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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Tillsonburg's own documents for this site in October 2026; the Sources page lists which ones. The comparisons with other places still come from the Province's yearly reports.
Questions · 8 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Tillsonburg's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 27 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
What these are, and what they are not. A question here means a number or practice is unusual, or harder to see than it should be. It does not mean anyone did anything wrong. Most unusual numbers turn out to have ordinary explanations, and every question lists some. The only way to know is to ask.
Worth asking
Worth asking
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
19.34%planned rise in the levy requirement for 2028, in the Town's own multi-year table
The levy is the part of the budget that property taxes must pay. The 2026 budget book has a multi-year table. It shows the levy requirement at $22,322,832 in 2025, $23,840,051 in 2026, $28,075,407 in 2027, $33,504,731 in 2028 and $36,957,609 in 2029. The 2025 budget had already risen 7.53% over 2024. Much of the later jump is in the capital plan (money for roads, bridges and buildings), which the same table shows rising from $3,747,146 in 2026 to $12,996,072 in 2029. Another page in the same book, the Summary Capital Levy, shows $4,936,164 for 2029. The Town has explained part of the current increase: a police (OPP) contract that rose by $424K, and a plan to put a set share of the levy into capital each year.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$(21,999,586)facilities reserve balance shown for 2034 in the Town's 10-year table
The 10-year facilities table in the 2026 budget book lists five large projects under "New projects - from growth": a gymnasium and multi-use space at $7,529,730, a fire station renovation and expansion at $3,000,000, a new third ice pad at $28,939,127, a new public works yard at $14,000,000 and the Town Hall renovation at $6,000,000. Together they come to $59,468,857 (worked out by us). The same table shows the facilities reserve balance going negative in 2028 at $(1,452,081) and reaching $(21,999,586) in 2034. The grants rows in the table are blank. The development charge reserve (fees collected from builders to pay for growth) held $6,464,229 at the end of 2025, and the table plans to draw $1,568,736, $2,519,476, $5,428,043 and $18,313,271 from it. The Town's own strategic plan lists a long-term financing plan for growth as a goal, and its finance department plans to update its debt policy in 2026.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$6,000,000construction cost on the Town Hall project sheet. The project listing in the same book says $5,672,102
The budget book describes turning the Customer Service Centre into a Town Hall. The project sheet shows construction of $6,000,000, paid by $2,550,000 from reserves and $3,450,000 of debt. The 2026 project listing in the same book shows $5,672,102, with $3,122,102 of debt and the same $2,550,000 from reserves. The Economic Development business plan lists "Town Hall Project Support" with a project cost of "$5.5 M". The Town says Council discussed the project in closed session on August 11, 2025 and, on December 8, 2025, asked staff for a report with detailed costing and design. The Town Hall reserve, set up in 2025, held $2,618,429 at the end of 2025 (nothing a year earlier).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$16,723,433unfinanced capital at the end of 2025, up from $6,938,393 at the end of 2023
The Town's accumulated surplus note shows "unfinanced capital", which is what the Town has spent on buildings, roads and other assets but has not yet paid for with grants, reserves or borrowing. It was $6,938,393 at the end of 2023, $15,832,451 at the end of 2024 and $16,723,433 at the end of 2025. The 2025 budget planned $10,505,700 of new debenture debt (a debenture is a long-term loan). The cash flow statement shows no new borrowing in 2025: the net change in long-term debt was $(1,367,651), and long-term liabilities fell to $9,867,267. The Town explains that it approved an application for $10,900,000 of debt during the year and, after year end, obtained $4,119,800. At year end the Province owed the Town $4,158,845, against $222,064 a year before.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 6 sources
$2,671,669"Donations and miscellaneous income" in 2025, against a budget of $95,500
Note 20 of the 2025 statements lists "Other income". One line, "Donations and miscellaneous income", was budgeted at $95,500 and came in at $2,671,669. The same line was $242,822 in 2024 (budget $1,295,919) and $1,183,719 in 2023. The statements do not say what is in it. The note on assets says that assets given to the Town are recorded at their fair value, with an equal amount recorded as revenue. The by-service table puts $2,023,320 of other income under "Other services" (the group that holds environment, health, planning and development) and $1,574,266 under recreation and cultural services.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$13,569,103the Town's investment in Tillsonburg Hydro Inc. at the end of 2025
The Town owns all of Tillsonburg Hydro Inc. The 2025 statements say Council approved, after year end, a deal in which the Town will buy shares in ERTH Corporation and Tillsonburg Hydro will join ERTH Power Corporation. It still needs the approval of the Ontario Energy Board, and the statements record no amounts for it. The Town's own web page says Tillsonburg Hydro would need at least $29 million to deal with its problems alone, including $25 million for a new transformer station, and that it has not been able to meet its regulatory return targets. The Town's budget counts on $340,000 a year of revenue from its enterprise (Hydro) every year from 2025 to 2029. The statements show Hydro paid dividends to the Town of $290,000 in 2025 and $200,000 in 2024, and that the Town's share of Hydro's earnings was $867,109 in 2025. At the end of 2025 the Town owed Hydro $1,881,044, where a year earlier Hydro had owed the Town $1,708,274.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$8,096,000of land sale and debt revenues planned to offset $9,312,000 of park construction
The Economic Development business plan lists construction of the Van Norman Innovation Park at $9,312,000, "offset by $8,096,000 in land sale and debt revenues". It also lists the Progress Drive extension at $600,000, offset by $600,000 in land sale revenues. The Town names the risk itself: that "any slowdown in the economy could affect timing and revenue forecasts" for land sales. The Economic Development reserve shows the strain. It held $2,400,423 at the end of 2024 and $738,430 at the end of 2025 in the audited statements. The budget book projected it at $(612,311) at the end of 2025 before land sales.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$841,162of the $1,429,949 cut from the 2026 levy increase came from reserves
A reserve is money the Town has set aside from earlier years. When the 2026 budget was first put together the levy was set to rise 11.66%. The Mayor's review cut it to a 5.25% rise, then the police contract was added back, giving 7.15%. The Town's list of cuts shows $1,429,949 of reductions in all, and $841,162 of that came from reserves (about 59%, worked out by us). One percent of the levy is $223,228, so the reserve money is worth about 3.8 percentage points of tax increase (worked out by us). The Town labels some of these items one-time or "year 2 of 2". The Tax Rate Stabilization reserve, which pays for the largest item, is shown falling from $1,679,570 to a projected $418,059.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
19.34%planned rise in the levy requirement for 2028, in the Town's own multi-year table
The levy is the part of the budget that property taxes must pay. The 2026 budget book has a multi-year table. It shows the levy requirement at $22,322,832 in 2025, $23,840,051 in 2026, $28,075,407 in 2027, $33,504,731 in 2028 and $36,957,609 in 2029. The 2025 budget had already risen 7.53% over 2024. Much of the later jump is in the capital plan (money for roads, bridges and buildings), which the same table shows rising from $3,747,146 in 2026 to $12,996,072 in 2029. Another page in the same book, the Summary Capital Levy, shows $4,936,164 for 2029. The Town has explained part of the current increase: a police (OPP) contract that rose by $424K, and a plan to put a set share of the levy into capital each year.
Why it matters
Residents pay this levy through their tax bills. A plan that adds nearly a fifth to the levy two years in a row is a large change, even if only the first year is voted on now. Two pages of the same book show very different capital figures for 2029, so it is not clear what the real plan is.
It could be because…
Council votes on one budget a year. The later years of a multi-year table are placeholders, and they often change before they are adopted.
The capital rows in the multi-year table may count borrowing and its payments for the new buildings listed in the facilities plan, which the Summary Capital Levy page does not.
The Town says the police contract and wage costs are pushing the budget up, and that it wants to put 1% of the levy a year into capital.
Questions you could ask
What makes up the $4,235,356 jump in the levy requirement from 2026 to 2027 (worked out by us from $23,840,051 and $28,075,407)?
Which 2029 capital figure is the plan: $12,996,072 or $4,936,164?
Does the multi-year table include payments on borrowing for the new buildings in the facilities plan?
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 Tillsonburg?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
2026 Financial Plan, Multiyear Budget Summary, last row: "Consolidated Budget Requirement 22,322,832 23,840,051 1,517,219 6.80% 28,075,407 17.77% 33,504,731 19.34% 36,957,609 10.31%" (columns: 2025 budget, 2026 total budget, variance $ and %, then 2027, 2028 and 2029 with the % change each year).
Budget Pressures: "Police OPP Contract: $424K or 11% increase / 1.9% of the levy increase". Recommendations: "dedicated capital levy of 3% in 2024 and 2025" and "Capital levy .2% + Operating contr. to total 1% in 2026 - consider dedicated 1% onwards + Op contr. (~1.8%)".
$(21,999,586)facilities reserve balance shown for 2034 in the Town's 10-year table
The 10-year facilities table in the 2026 budget book lists five large projects under "New projects - from growth": a gymnasium and multi-use space at $7,529,730, a fire station renovation and expansion at $3,000,000, a new third ice pad at $28,939,127, a new public works yard at $14,000,000 and the Town Hall renovation at $6,000,000. Together they come to $59,468,857 (worked out by us). The same table shows the facilities reserve balance going negative in 2028 at $(1,452,081) and reaching $(21,999,586) in 2034. The grants rows in the table are blank. The development charge reserve (fees collected from builders to pay for growth) held $6,464,229 at the end of 2025, and the table plans to draw $1,568,736, $2,519,476, $5,428,043 and $18,313,271 from it. The Town's own strategic plan lists a long-term financing plan for growth as a goal, and its finance department plans to update its debt policy in 2026.
Why it matters
A new ice pad and public works yard are large costs for a town of this size. The table shows where the money is not yet found. Residents will want to know who pays: builders, senior governments, borrowing or the tax levy.
It could be because…
A negative balance in a planning table is how planners show money still to be found, by borrowing or grants. It does not mean the Town has decided to overspend.
The projects are labelled "from growth". If growth is slower, they may be delayed or dropped.
The Town says it is updating its debt policy and its financial sustainability plan in 2026, so the financing may not be settled yet.
Questions you could ask
How much of the $28,939,127 third ice pad and the $14,000,000 public works yard does the Town expect to pay from development charges, from grants and from borrowing?
Has the debt policy update planned for Q2 2026 been done, and does it set a limit on borrowing for these projects?
Has Council voted to build any of the five "from growth" projects?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Tillsonburg?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Facilities Capital Forecast, 2026 to 2035: "Closing Reserve Balance 438,836 1,076,613 (1,452,081) (2,092,904) (5,784,744) (4,507,934) (10,807,019) (8,608,891) (21,999,586) (19,781,305)".
Same table, "NEW PROJECTS - FROM GROWTH": "Facilities - Gymnasium & Multi Use Space 7,529,730"; "Facilities - Fire Station Reno & Expansion 3,000,000"; "Facilities - New Third Ice Pad 28,939,127"; "Facilities - New Public Works Yard 14,000,000"; "Facilities - Renovation for CSC-Town Hall 6,000,000". The row "Contribution from Development Charges Reserve" shows 1,568,736, 2,519,476, 5,428,043 and 18,313,271.
Note 12, Development charges: balance at the start of 2025 of 7,092,296, contributions received 910,022, investment income 143,133, "Revenue recognized" (1,681,222), ending balance 6,464,229.
Strategic Direction: "Plan and develop a long-term financing strategy for new services and infrastructure to support growth". Also "Replenish and grow municipal reserves".
$6,000,000construction cost on the Town Hall project sheet. The project listing in the same book says $5,672,102
The budget book describes turning the Customer Service Centre into a Town Hall. The project sheet shows construction of $6,000,000, paid by $2,550,000 from reserves and $3,450,000 of debt. The 2026 project listing in the same book shows $5,672,102, with $3,122,102 of debt and the same $2,550,000 from reserves. The Economic Development business plan lists "Town Hall Project Support" with a project cost of "$5.5 M". The Town says Council discussed the project in closed session on August 11, 2025 and, on December 8, 2025, asked staff for a report with detailed costing and design. The Town Hall reserve, set up in 2025, held $2,618,429 at the end of 2025 (nothing a year earlier).
Why it matters
This is a multi-million dollar project that has been discussed for years. Residents will want one clear number for it, and want to know where the $2.55 million of reserve money came from.
It could be because…
The three pages may have been written at different times, with costs updated in some places and not in others. The Town says Council asked in December 2025 for detailed costing.
The "$5.5 M" in the business plan may be a rounded older estimate or only part of the project (the Town says the work is planned in two phases).
The Town calls this a priority initiative of its 2021 strategic plan, so the project is not new.
Questions you could ask
Which Town Hall cost is current: $6,000,000, $5,672,102 or $5.5 million?
Where did the $2,550,299 put into the Town Hall reserve in 2025 come from? The Town's table says the transfers include the 2024 year-end surplus, but not how much.
When will Council vote on the detailed costing that it asked for on December 8, 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 Tillsonburg?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Project sheet X67, Town Hall - CSC Renovation: "Renovations to convert the Customer Service Centre into the Town Hall." Construction 6,000,000. Funding: "Cont.from Reserves 2,550,000", "Debt 3,450,000". Justification: "at the Regular Council Meeting of August 11, 2025, Council moved into closed session to consider the Town Hall project update"; on December 8, 2025 Council "directed staff in Open Session to provide at a future meeting a report including detailed costing and the proposed design".
Economic Development & Marketing 2026 Business Objectives: "Town Hall Project Support", Priority Project "Consolidated Town Hall initiative", Accountability "Town Hall Steering Committee/ CAO", Project Cost "$5.5 M (Revenue Generation)".
Reserve table, Capital Reserves, row "TownHall Reserve - - 2,550,299 2,550,299 - 2,550,299 2,550,000 299 299". The column heading for the third figure is "2025 Transfers In (Inc. 2024 YE surplus)".
$16,723,433unfinanced capital at the end of 2025, up from $6,938,393 at the end of 2023
The Town's accumulated surplus note shows "unfinanced capital", which is what the Town has spent on buildings, roads and other assets but has not yet paid for with grants, reserves or borrowing. It was $6,938,393 at the end of 2023, $15,832,451 at the end of 2024 and $16,723,433 at the end of 2025. The 2025 budget planned $10,505,700 of new debenture debt (a debenture is a long-term loan). The cash flow statement shows no new borrowing in 2025: the net change in long-term debt was $(1,367,651), and long-term liabilities fell to $9,867,267. The Town explains that it approved an application for $10,900,000 of debt during the year and, after year end, obtained $4,119,800. At year end the Province owed the Town $4,158,845, against $222,064 a year before.
Why it matters
Money spent ahead of its funding has to be repaid from somewhere. Residents will want to know how much will come from grants already promised, how much from borrowing, and how much from the tax levy.
It could be because…
Building projects are paid for as work goes on, while grants are paid when the Town claims them and loans are taken when a project is far enough along. Some gap is normal.
The $4,158,845 owed by the Province may be grant claims that will be paid soon.
The Town says it obtained $4,119,800 of debt after year end and has approval for $10,900,000, which would cover part of the gap.
The Town says its debt payments are within the limits set by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Questions you could ask
How much of the $16,723,433 is expected to be paid by grants already approved, how much by borrowing and how much by reserves or the levy?
Is the $4,158,845 owed by the Province for capital grants, and when is it due?
Why was none of the $10,505,700 of planned 2025 borrowing taken in 2025?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Tillsonburg?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 16, Accumulated surplus: "Unfinanced capital (16,723,433) (15,832,451)" (2025, 2024).
Note 27, Subsequent events: "During the year the Town of Tillsonburg approved the application for debt in the amount of $10,900,000. Subsequent to year end the Town of Tillsonburg has obtained total debt in the amount of $4,119,800 to finance capital projects."
Note 7, Accounts receivable: "Province of Ontario 4,158,845 222,064" (2025, 2024). Note 14: long-term liabilities 9,867,267 (2024 11,234,918); "The annual principal and interest payments required to service these liabilities are within the annual debt repayments and limits prescribed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing."
$2,671,669"Donations and miscellaneous income" in 2025, against a budget of $95,500
Note 20 of the 2025 statements lists "Other income". One line, "Donations and miscellaneous income", was budgeted at $95,500 and came in at $2,671,669. The same line was $242,822 in 2024 (budget $1,295,919) and $1,183,719 in 2023. The statements do not say what is in it. The note on assets says that assets given to the Town are recorded at their fair value, with an equal amount recorded as revenue. The by-service table puts $2,023,320 of other income under "Other services" (the group that holds environment, health, planning and development) and $1,574,266 under recreation and cultural services.
Why it matters
A line this large and this uneven makes the yearly surplus hard to read. If a gift of land or buildings is counted here, it is not cash the Town can spend. If it is cash, residents will want to know who gave it and for what.
It could be because…
It may be one or more assets (land, a park, equipment) given to the Town and recorded at fair value. The Town's accounting policy says these count as revenue.
It may be a donation to a named project, such as a recreation facility, that is also in the capital budget.
A line labelled "miscellaneous" can hold refunds and settlements, which are hard to budget.
Questions you could ask
What is in the $2,671,669: donated assets, cash gifts, or something else?
Why was it budgeted at $95,500 for 2025 when 2023 had $1,183,719?
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 Tillsonburg?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 20, Other income (2025 budget, 2025 actual, 2024 actual): "Developer contributions 3,396,000 1,681,222 514,502"; "Donations and miscellaneous income 95,500 2,671,669 242,822"; total 4,126,500, 5,503,592, 1,735,197.
Note 2(d), Tangible capital assets: "Contributed tangible capital assets are recorded at fair value at the time of the donation, with a corresponding amount recorded as revenue."
Note 28, Segmented information, 2025, row "Other income (Note 1) 1,999,503 10,000 723,222 1,574,266 2,023,320 6,330,311" (general government, protection, transportation, recreation and cultural, other services, total). Footnote 1 lists what is in it: "penalties and interest on taxes, investment income, gain (loss) on sale of assets, developer contributions, donations and equity in Tillsonburg Hydro Inc."
$13,569,103the Town's investment in Tillsonburg Hydro Inc. at the end of 2025
The Town owns all of Tillsonburg Hydro Inc. The 2025 statements say Council approved, after year end, a deal in which the Town will buy shares in ERTH Corporation and Tillsonburg Hydro will join ERTH Power Corporation. It still needs the approval of the Ontario Energy Board, and the statements record no amounts for it. The Town's own web page says Tillsonburg Hydro would need at least $29 million to deal with its problems alone, including $25 million for a new transformer station, and that it has not been able to meet its regulatory return targets. The Town's budget counts on $340,000 a year of revenue from its enterprise (Hydro) every year from 2025 to 2029. The statements show Hydro paid dividends to the Town of $290,000 in 2025 and $200,000 in 2024, and that the Town's share of Hydro's earnings was $867,109 in 2025. At the end of 2025 the Town owed Hydro $1,881,044, where a year earlier Hydro had owed the Town $1,708,274.
Why it matters
The utility is worth $13,569,103 on the Town's books, and the Town is trading it for a stake in a bigger group. Residents will want to know the price, what the Town will receive each year, and whether the $340,000 in the budget will keep coming.
It could be because…
The Town says the deal would avoid a stand-alone cost of at least $29 million and a large rise in customers' bills.
The Ontario Energy Board must still approve the deal and will review it in detail.
As a shareholder in ERTH Corporation the Town may receive dividends from a larger group, and the Town says it will benefit from ERTH's "diversified revenue streams".
The decision may have gone through public sessions that we did not read, because we could not read past agendas.
Questions you could ask
What will the Town pay for its shares in ERTH Corporation, and what percentage will it own?
What dividends does the Town expect from ERTH Corporation, and will the $340,000 a year of Hydro revenue in the budget continue?
Where is the Council report and vote on the deal, and what did the public say in the engagement sessions?
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 Tillsonburg?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 27, Subsequent events: "Subsequent to year end, Town Council approved a strategic collaboration between Tillsonburg Hydro Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Town and ERTH Power Corporation, owned by ERTH Corporation. Under the transaction, the Town will acquire shares in ERTH Corporation and Tillsonburg Hydro will join ERTH Power Corporation. The transaction remains subject to approval by the Ontario Energy Board" and "no amounts have been recognized in these consolidated financial statements".
Note 9, Tillsonburg Hydro Inc.: "Dividends (290,000) (200,000)" (2025, 2024); "Net change in investment in Tillsonburg Hydro Inc. 867,109 75,805"; "Income before income taxes 2,402,324 (392,182)"; "Investment in Tillsonburg Hydro Inc. - Ending 13,569,103 12,701,994".
Note 8, Due to / from unconsolidated entities: "Tillsonburg Hydro Inc. - 1,708,274" due from (2025, 2024); "Amounts Due to Unconsolidated Entities: Tillsonburg Hydro Inc. (1,881,044)".
2026 Financial Plan, Multiyear Budget Summary: "Enterprise Services (340,000) (340,000) (340,000) (340,000) (340,000)" for 2025 to 2029. The department notes for this line say "Revenue" and "THI" (Tillsonburg Hydro Inc.).
Town web page, The Current Situation: "For Tillsonburg Hydro, addressing these challenges as a stand-alone utility is likely to require an investment of at least $29 million." FAQ 1: "a new transformer station is needed at an anticipated cost of $25 million. An additional $4.2 million is required". FAQ 8: "Tillsonburg Hydro has consistently not been able to meet its regulatory return on equity targets." FAQ 12 and 13: "A decision has not been made", expected "by the end of 2025".
$8,096,000of land sale and debt revenues planned to offset $9,312,000 of park construction
The Economic Development business plan lists construction of the Van Norman Innovation Park at $9,312,000, "offset by $8,096,000 in land sale and debt revenues". It also lists the Progress Drive extension at $600,000, offset by $600,000 in land sale revenues. The Town names the risk itself: that "any slowdown in the economy could affect timing and revenue forecasts" for land sales. The Economic Development reserve shows the strain. It held $2,400,423 at the end of 2024 and $738,430 at the end of 2025 in the audited statements. The budget book projected it at $(612,311) at the end of 2025 before land sales.
Why it matters
Servicing industrial land costs money up front, and the Town gets paid back only when lots sell. If sales are slow, the gap falls on reserves, borrowing or the tax levy. The Town says industrial land also helps its tax base: its own note reads "$2.63 vs $1 res. assessment", which we take to mean industrial assessment is worth more than residential, but the note does not explain it.
It could be because…
Paying for servicing first and getting repaid from lot sales is the usual way municipalities develop industrial land.
The Town's note "$2.63 vs $1 res. assessment" suggests it expects industrial land to add more to the tax base than homes do, so selling lots may strengthen it over time.
The reserve balance in the budget book was a projection made in late 2025. The audited statements show the actual balance, which is higher.
Questions you could ask
How many lots at Van Norman have been sold, and for how much, against the $8,096,000 expected?
How much of the $9,312,000 will be borrowed, and what happens to the debt if lots sell slowly?
What did the Economic Development reserve pay for in 2025 to fall from $2,400,423 to $738,430?
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 Tillsonburg?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
2026 Business Objectives (Carry Forward/Prior CapEx): Van Norman Innovation Park, construction: "$9,312,000 offset by $8,096,000 in land sale and debt revenues". Progress Dr Extension: "$600,000 with offsetting $600,000 in land sale revenues". Van Norman Innovation Park, planning and design: $300,000.
Reserve table, row "Econ Development Reserve 2,400,423 347 17,611 2,418,381 3,030,692 (612,311) (612,311) (612,311)": opening balance January 1, 2025 of 2,400,423, commitments of 3,030,692 and a projected balance of (612,311). The table has a separate column for "2026 Potential Land sales".
$841,162of the $1,429,949 cut from the 2026 levy increase came from reserves
A reserve is money the Town has set aside from earlier years. When the 2026 budget was first put together the levy was set to rise 11.66%. The Mayor's review cut it to a 5.25% rise, then the police contract was added back, giving 7.15%. The Town's list of cuts shows $1,429,949 of reductions in all, and $841,162 of that came from reserves (about 59%, worked out by us). One percent of the levy is $223,228, so the reserve money is worth about 3.8 percentage points of tax increase (worked out by us). The Town labels some of these items one-time or "year 2 of 2". The Tax Rate Stabilization reserve, which pays for the largest item, is shown falling from $1,679,570 to a projected $418,059.
Why it matters
Reserve money can only be spent once. If the same costs come back in 2027 and no reserve is left to cover them, the tax increase that year has to carry them. This is why the 2027 jump in the Town's own plan (see the levy question) matters.
It could be because…
The Town labels these items one-time, which means it does not plan to repeat them. The WSIB rebate is a refund the Town received, so using it once is normal.
The Town shows the reserve use openly, line by line, in the budget book.
Using reserves to smooth a large increase over two years is a common choice for councils.
Questions you could ask
Which of the $841,162 of reserve items will come back as ordinary costs in 2027, and how will they be paid?
How much will the Tax Rate Stabilization reserve hold at the end of 2026, and what is the Town's target for it?
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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The evidence
2026 Reduced Items: "WSIB Rebate Offset (359,562) Use of Reserves WSIB Rebate '23-'24 of $359,562 for the Town - from Tax Rate Res - to offset '26 levy". "OPP Contract Offset (89,000) Use of Reserves Utilize Police Reserve to help offset 2026 costs - one-time". "CAO (160,000) Use of Reserves Manager of Strat Ini - Employment Reserve, year 2 of 2". "Fire - FT Labour (100,000) Use of Reserves". Total "Use of Reserves (841,162)" of reductions "(1,429,949)". "1% Levy Increase = $223,228".
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