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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Vaughan'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.
A clear, checkable guide to Vaughan's budget, taxes and council decisions. A city of more than 350,000 people (as the City's 2026 budget book prints it) in York Region, with a mayor, four local and regional councillors and five ward councillors. Every figure links back to the public record.
$45.9Mto be taken from reserves in the 2026 operating budget, up from $29.2 million in 2025, with a 0.00% rate increase
The City's 2026 budget has a 0.00% property tax rate increase, down from 3.00% in 2025. The only new tax money is $3.8 million from growth (new buildings on the tax roll). At the same time the budget plans to take $45.9 million out of reserves (savings set aside for later) to help pay for the year, up from $29.2 million in 2025. Money going into reserves and debt payments falls from $59.0 million to $42.1 million. The budget itself says the City's infrastructure deficit (the repair bill for roads, pipes and buildings that is bigger than the money set aside) "is large and growing". A 0% rate also applies only to the City's share of the tax bill, which the City says is $1,936 of an average $7,113.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 7 sources
$18.8Mforecast development charge reserve at the end of 2028, down from $534.6 million at the start of 2025
Reserves are money set aside for later. The City's 2026 budget forecasts that all reserves fall from $1,277.9 million at the start of 2025 to $661.5 million at the end of 2028. The development charge reserve (fees paid by builders to cover the cost of growth) is forecast to go from $534.6 million to $18.8 million at the end of 2028. A reserve called Capital from Taxation is forecast to go below zero in 2027. Council cut development charge rates by 47 per cent in November 2024, and the City says collections in 2025 were lower than expected. Debt is forecast to rise from $96.6 million to $201.3 million by the end of 2030. The City says this stays well under its own debt limit. The audited 2025 statements, dated June 23, 2026, show the development charge reserve fund at $431.0 million at the end of 2025, down from $557.9 million a year earlier. The City received $39.2 million in development charges in 2025, compared with $108.8 million in 2024.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 5 sources
67 of 161internal audit recommendations still "in progress" on March 12, 2026 (58% were fully implemented)
When the City's Internal Audit department finds a problem, management agrees to a "management action plan" with a target date. In its 2025 annual report, dated for the March 30, 2026 Audit Committee, Internal Audit says that of 161 recommendations approved by Council from February 2016 through December 2025, management had fully implemented 94 (58%) and 67 (42%) were still in progress. A year earlier the report counted 146 recommendations, 83 done and 63 in progress. The report gives reasons for many of the open items, such as software projects and staff departures. We did not find a count of how many open actions are past their first target dates.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 5 sources
40%of the forecast facilities funding need covered by planned funding ($10.4M against $26.2M)
In its Recreation Services audit (Phase 1, May 2025), Internal Audit cites the City's asset management plan: the 20-year average forecast calls for facilities funding of $26.2M (over $11M of it for community centres), while the average annual funding over the next 10 years is estimated at $10.4M. The audit calls that "a funding coverage of only 40%" and says the gap "would likely have to be bridged by debentures or non-CCBF grants". It recommends a plan to secure the money. Management agreed but said it would work "within the confines of the annual Capital Expenditure Plan". The same report says over 90% of community centres were rated Very Good or Good in 2025.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
Over $200,000of prepaid bin money with no record of which new homes it belongs to, in the audit's words ("more than $200,000 in unclaimed inventory"), at the end of Q1 2025
Developers pay the City up front for recycling and organic bins for each new home. The City holds that money in two "deferred revenue" accounts (money received before it is earned) until the new owner collects the bins. The Solid Waste Management audit (May 2025) found $103,719.82 in the recycling account and $127,169.62 in the organic account at the end of Q1 2025, "more than $200,000 in unclaimed inventory". The City does not match payments to addresses, so the audit says it is impossible to know how old the money is or which homes have not collected bins. Management agreed to review the revenue question by Q1-2026 and the program by Q4-2026.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$32.3Mof speed-camera fines in the 2025 approved budget for one department; none in 2026
The City's 2025 budget presented its automated speed enforcement (ASE) program, with 10 cameras, as a way to raise money for safety work. The 2025 approved budget for one department carried $32.3 million of fines, $12.0 million of professional fees and a $17.7 million transfer to reserve. The 2026 budget has none of these. It says staff positions were cut because the program ended and calls it "terminated" and "cancelled". We did not find, in the documents we read, when or why it ended, what it cost, or what happened to the reserve transfer.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$14,194spent on newsletters and mailings by January to July 2026 in one office, against a yearly line of $1,273
Each member of Council has an office budget. The City posts a monthly report with each line's budget and spending. In the July 2026 reports (January to July), three members' spending on one line is already above that line's budget for the whole year: Councillor Chris Ainsworth on newsletters and mailings ($14,194 against a yearly line of $1,273), Councillor Marilyn Iafrate on newsletters and mailings ($9,058 against $7,957) and Councillor Gila Martow on advertising and branding ($4,408 against $2,590). The Council expense policy lets members move money between lines, but sets an advertising cap, and bars newsletters and advertising from August 1 of an election year. We looked at one month's reports only, and each office is under its total budget.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
9 formalCode of Conduct complaints received in the 2022-2026 term, plus 15 informal ones
The Integrity Commissioner (a part-time officer who reports to Council) looks into complaints that a member broke the Code of Ethical Conduct or the conflict-of-interest law. In the 2022-2026 term the office received 9 formal and 15 informal complaints. One formal complaint under the conflict-of-interest law was investigated, and the Commissioner decided not to ask a court to rule on it. In 2024 the office reported three investigations in which a Code breach was sustained. The Commissioner's report says no complaint may be received from Nomination Day (August 21, 2026) to Voting Day (October 26, 2026), and that a matter still open on Nomination Day was terminated and can only be restarted by a new written request within six weeks after Voting Day. The City's budget says it is working on "low engagement" with the office.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 6 sources
$101.1M vs $46,960,910the 2024 general government budget in the budget book and in the audited statements
General government means the costs of running the City itself (Council, the City Manager, finance, legal, IT). The 2024 budget book prints a budget of $101.1 million for this function on the same accounting basis as the audited statements. The audited 2024 statements print a 2024 budget of $46,960,910 for the same function and actual spending of $51,167,709. The statements say that the indirect costs of program support are allocated to the functions that use them. The budget books do not say whether they do the same. Without that, the two sets of numbers cannot be compared line by line. In the audited 2025 statements, the budget column for general government is $149,697,808 and actual spending is $77,651,539, up from $51,167,709 in 2024.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
18%change orders as a share of the original contract cost, against the City's flat 10% cushion
Internal Audit reviewed the construction of the Carrville Community Centre, Library and District Park (opened June 30, 2025). The City sets aside a flat 10% of the contract amount for surprises, on every project. On Carrville, the audit says change orders reached 18% of the original contract cost, mostly because of unsuitable soil and a high water table. A set-aside of $2.4 million for items not yet priced ran out when $1.294 million of it paid for pumping and filtering water, so security and IT equipment needed change orders instead. The audit says the spending was justified and properly bought. Management agreed to change how it sets aside money for risk. We did not find the original contract amount or the final project cost in these documents.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 5 sources
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