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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Wainfleet'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 Wainfleet's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 35 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.
$5,470,568owed in long-term debt at the end of 2024, up from $976,528
Long-term debt is money the Township borrowed and must pay back over many years. At the end of 2023 it owed $976,528. At the end of 2024 it owed $5,470,568. The statements say a loan with Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation to build a new fire station was turned into long-term debt on March 1, 2024. The Township could borrow up to $7,169,000 for the station, and $4,645,000 became long-term debt at 4.70%, due in 2039. The 2026 budget carries a yearly debenture payment and interest for the station.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
(470,521)the building permit reserve the 2026 budget projects for December 31, 2026
A reserve is money set aside for a purpose. This one is named for building permits. It stood at $3,593 at the end of 2023. At the end of 2024 it was below zero at (247,114). The 2026 budget projects it at (352,201) at the end of 2025 and (470,521) at the end of 2026, after taking a further $118,320 from it. Permit income has also come in under budget: building permits brought in 81,316 in 2024 against a budget of 230,000.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$312,537the Township's projected 2025 arena net cost, against a budget of $100,684
The arena's net cost is what is left after its income (mostly ice bookings) is taken off its spending. The budget planned 132,564 for 2023 and the actual was 243,964. It planned 98,564 for 2024 and the actual was 271,133. For 2025 the budget was 100,684 and the Township's own projection is 312,537. The 2026 budget plans 64,939, lower than any year shown. Staff wages at the arena are the line that differs most: 345,864 projected for 2025 against 165,240 budgeted, while the 2026 budget is 160,500.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$155,143spent on by-law legal fees in 2024, against a budget of $100,000
The by-law and property standards department paid 178,351 in legal fees in 2023 against a budget of 100,000, and 155,143 in 2024 against 100,000. The 2025 budget was raised to 125,000 and the Township projects 125,000 for the year. The 2026 budget returns to 100,000.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$337,720in fines in 2024, against a budget of $75,000
The 2024 statements list fines of $337,720 against a budget of $75,000 (in 2023, 74,622). The 2026 budget has a short-term rental line that may explain part of it: penalties of 277,155 in 2024 against a budget of 30,000. The Township projects 100,325 for 2025 and budgets 79,570 for 2026. We did not find a document that says the two are the same money.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$246,155in federal capital grants in 2024, against a budget of $1,658,505
Government transfers (grants) were budgeted at 2,502,147 for 2024 and came in at 1,108,638. Most of the gap is capital grants from the Government of Canada: 1,658,505 budgeted against 246,155. Spending on capital assets (roads, buildings, equipment) was also below plan: 3,064,169 against a budget of 4,701,692. Grants for a project are usually paid as the work is done, so lower spending and lower grants may go together.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
5.92%2026 total levy increase, before assessment growth of 0.94%
The levy is the part of the property tax bill the Township itself sets. The 2026 Final Budget raises it from 9,675,179 to 10,247,806, an increase of 572,627 or 5.92%. The Township says growth in the number of properties accounts for 0.94%, so the net increase is 4.98%. The table splits it into an operating levy increase of 1.92%, and an infrastructure levy and a capital levy that each rise by 2.00%. The Township prints the value of a 1% increase as $96,752.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$5,470,568owed in long-term debt at the end of 2024, up from $976,528
Long-term debt is money the Township borrowed and must pay back over many years. At the end of 2023 it owed $976,528. At the end of 2024 it owed $5,470,568. The statements say a loan with Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation to build a new fire station was turned into long-term debt on March 1, 2024. The Township could borrow up to $7,169,000 for the station, and $4,645,000 became long-term debt at 4.70%, due in 2039. The 2026 budget carries a yearly debenture payment and interest for the station.
Why it matters
A fixed loan payment comes first each year, before roads, the arena or anything else is paid for. Residents may want to know how much of the station was paid by borrowing, how much by other money, and what it adds to the tax bill each year.
It could be because…
A new fire station may have been needed, and borrowing is the usual way to spread its cost over the years it will be used.
The loan rate is fixed, so the payments will not change with interest rates.
Part of the $7,169,000 borrowing room may not have been needed, or the rest of the cost may have been paid from reserves or grants.
Questions you could ask
What did the new fire station cost in total, and how was each part paid (loan, reserves, grants)?
Why did the Township borrow less than the $7,169,000 it had arranged?
How much of each year's tax levy goes to the station's debt payment and interest?
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 Wainfleet?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Statement of financial position: "Construction loan (Note 10)" - in 2024 and 3,000,000 in 2023. "Long term debt (Note 11)" 5,470,568 in 2024 and 976,528 in 2023. "Net financial assets (debt)" 70,615 in 2024 and (1,073,620) in 2023.
Note 10: the Municipality entered into an agreement with the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation ("OILC") "to temporarily borrow up to a maximum of $7,169,000 to finance the construction of a new fire station. This construction loan was converted to long term debt as of March 1, 2024". Interest paid on the loan was $41,790 (2023 - $147,201).
Note 11 (b): Central Fire Station, interest rate 4.70%, maturity 2039, $ 4,645,000 in 2024. Total long-term debt $ 5,470,568. Principal repayments due: 2025 $ 373,484; 2026 386,548; 2027 400,922; 2028 416,051; 2029 431,865; Thereafter 3,461,698. Note 11 (d): principal and interest charges for the year were $ 354,189 in 2024 and $ 223,120 in 2023.
2026 Final Budget, Facilities, "CENTRAL STATION": "Central Station Debenture" 230,514 and "Central Station Interest" 207,967 in the 2025 final budget and again in the 2026 final budget. "Total CENTRAL STATION" 495,481 for 2026.
(470,521)the building permit reserve the 2026 budget projects for December 31, 2026
A reserve is money set aside for a purpose. This one is named for building permits. It stood at $3,593 at the end of 2023. At the end of 2024 it was below zero at (247,114). The 2026 budget projects it at (352,201) at the end of 2025 and (470,521) at the end of 2026, after taking a further $118,320 from it. Permit income has also come in under budget: building permits brought in 81,316 in 2024 against a budget of 230,000.
Why it matters
A reserve below zero means more has gone out of it than went in, and other money is carrying the gap. Residents who do not build may be covering part of the cost.
It could be because…
Building permit income goes up and down with the number of projects, and a reserve is there to smooth the bad years.
Fees may have been set when more building was expected, and a fee review could close the gap.
Part of the gap may come from costs shared with other departments, such as an administration charge of 50,000 a year.
Questions you could ask
How does the Township plan to bring the building permit reserve back above zero, and by when?
Have building permit fees been reviewed against what the department costs to run?
What did the 2024 income fall (81,316 against a budget of 230,000) come from?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Wainfleet?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 13, Reserve and reserve funds: "Building permits" (247,114) in 2024 and 3,593 in 2023.
2026 Budgeted Reserve and Reserve Funds: "Building Permit" projected balance December 31, 2025 (352,201); transfer from reserve (118,320); budget balance December 31, 2026 (470,521).
Building and Septic Department, "Building Permits" income: 2023 actual (156,950), 2023 final budget (268,000); 2024 actual (81,316), 2024 final budget (230,000); 2025 projected actual (185,057), 2025 final budget (200,000); 2026 final budget (200,000). "From Reserve & Res. Funds - Building" (118,320) in the 2026 final budget. "Interdepartmental Admin Costs - Building" 50,000 in the 2026 final budget.
$312,537the Township's projected 2025 arena net cost, against a budget of $100,684
The arena's net cost is what is left after its income (mostly ice bookings) is taken off its spending. The budget planned 132,564 for 2023 and the actual was 243,964. It planned 98,564 for 2024 and the actual was 271,133. For 2025 the budget was 100,684 and the Township's own projection is 312,537. The 2026 budget plans 64,939, lower than any year shown. Staff wages at the arena are the line that differs most: 345,864 projected for 2025 against 165,240 budgeted, while the 2026 budget is 160,500.
Why it matters
When a line has run well over budget each year, a lower budget for the next year only works if something changes. If not, the gap will be paid from somewhere else, such as reserves or other departments' savings.
It could be because…
Arena wages may include time from staff who also work in other places, and the budget may not have been moved to match.
Longer ice seasons or more bookings may have added hours and staffing. Booking income was above its budget in the same years.
The 2026 budget may rest on a plan to change how the arena is staffed that we did not find in the documents.
Questions you could ask
What explains the arena's wage costs running well above budget in each of the last three years?
What changes make the 2026 arena budget of 64,939 realistic?
Do the arena wage lines include staff time that also serves other departments?
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 Wainfleet?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Recreation - Arena, "Total RECREATION ARENA": 2023 actual 243,964, 2023 final budget 132,564; 2024 actual 271,133, 2024 final budget 98,564; 2025 projected actual 312,537, 2025 final budget 100,684; 2026 final budget 64,939.
"Employee Wages Arena": 2023 actual 291,164, 2023 final budget 183,723; 2024 actual 308,785, 2024 final budget 164,580; 2025 projected actual 345,864, 2025 final budget 165,240; 2026 final budget 160,500. "Booking Revenue - Arena" (214,218) projected actual 2025 against a final budget of (190,000).
$155,143spent on by-law legal fees in 2024, against a budget of $100,000
The by-law and property standards department paid 178,351 in legal fees in 2023 against a budget of 100,000, and 155,143 in 2024 against 100,000. The 2025 budget was raised to 125,000 and the Township projects 125,000 for the year. The 2026 budget returns to 100,000.
Why it matters
Legal bills are paid from the tax levy. A budget that sits below what was spent in each of the last three years may need money from somewhere else during 2026.
It could be because…
Enforcement cases can be hard to predict, and some bills may be recovered from the people who are fined or ordered to comply.
Legal costs may have peaked while a new rental licensing program was set up, and may now fall.
The Township may expect to recover part of the cost through penalties, which the budget also lists.
Questions you could ask
What are the legal fees in the by-law department for, and how much has been recovered from others?
Why does the 2026 budget plan 100,000 after spending 178,351, 155,143 and a projected 125,000?
Does the Township keep a record of legal costs by program that it can release?
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 Wainfleet?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
By-law & Property Standards, "Legal Fees By-law": 2023 actual 178,351, 2023 final budget 100,000; 2024 actual 155,143, 2024 final budget 100,000; 2025 projected actual 125,000, 2025 final budget 125,000; 2026 final budget 100,000.
Wainfleet spent $1.2M on police, fire and safety in 2019 and $2.2M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Why did the cost of police, fire and safety grow 91% in 6 years?
Police, fire and safety
Prices (inflation)
+0%+20%+40%+60%+80%+100%
+91%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Police, fire and safety
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
+21%
+1%
2021
+10%
+4%
2022
+32%
+11%
2023
+64%
+16%
2024
+99%
+18%
2025
+91%
+21%
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Why it matters
When one area grows much faster than prices, it is either doing more (which may be great) or paying more for the same thing. Residents deserve to know which.
It could be because…
The town added a service, a building or staff that residents asked for.
Costs were moved from another area, so the total did not really change.
Accounting rules changed how costs are sorted.
Large one-time costs, like a study, lawsuit or repair, landed in one year.
Questions you could ask
What did the extra $1.1M a year pay for?
Why did fire department go from $794K to $1.5M?
Was each increase approved by council as a separate decision, or did it happen through the yearly budget?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Wainfleet?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Police, fire and safety: 2019 $1.2M, 2020 $1.4M, 2021 $1.3M, 2022 $1.5M, 2023 $1.9M, 2024 $2.3M, 2025 $2.2M.
$337,720in fines in 2024, against a budget of $75,000
The 2024 statements list fines of $337,720 against a budget of $75,000 (in 2023, 74,622). The 2026 budget has a short-term rental line that may explain part of it: penalties of 277,155 in 2024 against a budget of 30,000. The Township projects 100,325 for 2025 and budgets 79,570 for 2026. We did not find a document that says the two are the same money.
Why it matters
One-time penalty income can make a year look healthier than it is. If most of the 2024 amount was a one-time catch-up, residents should know not to expect it again.
It could be because…
A new short-term rental licensing program may have produced many penalties in its first year, then fewer once owners got licensed.
Penalties may not be collected in full, so the budget may be careful on purpose.
Questions you could ask
How much of the 2024 fines income was short-term rental penalties, and how much was collected in cash?
Was 2024 a one-time catch-up, and what does the Township expect in 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 Wainfleet?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Short Term Rental Administration, "AMPS Penalties & Fines - Short Term Rentals": 2023 final budget (30,000); 2024 actual (277,155), 2024 final budget (30,000); 2025 projected actual (100,325), 2025 final budget (58,570); 2026 final budget (79,570). "Total SHORT TERM RENTAL ADMINISTRATION" 2024 actual (177,527).
$246,155in federal capital grants in 2024, against a budget of $1,658,505
Government transfers (grants) were budgeted at 2,502,147 for 2024 and came in at 1,108,638. Most of the gap is capital grants from the Government of Canada: 1,658,505 budgeted against 246,155. Spending on capital assets (roads, buildings, equipment) was also below plan: 3,064,169 against a budget of 4,701,692. Grants for a project are usually paid as the work is done, so lower spending and lower grants may go together.
Why it matters
Money not received this year may arrive next year, or may be lost if a project is cancelled. Residents may want to know which projects were delayed and whether the grants are still expected.
It could be because…
Projects were delayed, so the grants were not yet payable.
Capital spending was also under budget, which would lower the grants the Township could claim.
Grants may have been received in another year than the budget assumed.
Questions you could ask
Which capital projects were delayed in 2024, and have the federal grants been received since?
Is any of the 1,658,505 now at risk of being lost?
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 Wainfleet?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 18, Government transfers: Capital, "Government of Canada" budget 1,658,505, 2024 246,155, 2023 512,952. Total capital 1,767,505 budget, 359,887 in 2024. Total government transfers $ 2,502,147 budget, $ 1,108,638 in 2024.
5.92%2026 total levy increase, before assessment growth of 0.94%
The levy is the part of the property tax bill the Township itself sets. The 2026 Final Budget raises it from 9,675,179 to 10,247,806, an increase of 572,627 or 5.92%. The Township says growth in the number of properties accounts for 0.94%, so the net increase is 4.98%. The table splits it into an operating levy increase of 1.92%, and an infrastructure levy and a capital levy that each rise by 2.00%. The Township prints the value of a 1% increase as $96,752.
Why it matters
Most of the increase is for fixed set-asides (the infrastructure and capital levies), not for running costs. Residents can see where the money goes, but may still want to know what each set-aside is buying.
It could be because…
Set-asides for roads, bridges and buildings are how many small townships catch up on assets that are in poor condition.
The Township says the net increase to taxpayers after growth is 4.98%, lower than the headline number.
Questions you could ask
What projects does the 2026 infrastructure levy of 1,815,489 pay for, and what is the plan for each year after?
Why does the Public Works capital levy rise by 290,574 while the recreation capital levy falls by 173,500?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Wainfleet?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
2026 Final Budget levy table: "Total Operating Levy" 6,752,349 to 6,937,968, increase 185,619 (1.92%); "Infrastructure Levy" 1,621,985 to 1,815,489, increase 193,504 (2.00%); "Total Capital Levy" 1,300,845 to 1,494,349, increase 193,504 (2.00%); "Total Levy" 9,675,179 to 10,247,806, increase 572,627 (5.92%). "Less: Assessment Growth 0.94%"; "Net Levy Increase After Growth 4.98%"; "$ Value of a 1% Increase to Tax Levy 96,752".
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