,500 per tonne.
Garbage collection is one of the Town's largest contracts. When it grows, it pushes up the tax bill every year unless residents pay a fee instead. The Town's forecast expects 5% more a 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 The Blue Mountains? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Key budget pressures include “Waste Management Escalation - 150% increase over 2023 (and an additional increase of $100,000 over 2025)”.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2026 Approved Budget · Executive Summary, Key Budget Pressures, PDF page 8 (printed page 8)
The Garbage Collection page says commercial blue box tonnage was 30 tonnes between January and June and “the per tonne cost is extremely high (almost $3,500 per tonne)”. It also says “Waste collection has increased in cost significantly.”
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2026 Approved Budget · Operations, Garbage Collection, Risks & Challenges, PDF page 126 (printed page 126)
The Garbage Collection operating table shows Operating and Administrative Expenses of 1,830,001 in 2024 actuals and 2,217,775 in the 2026 approved budget.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2026 Approved Budget · Operations, Garbage Collection, 2026 Approved Operating Budget table, PDF page 127 (printed page 127), row Operating and Administrative Expenses, first and sixth columns
The Town reports that “Council directed staff to remove the proposed new fee structure for garbage bag tags of $4 per bag for all garbage bags placed at the curb.” The levy walk shows “Removal of Proposed Garbage Collection Revenue – $750K”.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2026 Approved Budget · Executive Summary, levy walk from Draft 1 to Draft 2, PDF page 13 (printed page 13)
The four-year forecast assumes Garbage Collection costs rise 5.00% a year.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2026 Approved Budget · Executive Summary, Four-Year Operating Forecast, assumptions table, PDF page 28 (printed page 28)
$380K to just over $1 millionthe salary vacancy factor in the 2026 budget
A 'salary vacancy factor' is an amount taken off the pay budget because some jobs are usually empty. Council raised it from $380K to just over $1 million. That cut the levy but only works if positions stay unfilled. The Town's own forecast says the 2027 tax increase would be 5.50%, driven mainly by lowering this factor again. Salaries and benefits grew from 19,376,318 in 2024 to 21,251,439 in 2025 (about 9.7%, worked out by us).
If the Town fills its jobs, it must find the extra money. If it does not fill them, services may be thinner than the budget suggests. Either way, the saving is not permanent.
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 The Blue Mountains? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The Town reports that “Council directed staff to increase the salary vacancy factor from $380K in the proposed budget to just over $1 million to account for current and potential future staff vacancies.” The levy walk shows “Increase in Salary Vacancy Factor 619,778”.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2026 Approved Budget · Executive Summary, levy walk from Draft 1 to Draft 2, PDF page 13 (printed page 13)
The four-year forecast says it “indicates a tax rate increase in 2027 of 5.50% over the 2026 approved tax rate”, an increase of approximately $129 annually for a median assessed home of $530,000, “mainly driven by the reduction in the salary vacancy factor and the estimated increase in the Town’s large contracts (OPP, Garbage Collection)”.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2026 Approved Budget · Executive Summary, Four-Year Operating Forecast, PDF page 28 (printed page 28)
The segmented information note shows “Salaries and benefits” totalling 21,251,439 in 2025 and 19,376,318 in 2024.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2025 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements · Note 19, Segmented information, Total column: 2025 on PDF page 25 (printed page 23), 2024 on PDF page 26 (printed page 24)
$645,000of the Town's accommodation tax share set aside for 2026 projects, against an estimated $2.8M generated in 2025
The Town began a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax on short stays of less than 30 days on January 6, 2025. The Town estimated it would generate $2.8M in 2025 and splits it with the local destination marketing group. For 2026 council set aside $645,000 of the Town's share for named projects, including $175,000 to run transit so that it no longer falls on the property tax levy.
A new tax that is large relative to other revenue needs clear reporting on how much is collected and what it is spent on. Using it for existing services like transit also lowers the property tax levy, so residents benefit unevenly from tourism spending.
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 The Blue Mountains? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The budget says the tax “came into effect on January 6, 2025, at a rate of 4% on all short-term stays of less than 30 days” and lists items funded by it in 2026: Economic Development Action Plan (60,000), Comprehensive Parking Strategy (50,000), Destination Strategy (150,000), Transit Service (175,000) and Gateway Signage (210,000), for a TOTAL of (645,000).
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2026 Approved Budget · Executive Summary, Municipal Accommodation Tax, PDF page 19 (printed page 19)
The Strategic Initiatives page says the program is estimated to generate $2.8M in 2025, and that the Town's share is 50% of the total collected. Its operating table shows External Revenues of 2,919,012 in the 2025 forecast and 2,810,000 in the 2026 approved budget.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2026 Approved Budget · Strategic Initiatives, Municipal Accommodation Tax and 2026 Approved Operating Budget table, PDF page 52 (printed page 52), row External Revenues
The levy walk shows “Fund Transit with Municipal Accommodation Tax 175,000”, which lowers the levy increase by 0.76%.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2026 Approved Budget · Executive Summary, levy walk from Draft 1 to Draft 2, PDF page 13 (printed page 13)
+8%town property tax, 2024 to 2025
In 2025, The Blue Mountains collected $1.9M more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 8% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. Only 8 of 47 similar towns raised theirs by more.
| Year | Town property tax |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $17.4M |
| 2020 | $17.3M |
| 2021 | $18.1M |
| 2022 | $19.4M |
| 2023 | $20.7M |
| 2024 | $21.9M |
| 2025 | $23.8M |
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 $193 more each 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 The Blue Mountains? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Town property tax: $21,931,377 in 2024, $23,786,532 in 2025.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 10, line 9940 · archived copy
Typical increase among 47 similar Ontario towns: 7.2%. The Blue Mountains ranks 9th highest.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 47 similar municipalities · Schedule 10, line 9940 · archived copy
Prices (inflation) rose 2.1% over the same year.
$27.4Min savings at the end of 2025
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. The Blue Mountains had $27.4M saved at the end of 2025, down from $47.8M in 2019. That is 66% of one year's spending. Only 8 of 47 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
| Year | Savings (reserves) |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $47.8M |
| 2020 | $51.3M |
| 2021 | $49.9M |
| 2022 | $50.1M |
| 2023 | $44.7M |
| 2024 | $44.1M |
| 2025 | $27.4M |
With little saved, a broken bridge or a storm has to be paid for with a sudden tax increase or a loan. Low savings can also mean past budgets were balanced by spending savings instead of facing the real cost.
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 The Blue Mountains? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Savings (reserves and reserve funds): 2019 $47.8M, 2020 $51.3M, 2021 $49.9M, 2022 $50.1M, 2023 $44.7M, 2024 $44.1M, 2025 $27.4M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 70, line 6420 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: savings equal to 102% of a year's spending. The Blue Mountains: 66%.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 47 similar municipalities · Schedules 40 and 70 · archived copy
$50,753,745annual surplus in 2025, while cash fell from $24,343,518 to $22,174,329
The audited statements show an annual surplus of $50,753,745 for 2025. Most of it is not cash the Town can spend. Almost all of it is two things that are not spendable cash: assets such as roads and pipes handed over to the Town ($26,310,664), and restricted money such as development charges counted as revenue ($23,178,341). Together, worked out by us, that is $49,489,005, close to the whole surplus. Cash in the bank went down over the year.
A big surplus on paper can be mistaken for a budget with room in it. Assets that were given to the Town also come with future upkeep and replacement costs.
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 The Blue Mountains? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The Statement of Operations shows an annual surplus of 50,753,745 for 2025 (the budget was 63,608,478 and 2024 was 19,117,818) and obligatory reserve funds revenue of 23,178,341.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2025 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements · Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus, PDF page 7 (printed page 5)
Note 12, Other income, lists “Contributed tangible capital assets” of 26,310,664 for 2025 (2024: 8,685,612).
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2025 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements · Note 12, Other income, PDF page 21 (printed page 19)
The cash flow statement shows cash at the end of the year of $22,174,329, down from $24,343,518 at the start of the year.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2025 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements · Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, PDF page 9 (printed page 7)
The Statement of Financial Position shows net debt of (8,022,000) at the end of 2025 (2024: (7,064,666)), meaning financial assets are smaller than liabilities.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2025 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements · Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, PDF page 6 (printed page 4)
September 16, 2026date of the auditor's report on the 2025 statements (2024: June 30, 2025)
The auditor, KPMG LLP, gave a clean opinion on the Town's 2025 statements, saying they 'present fairly, in all material respects' the Town's position. The auditor's report is dated September 16, 2026. The 2024 report was dated June 30, 2025, about two and a half months earlier in the calendar year. We did not find the Town's explanation on the pages we read.
Residents and council use audited statements to judge the Town's finances. Late statements reach council and the public later, and the 2026 election is on October 26, 2026.
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 The Blue Mountains? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The auditor's report on the 2025 consolidated statements is dated September 16, 2026 and says the statements “present fairly, in all material respects” the Town's financial position.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2025 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements · Independent Auditor's Report, PDF pages 3 to 5
The auditor's report on the 2024 consolidated statements is dated June 30, 2025.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2024 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements · Independent Auditor's Report, PDF page 5
26%increase in council's budgeted expenses, 2025 to 2026, as printed in the budget book
The 2026 approved budget for Council as a whole is $687,642 in expenses, up from $546,502 in 2025. The Town's budget book shows large jumps in communications and in personnel and training. Council added $20,000 in extra training, paid from the Council Reserve.
Council sets its own budget, so residents are entitled to see what is behind an increase. The amounts are small next to the whole 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 The Blue Mountains? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The Council operating table shows Total Expenses of 546,502 in the 2025 budget and 687,642 in the 2026 approved budget (26%). Communications go from 3,050 to 47,800 (1467%) and Personnel and Training from 41,000 to 74,850 (83%).
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2026 Approved Budget · Council, 2026 Approved Operating Budget table, PDF page 36 (printed page 36), columns 2025 Budget and 2026 Approved Budget
The budget notes a request for “Additional Council Training and Professional Development”: council directed staff to include it “as a revised amount of $20,000 to be funded from the Council Reserve”.
Town of The Blue Mountains, 2026 Approved Budget · Executive Summary, budget requests, item 9, PDF page 14 (printed page 14)
−$8.0Mnet financial position, 2025
In 2019, The Blue Mountains had $33.9M more in cash and money owed to it than it owed to others. By 2025 it was −$8.0M. About 71% of that change ($29.8M) is a new accounting rule from 2023: towns must now record the future cost of closing things like a landfill. That is not new spending or borrowing. Even leaving that out, only 25 of 47 similar towns are in a weaker position.
| Year | Net financial position |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $33.9M |
| 2020 | $36.8M |
| 2021 | $31.7M |
| 2022 | $23.8M |
| 2023 | −$5.1M |
| 2024 | −$7.1M |
| 2025 | −$8.0M |
This number is one of the clearest signs of whether a town is living within its means. The accounting-rule part is a bill that will come due when the landfill closes, not money already spent. The rest is real borrowing and spending of savings.
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 The Blue Mountains? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Net financial assets: 2019 $33.9M, 2020 $36.8M, 2021 $31.7M, 2022 $23.8M, 2023 −$5.1M, 2024 −$7.1M, 2025 −$8.0M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 70, line 9945 · archived copy
Future landfill and similar closing costs recorded: $29.8M. Long-term debt: $4.7M. Temporary loans: $0.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 70, lines 2920, 2699, 2099 · archived copy
$385per home on garbage, dump and recycling, 2025
The Blue Mountains spent about $385 per home on garbage, dump and recycling in 2025. The typical similar town spent $159. Only 1 of 47 similar towns spent more.
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.
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 The Blue Mountains? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Garbage, dump and recycling per home: The Blue Mountains $385; typical similar town $159; ranked 2nd highest of 48.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 47 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy