Questions · 12 so far
We read Wasaga Beach's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 24 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
+191%running the town office, 2019 to 2025
Wasaga Beach spent $3.8M on running the town office in 2019 and $11M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 2 of 24 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
+120%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2025
Wasaga Beach spent $4.7M on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $10.4M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 1 of 24 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
$805,792.30spent on the corporate "Legal" line by September 30, 2025, against a $180,000 budget for the year
The 2026 budget book shows how each budget line did against its 2025 budget. Under corporate financing (costs that belong to the whole Town, not one department) there is a line called "Legal". It was budgeted at $180,000 for 2025. The book shows $805,792.30 spent by September 30, 2025, which is nine months of the year. It then budgets $350,000 for 2026. The book is marked as an internal report that has not been audited or reviewed. We did not find a note in the documents we read that says what the legal work was.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$5,676,828price of phases 2 and 3 of the beachfront lands, with a 24-month Town mortgage and $250,000 down
After the end of 2025 the Town agreed to sell beachfront lands to Sunray Beach Drive Inc. for $7,680,000 in three phases. Phase 1, the hotel lands, is $2,003,172 plus HST. Phases 2 and 3 together are $5,676,828 plus HST. On phases 2 and 3 the Town is holding a "Vendor Take Back Mortgage" for 24 months at 5.75%. That means the Town is lending the buyer part of the price. The statements do not say how much. The down payment on those lands is $250,000, with a further $250,000 six months after closing and $500,000 at 12 months. There is an option to extend the mortgage a year at 8.75%. The Town says Sunray Group is contributing $1,500,000 toward development of festival square. The 2026 budget plans $5,323,000 of land sales and puts it into the Land reserve, which was forecast to be below zero at the end of 2025. The Town also holds a note receivable of $3,593,545 from a building company under a purchase agreement for "Phase 1 Lands". It carries no interest unless payment is demanded.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 6 sources
$17,000,000arena and library advances turned into a 25-year debenture at 4.79% after year end
A debenture is a long-term loan the Town pays back with interest. The Town built the Twinpad Arena and the Library partly with short-term advances from Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation (OILC). At December 31, 2025 it owed $17,000,000 on those advances. After year end the advances were turned into a 25-year debenture at 4.79%, maturing April 2051. The Town's budget forecast shows "Debenture principal and interest" of $3,365,350 in 2026, falling each year to $2,613,943 in 2030. The Town's other long-term debts at year end were $12,874,613, and the payment table in the audited statements does not include the new debenture. For 2026 the Town also plans to borrow $6,200,000 more, and its Beach Drive project is $32.0 million over several years. We could not tell from the documents whether the forecast includes a full year of payments on the new debenture.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 7 sources
-6,765,414.96estimated balance of the Library Service development charge account at December 31, 2025
A reserve is money the Town sets aside for a purpose. The Town's 2025-2026 reserves forecast shows eight accounts that are below zero at the estimated end of 2025. The six largest are Beachfront Rental Properties at -3,646,101.58, Internal Capital Financing at -5,928,797.83, Land at -1,771,349.79, and three accounts funded by development charges and grants: Indoor Recreation at -5,707,277.47, Library Service at -6,765,414.96 and the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program at -1,262,460.00. Together the total of all reserves, reserve funds and deferred revenue falls from 51,825,870.88 at September 30, 2025 to an estimated 41,029,244.62 at the end of 2025. The Town's own plan for the term of Council lists "Build the Town reserves back up". The Town explains that development charge collections have slowed because the housing market has not recovered. The audited statements show the development charges reserve fund fell from $4,749,308 to $521,062 in 2025.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$9,608,090forecast policing cost in 2030, against $6,337,880 budgeted for 2026
Wasaga Beach is policed by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), and the Town pays for it through the budget line "Police Services". The Town's five-year forecast has that line growing every year: $6,337,880 in 2026, $7,032,230 in 2027, $7,802,960 in 2028, $8,658,470 in 2029 and $9,608,090 in 2030. That is an increase of 51.6% over four years (worked out by us). In the same forecast the part of the budget paid from taxes goes from $37,716,070 to $47,164,877. The 2026 budget is lower than 2025: the 2025 budget was $6,790,360. But the revenue offsetting it was cut from $1,018,330 to $260,000. The audited statements say the Town cannot estimate its yearly OPP adjustment. We did not find a note in the documents we read explaining the forecast.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$8.5Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2025
At the end of 2025, $8.5M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 13% of everything billed. Only 3 of 24 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $6.8M.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$17Min temporary loans, end of 2025
At the end of 2025, Wasaga Beach owed $17M on temporary loans. That is like putting 16% of a year's income on a line of credit. This is short-term borrowing for building projects, which is normal while waiting for a grant or a long-term loan. But it was already $17M a year earlier, so it has lasted more than a year. Only 3 of 24 similar towns had any temporary loans at the end of 2025.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
10 dayspay suspension the Integrity Commissioner recommended on February 24, 2026
The Integrity Commissioner is an independent officer who decides whether a member of council broke the Town's Code of Conduct. In a report dated February 24, 2026, the Commissioner found that Councillor Sasha-Rose Dileo broke three rules of the Code in dealings with two staff members, and recommended that Council suspend her pay for 10 days. The report says it is the first time the Commissioner has found a member of Council in breach since the Commissioner's appointment in February 2023. The Code says Council must respond within 90 days of the day the report is laid before it. The Town posts the report on its Clerk's Office page. We could not read Council's minutes, so we do not know what Council decided. The councillor's written comments in the report say she disagrees with the accuracy of the accounts but accepts the decision.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$34,726.58printed total of council expenses for 2025, against $23,400.61 when the printed column totals are added (worked out by us)
The Treasurer's statement of council pay and expenses for 2025 (required by section 284 of the Municipal Act) lists each member's expenses in columns. For each member the column called "Total" at the end of the row is larger than the printed parts add up to. For the mayor the printed parts are $1,157.96 for meeting and conference expenses, no per diems, $600.00 for cellular and internet service, and no other items. Those add to $1,757.96 (worked out by us). The printed total is $2,915.92. The difference is $1,157.96, which is the meeting and conference figure again. The same gap shows in every row. The printed total of that column is $34,726.58, while the printed column totals for meetings, per diems, cellular service and other items add to $23,400.61 (worked out by us). The statement also shows the mayor was paid $34,800.12 by Wasaga Distribution & Resources, a company the Town owns, on top of $81,362.75 from the Town.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
26.1%rise in the Town's municipal tax rate between 2022 and 2026, as the Town reports it
The Town published a page in September 2026 because of "recent inquiries from the public" about how property taxes have changed. It says the total tax bill on a home with the same assessment rose 19.2% from 2022 to 2026, and that 15.1 percentage points of that came from the Town's part and 4.1 from the County's. It says the Town's municipal tax rate rose 26.1% between 2022 and 2026, and explains why that is a bigger number than 15.1%: the Town's part is only part of the bill. The Town's 2026 budget letter calls it "a status quo budget". The budget snapshot still shows a 3.43% increase in the Town's part, or $118.87 for the average household. The Town has explained how the numbers fit together. We did not find what caused the rise.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
+191%running the town office, 2019 to 2025
Wasaga Beach spent $3.8M on running the town office in 2019 and $11M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 2 of 24 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Running the town office | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +18% | +1% |
| 2021 | +15% | +4% |
| 2022 | +35% | +11% |
| 2023 | +50% | +16% |
| 2024 | +119% | +18% |
| 2025 | +191% | +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 Wasaga Beach? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Running the town office: 2019 $3.8M, 2020 $4.4M, 2021 $4.3M, 2022 $5.1M, 2023 $5.6M, 2024 $8.3M, 2025 $11M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Senior management, from $1.2M to $7.1M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 55%. Wasaga Beach ranks 3rd of 25.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 24 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
+120%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2025
Wasaga Beach spent $4.7M on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $10.4M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 1 of 24 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Parks, arena and library | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | −15% | +1% |
| 2021 | −7% | +4% |
| 2022 | +12% | +11% |
| 2023 | +47% | +16% |
| 2024 | +112% | +18% |
| 2025 | +120% | +21% |
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
When one area grows much faster than prices, it is either doing more (which may be great) or paying more for the same thing. Residents deserve to know which.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Wasaga Beach? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Parks, arena and library: 2019 $4.7M, 2020 $4.0M, 2021 $4.4M, 2022 $5.3M, 2023 $6.9M, 2024 $10M, 2025 $10.4M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Arena and buildings, from $1.9M to $4.8M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 74%. Wasaga Beach ranks 2nd of 25.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 24 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
$805,792.30spent on the corporate "Legal" line by September 30, 2025, against a $180,000 budget for the year
The 2026 budget book shows how each budget line did against its 2025 budget. Under corporate financing (costs that belong to the whole Town, not one department) there is a line called "Legal". It was budgeted at $180,000 for 2025. The book shows $805,792.30 spent by September 30, 2025, which is nine months of the year. It then budgets $350,000 for 2026. The book is marked as an internal report that has not been audited or reviewed. We did not find a note in the documents we read that says what the legal work was.
Legal fees can be a sign of a lawsuit, a big land deal or a dispute, and residents pay for all of them. A line that runs four times over budget in nine months should come with a plain explanation. Without one, residents cannot tell whether this was a one-time matter or a cost that will come back.
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 Wasaga Beach? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Legal fees paid in 2025, by matter type, with wording you can copy.
2026 Operating Budget Statement, Corporate Financing, expenditures: account 01-125-5125-05200 "Legal": budget 2025 180,000.00, actual 2025 (to Sep 30) 805,792.30, budget 2026 350,000.00. The page ends: "This report is for internal purposes only and has not been audited or reviewed."
2026 Mayor's Final Budget, Town of Wasaga Beach (operating and capital budgets and forecasts) · Operating Budget Statement, Corporate Financing, PDF page 93
2026 Operating Budget Statement, Council: account 01-110-5110-05936 "Integrity Commissioner": budget 2025 25,000.00, actual 2025 (to Sep 30) 5,334.77, budget 2026 25,000.00. The Integrity Commissioner line is separate, so it does not explain the gap on the Legal line.
2026 Mayor's Final Budget, Town of Wasaga Beach (operating and capital budgets and forecasts) · Operating Budget Statement, Council, PDF page 63
Note 5, Contingencies: "In the ordinary course of business, various claims and lawsuits are brought against the Municipality. No provision has been made for pending expropriations of land beyond the payments already made to affected property owners. Any payment made by the Municipality pursuant to claims, lawsuits or expropriations will be charged in the year of settlement."
The Corporation of the Town of Wasaga Beach, Consolidated Financial Report, December 31, 2025 (Baker Tilly SGB LLP, June 25, 2026) · Note 5, Contingencies, PDF page 16 (printed page 14)
$5,676,828price of phases 2 and 3 of the beachfront lands, with a 24-month Town mortgage and $250,000 down
After the end of 2025 the Town agreed to sell beachfront lands to Sunray Beach Drive Inc. for $7,680,000 in three phases. Phase 1, the hotel lands, is $2,003,172 plus HST. Phases 2 and 3 together are $5,676,828 plus HST. On phases 2 and 3 the Town is holding a "Vendor Take Back Mortgage" for 24 months at 5.75%. That means the Town is lending the buyer part of the price. The statements do not say how much. The down payment on those lands is $250,000, with a further $250,000 six months after closing and $500,000 at 12 months. There is an option to extend the mortgage a year at 8.75%. The Town says Sunray Group is contributing $1,500,000 toward development of festival square. The 2026 budget plans $5,323,000 of land sales and puts it into the Land reserve, which was forecast to be below zero at the end of 2025. The Town also holds a note receivable of $3,593,545 from a building company under a purchase agreement for "Phase 1 Lands". It carries no interest unless payment is demanded.
The Town is the seller and also the lender. If the buyer pays late or the project stalls, the money the Town counted on arrives late too. At the same time, the Town has debt of its own to pay, so the timing of this money matters to residents.
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 Wasaga Beach? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Vendor Take Back Mortgage terms for the beachfront lands, with wording you can copy.
Note 27, Subsequent events: "Subsequent to year end the Town has entered into an Agreement of Purchase and Sale of Beachfront lands to Sunray Beach Drive Inc. The terms of the agreement reflect a total price of $7,680,000 reflected over three phases. Phase 1 are the hotel lands with a purchase price of $2,003,172 plus HST. Phase 2 and 3 lands are presented as one amount for $5,676,828 plus HST. There is a Vendor Take Back Mortgage on Phase 2 and 3 lands for 24 months with interest at 5.75%. There is an option to extend the mortgage for a one year term at an interest rate of 8.75%."
The Corporation of the Town of Wasaga Beach, Consolidated Financial Report, December 31, 2025 (Baker Tilly SGB LLP, June 25, 2026) · Note 27, Subsequent events, PDF page 28 (printed page 26)
Note 27 continues: "The sale is scheduled for July 6, 2026 with a down payment of $250,000 on the Phase 2 and 3 lands. A deposit of $200,000 for the Phase 1 lands has already been provided. For the Phase 2 and 3 lands, there is a paydown of $250,000 6 months after closing, and another paydown amount of $500,000 at the end of 12 months. Sunray Group is contributing $1,500,000 towards the development of festival square."
The Corporation of the Town of Wasaga Beach, Consolidated Financial Report, December 31, 2025 (Baker Tilly SGB LLP, June 25, 2026) · Note 27, Subsequent events, PDF page 28 (printed page 26)
Note 6, Note receivable: "The Town holds a note receivable from Stonebridge Building Group Inc. with a principal balance of $3,593,545 (2024 - $NIL). The note is non-interest bearing unless payment is demanded in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement, at which time interest accrues at 5% per annum, compounded annually, on any amounts outstanding thereafter. The balance is due the earlier of five years from issuance or through unit-by-unit repayments in accordance with the related Phase 1 Lands as defined in the Purchase Agreement."
The Corporation of the Town of Wasaga Beach, Consolidated Financial Report, December 31, 2025 (Baker Tilly SGB LLP, June 25, 2026) · Note 6, Note receivable, PDF page 16 (printed page 14)
2026 Capital Budget Statement, Property Acquisitions & Sales: account 02-124-2124-03025 "Sale of Land": budget 2025 6,109,570.00, actual 2025 (to Sep 30) 2,600,000.00, budget 2026 5,323,000.00. Account 02-124-2124-05920 "Purchase of Land": budget 2025 1,200,000.00, actual 2025 (to Sep 30) 5,199,168.73, budget 2026 0.00. "Transfer to Reserves" for 2026: 5,323,000.00.
2026 Mayor's Final Budget, Town of Wasaga Beach (operating and capital budgets and forecasts) · Capital Budget Statement, Property Acquisitions & Sales, PDF page 66
2025-2026 Reserves Forecast: "Reserves: Land": balance September 30, 2025 228,650.21; estimated balance December 31, 2025 -1,771,349.79; 2026 allocation 5,323,000.00; 2026 utilization -1,492,220.00; estimated balance December 31, 2026 2,059,430.21.
2026 Mayor's Final Budget, Town of Wasaga Beach (operating and capital budgets and forecasts) · Reserves Forecast, General Reserves, PDF page 172
Note 15, Temporary loans: "Subsequent to year end the advances were converted to a 25 year debenture bearing interest at 4.79%, maturing April 2051."
The Corporation of the Town of Wasaga Beach, Consolidated Financial Report, December 31, 2025 (Baker Tilly SGB LLP, June 25, 2026) · Note 15, PDF page 20 (printed page 18)
$17,000,000arena and library advances turned into a 25-year debenture at 4.79% after year end
A debenture is a long-term loan the Town pays back with interest. The Town built the Twinpad Arena and the Library partly with short-term advances from Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation (OILC). At December 31, 2025 it owed $17,000,000 on those advances. After year end the advances were turned into a 25-year debenture at 4.79%, maturing April 2051. The Town's budget forecast shows "Debenture principal and interest" of $3,365,350 in 2026, falling each year to $2,613,943 in 2030. The Town's other long-term debts at year end were $12,874,613, and the payment table in the audited statements does not include the new debenture. For 2026 the Town also plans to borrow $6,200,000 more, and its Beach Drive project is $32.0 million over several years. We could not tell from the documents whether the forecast includes a full year of payments on the new debenture.
Debt payments come out of the tax levy and from fees. If a $17,000,000 debenture is not fully in the forecast, future tax increases could be larger than the forecast shows. If it is in the forecast, residents deserve to see how payments can fall while debt rises.
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 Wasaga Beach? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Debt payment schedule behind the 2026 to 2030 forecast, with wording you can copy.
Note 15, Temporary loans: OILC "made long-term financing available up to a maximum of $33,500,000 for the acquisition of tangible capital assets related to the Twinpad Arena and Library infrastructure projects." "As at December 31, 2025 the Municipality received $17,000,000 in advances from OILC related to this agreement for the Twinpad Arena and Library. Subsequent to year end the advances were converted to a 25 year debenture bearing interest at 4.79%, maturing April 2051." The facility ends on "September 29, 2026".
The Corporation of the Town of Wasaga Beach, Consolidated Financial Report, December 31, 2025 (Baker Tilly SGB LLP, June 25, 2026) · Note 15, Temporary loans, PDF page 20 (printed page 18)
Statement of financial position: "Temporary loans (Note 15)" 17,000,000 (2024 17,000,000); "Long-term liabilities (Note 16)" 12,874,613 (2024 11,275,916). Note 16 payments for the next 5 years (long-term liabilities in the note only): 2026 principal 1,386,952, interest 437,216, total 1,824,168. Note 16 says the payments "are within the annual debt repayment limit prescribed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs".
The Corporation of the Town of Wasaga Beach, Consolidated Financial Report, December 31, 2025 (Baker Tilly SGB LLP, June 25, 2026) · Statement of financial position, PDF page 6 (printed page 4); Note 16, PDF page 21 (printed page 19)
Operating and Capital Forecasts, "Debenture principal and interest": 2026 3,365,350; 2027 3,061,712; 2028 2,659,509; 2029 2,624,600; 2030 2,613,943.
2026 Mayor's Final Budget, Town of Wasaga Beach (operating and capital budgets and forecasts) · Operating and Capital Forecasts, PDF page 171
2026 Operating Budget Statement, Debentures: "Construction Financing Interest - TPAL" budget 2025 754,800.00, actual 2025 (to Sep 30) 440,523.57, budget 2026 135,000.00; "Construction Financing Interest - Beach Drive" 2026 137,500.00; "Loan Interest - County of Simcoe" 2026 102,000.00; total debenture expenditures budget 2026 3,365,350.00.
2026 Mayor's Final Budget, Town of Wasaga Beach (operating and capital budgets and forecasts) · Operating Budget Statement, Debentures, PDF page 92
2026 Capital Budget Detail, summary of funding: "LOAN PROCEEDS (BORROWING) 6,200,000". Beach Drive Reconstruction capital expenditure 13,556,850; "WPCP Inlet Building Barscreen Retrofit" 3,185,000 with 2,500,000 from loan proceeds.
2026 Mayor's Final Budget, Town of Wasaga Beach (operating and capital budgets and forecasts) · Capital Budget Detail, PDF pages 54 and 57
2026 Budget Snapshot, capital highlights: "Beach Drive Reconstruction $13.56M in 2026, Multi-Year Project Total: $32.0M, Tax-Supported: $0".
2026 Budget Snapshot, Town of Wasaga Beach (updated September 2026) · Capital Budget Highlights, PDF page 2
Budget letter from the treasurer: the Town "with favourable sustainability financial indicators, (low debt relative to own source revenues; high cash ratio relative to liabilities; low tax receivables relative to tax levy)".
2026 Mayor's Final Budget, Town of Wasaga Beach (operating and capital budgets and forecasts) · Municipal Budget Overview, treasurer's letter, PDF page 6
-6,765,414.96estimated balance of the Library Service development charge account at December 31, 2025
A reserve is money the Town sets aside for a purpose. The Town's 2025-2026 reserves forecast shows eight accounts that are below zero at the estimated end of 2025. The six largest are Beachfront Rental Properties at -3,646,101.58, Internal Capital Financing at -5,928,797.83, Land at -1,771,349.79, and three accounts funded by development charges and grants: Indoor Recreation at -5,707,277.47, Library Service at -6,765,414.96 and the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program at -1,262,460.00. Together the total of all reserves, reserve funds and deferred revenue falls from 51,825,870.88 at September 30, 2025 to an estimated 41,029,244.62 at the end of 2025. The Town's own plan for the term of Council lists "Build the Town reserves back up". The Town explains that development charge collections have slowed because the housing market has not recovered. The audited statements show the development charges reserve fund fell from $4,749,308 to $521,062 in 2025.
When a reserve is below zero, the Town has spent money it has not yet collected, usually by borrowing from its own other accounts. That works if the money arrives later. If development charges stay low, residents may end up paying the difference through taxes or fees.
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 Wasaga Beach? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
2025-2026 Reserves Forecast, General Reserves, estimated balance December 31, 2025: "Reserves: Beachfront Rental Properties" -3,646,101.58 (September 30, 2025: -3,562,704.29); "Reserves: Land" -1,771,349.79; "Reserves: Internal Capital Financing" -5,928,797.83 (estimated December 31, 2026: -6,182,807.83); "Reserves: Tax Rate Stabilization" 1,229,424.63 (estimated December 31, 2026: 791,204.63).
2026 Mayor's Final Budget, Town of Wasaga Beach (operating and capital budgets and forecasts) · Reserves Forecast, General Reserves, PDF page 172
2025-2026 Reserves Forecast, Obligatory Reserve Funds, estimated balance December 31, 2025: "Oblig RF: Indoor Recreation" -5,707,277.47 (estimated December 31, 2026: -5,779,407.47); "Oblig RF: Library Service" -6,765,414.96 (estimated December 31, 2026: -7,020,134.96); "Oblig RF: Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (HESC)" -1,262,460.00. "Total Reserves & Reserve Funds / Deferred Revenue": September 30, 2025 51,825,870.88; estimated December 31, 2025 41,029,244.62; estimated December 31, 2026 43,146,968.17.
2026 Mayor's Final Budget, Town of Wasaga Beach (operating and capital budgets and forecasts) · Reserves Forecast, Obligatory Reserve Funds, PDF page 173
Strategic plan actions, "U. Financial Sustainability": "74 Build the Town reserves back up".
2026 Mayor's Final Budget, Town of Wasaga Beach (operating and capital budgets and forecasts) · Term of Council Priorities, PDF page 31
Budget letter: "the real estate market has yet to begin to return to normal levels. This is slowing down the reserve activity for development charge collections, and creating a new situation with a need for resiliency in our planning."
2026 Mayor's Final Budget, Town of Wasaga Beach (operating and capital budgets and forecasts) · Municipal Budget Overview, treasurer's letter, PDF page 5
Note 14, Obligatory reserve funds: "Development charges act" 521,062 (2024 4,749,308); "Canada Community Building Fund and Provincial gas tax allocation" 2,055,242 (2024 3,649,841); total deferred revenue at end of year 8,707,534 (2024 15,675,218). Note 19: "Tax rate stabilization" 1,463,228 (2024 1,512,315); "Operating/Working funds" 7,714,979 (2024 10,199,162).
The Corporation of the Town of Wasaga Beach, Consolidated Financial Report, December 31, 2025 (Baker Tilly SGB LLP, June 25, 2026) · Note 14, PDF page 20 (printed page 18); Note 19, PDF page 23 (printed page 21)
$9,608,090forecast policing cost in 2030, against $6,337,880 budgeted for 2026
Wasaga Beach is policed by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), and the Town pays for it through the budget line "Police Services". The Town's five-year forecast has that line growing every year: $6,337,880 in 2026, $7,032,230 in 2027, $7,802,960 in 2028, $8,658,470 in 2029 and $9,608,090 in 2030. That is an increase of 51.6% over four years (worked out by us). In the same forecast the part of the budget paid from taxes goes from $37,716,070 to $47,164,877. The 2026 budget is lower than 2025: the 2025 budget was $6,790,360. But the revenue offsetting it was cut from $1,018,330 to $260,000. The audited statements say the Town cannot estimate its yearly OPP adjustment. We did not find a note in the documents we read explaining the forecast.
Policing is the second biggest line paid from property taxes (14.9% of the tax-supported budget, in the Town's own snapshot). If the forecast is right, it will drive much of the tax increases over the next four years. If it is a placeholder, residents should know that too.
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 Wasaga Beach? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Operating and Capital Forecasts, "Police Services": 2026 6,337,880; 2027 7,032,230; 2028 7,802,960; 2029 8,658,470; 2030 9,608,090. "Net Operating Expenditures - to be funded from taxation": 2026 (37,716,070); 2027 (40,053,279); 2028 (42,341,851); 2029 (44,625,015); 2030 (47,164,877).
2026 Mayor's Final Budget, Town of Wasaga Beach (operating and capital budgets and forecasts) · Operating and Capital Forecasts, PDF page 171
2026 Operating Budget Summary, Police Services: revenue budget 2025 1,018,330.00, actual 2025 (to Sep 30) 99,268.63, budget 2026 260,000.00; expenditures budget 2025 6,790,360.00, actual 2025 (to Sep 30) 4,282,361.15, budget 2026 6,337,880.00.
2026 Mayor's Final Budget, Town of Wasaga Beach (operating and capital budgets and forecasts) · Operating Budget Summary, Office of the CAO, PDF page 37
Note 5, Contingencies, part (b): "Annually, the Municipality is unable to estimate its Ontario Provincial Police adjustment. As a result, any adjustment is recorded in the year in which it is received or paid."
The Corporation of the Town of Wasaga Beach, Consolidated Financial Report, December 31, 2025 (Baker Tilly SGB LLP, June 25, 2026) · Note 5, Contingencies, PDF page 16 (printed page 14)
2026 Budget Snapshot, tax-supported budget of $40,684,870 by area: "14.9% Police Services (OPP)", second only to "20.2% Public Works".
2026 Budget Snapshot, Town of Wasaga Beach (updated September 2026) · Tax-supported budget breakdown, PDF page 1
$8.5Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2025
At the end of 2025, $8.5M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 13% of everything billed. Only 3 of 24 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $6.8M.
| Year | Unpaid property tax at year end |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $2.6M |
| 2020 | $2.8M |
| 2021 | $3.4M |
| 2022 | $4.3M |
| 2023 | $6.0M |
| 2024 | $6.8M |
| 2025 | $8.5M |
When taxes go unpaid, everyone else carries the cost, and the town may borrow to cover the gap. The Province's financial indicators treat 10% to 15% as a moderate risk and more than 15% as a high risk. Collection is the town's job, so a rising number is worth asking about.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
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Taxes receivable: 2019 $2.6M, 2020 $2.8M, 2021 $3.4M, 2022 $4.3M, 2023 $6.0M, 2024 $6.8M, 2025 $8.5M. Of the 2025 total, $1.7M was from earlier years.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 70, lines 0610 to 0699 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: 7.1% of taxes billed.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 24 similar municipalities · Schedules 26 and 70 · archived copy
$17Min temporary loans, end of 2025
At the end of 2025, Wasaga Beach owed $17M on temporary loans. That is like putting 16% of a year's income on a line of credit. This is short-term borrowing for building projects, which is normal while waiting for a grant or a long-term loan. But it was already $17M a year earlier, so it has lasted more than a year. Only 3 of 24 similar towns had any temporary loans at the end of 2025.
| Year | Temporary loans |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $0 |
| 2020 | $0 |
| 2021 | $3.0M |
| 2022 | $5.0M |
| 2023 | $17M |
| 2024 | $17M |
| 2025 | $17M |
Short-term loans usually cost more interest and can be called in. If they roll over year after year, the town is really carrying debt that does not show up as long-term debt.
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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Temporary loans: 2019 $0, 2020 $0, 2021 $3.0M, 2022 $5.0M, 2023 $17M, 2024 $17M, 2025 $17M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 70, line 2099 · archived copy
10 dayspay suspension the Integrity Commissioner recommended on February 24, 2026
The Integrity Commissioner is an independent officer who decides whether a member of council broke the Town's Code of Conduct. In a report dated February 24, 2026, the Commissioner found that Councillor Sasha-Rose Dileo broke three rules of the Code in dealings with two staff members, and recommended that Council suspend her pay for 10 days. The report says it is the first time the Commissioner has found a member of Council in breach since the Commissioner's appointment in February 2023. The Code says Council must respond within 90 days of the day the report is laid before it. The Town posts the report on its Clerk's Office page. We could not read Council's minutes, so we do not know what Council decided. The councillor's written comments in the report say she disagrees with the accuracy of the accounts but accepts the decision.
A Code of Conduct only means something if Council acts on what the Commissioner finds. The decision is in Council's hands, and the penalty is a matter of public pay. Residents should be able to find out what Council decided and when.
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The Commissioner's decision says Councillor Dileo contravened Rules 7, 12 and 13 of the Code of Conduct in two interactions with Town staff, on May 30, 2024 and June 6, 2025.
Integrity Commissioner, Investigation Report IC-35656-0825 (February 24, 2026) · Decision and Publication, printed page 43
"I recommend that Council suspend Councillor Dileo's pay for 10 days, for the incidents described within this Report. However, pursuant to sections 9(1) and (2) of the Formal Complaint Procedure to the Code of Conduct, the ultimate decision-making power (along with a responsibility to formally decide) lies with Council."
Integrity Commissioner, Investigation Report IC-35656-0825 (February 24, 2026) · Decision and Publication, printed pages 45 to 46
"This is my first Report finding a contravention of the Code of Conduct by Councillor Dileo (or indeed, any Member of Town Council) since my February 2023 appointment."
Integrity Commissioner, Investigation Report IC-35656-0825 (February 24, 2026) · Decision and Publication, printed page 45
Formal Complaint Procedure, section 9(1), as printed in the report: "Council shall consider and respond to the report within 90 days after the day the report is laid before it." Section 9(4) lists the penalties Council may impose: a reprimand, or suspension of pay "for a period of up to 90 days".
Integrity Commissioner, Investigation Report IC-35656-0825 (February 24, 2026) · Decision and Publication, printed pages 43 to 44
Councillor Dileo's written comments, January 21, 2026, reprinted in the report: "While I do not agree with the accuracy of those accounts, I respectfully accept your decision."
Integrity Commissioner, Investigation Report IC-35656-0825 (February 24, 2026) · Post-draft comments by Councillor Dileo, printed page 46
$34,726.58printed total of council expenses for 2025, against $23,400.61 when the printed column totals are added (worked out by us)
The Treasurer's statement of council pay and expenses for 2025 (required by section 284 of the Municipal Act) lists each member's expenses in columns. For each member the column called "Total" at the end of the row is larger than the printed parts add up to. For the mayor the printed parts are $1,157.96 for meeting and conference expenses, no per diems, $600.00 for cellular and internet service, and no other items. Those add to $1,757.96 (worked out by us). The printed total is $2,915.92. The difference is $1,157.96, which is the meeting and conference figure again. The same gap shows in every row. The printed total of that column is $34,726.58, while the printed column totals for meetings, per diems, cellular service and other items add to $23,400.61 (worked out by us). The statement also shows the mayor was paid $34,800.12 by Wasaga Distribution & Resources, a company the Town owns, on top of $81,362.75 from the Town.
This statement is how residents check what council members cost. A total that is about $11,000 too high gives the wrong picture, even if no money was misspent. It is also easy to fix.
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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Expense Reimbursements, Brian Smith: reimbursed to member 987.93, paid for directly by Town 170.03, meeting and conference total 1,157.96, per diems "-", cellular phone/internet 600.00, other items "-", total 2,915.92. Column totals row: 3,406.22; 7,919.74; 11,325.96; 2,520.00; 7,800.00; 1,754.65; total 34,726.58.
2025 Treasurer's Statement on Council Remuneration and Expenses, Town of Wasaga Beach · Expense Reimbursements table, PDF page 1
Expense Reimbursements, Tanya Snell: meeting and conference total 67.49, cellular phone/internet 1,200.00, total 1,334.98. Joseph Belanger: meeting and conference total 2,917.73, per diems 700.00, cellular 1,200.00, other items 1,298.69, total 9,034.14. Ellen Timms: meeting and conference total 3,377.27, per diems 1,260.00, cellular 1,200.00, total 9,214.53.
2025 Treasurer's Statement on Council Remuneration and Expenses, Town of Wasaga Beach · Expense Reimbursements table, PDF page 1
Remuneration table, Brian Smith: gross employment income 67,530.39, benefits 13,832.36, Town total 81,362.75, Wasaga Distribution & Resources 34,800.12, Huronia OPP Detachment Board 350.00, member of council total 116,512.87. Column totals: gross employment income $269,307.88, total $372,362.01.
2025 Treasurer's Statement on Council Remuneration and Expenses, Town of Wasaga Beach · Remuneration table, PDF page 1
26.1%rise in the Town's municipal tax rate between 2022 and 2026, as the Town reports it
The Town published a page in September 2026 because of "recent inquiries from the public" about how property taxes have changed. It says the total tax bill on a home with the same assessment rose 19.2% from 2022 to 2026, and that 15.1 percentage points of that came from the Town's part and 4.1 from the County's. It says the Town's municipal tax rate rose 26.1% between 2022 and 2026, and explains why that is a bigger number than 15.1%: the Town's part is only part of the bill. The Town's 2026 budget letter calls it "a status quo budget". The budget snapshot still shows a 3.43% increase in the Town's part, or $118.87 for the average household. The Town has explained how the numbers fit together. We did not find what caused the rise.
A rise of about a quarter in the Town's own rate over four years is large. The Town's page explains the arithmetic but not the causes. Residents are about to vote and will want to know what the extra money bought.
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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"Property Taxes Increased 19.2% since 2022; 15.1% of the overall property tax bill increase is attributable to municipal taxes." Table: Municipal portion 15.10%, County portion 4.10%, Education portion 0.00%, total 19.20%. "Residents may hear that the municipal tax rate increased by 26.1% between 2022 and 2026." On a $1,000 bill in 2022: municipal $151, county $41, total $192.
Property Tax Changes: 2022 to 2026, Town of Wasaga Beach (September 2026) · Property Tax Changes: 2022 to 2026, PDF page 1
2026 Budget Snapshot, impact on your 2026 property tax bill: "3.43% Town of Wasaga Beach increase", "3.50% County of Simcoe increase", "3.01% Blended Property Tax Rate Increase". "$118.87 increase for average household with residential assessment of $333K". Town of Wasaga Beach share $2,493.94.
2026 Budget Snapshot, Town of Wasaga Beach (updated September 2026) · Average 2026 Household Tax Bill, PDF page 3
Mayor's letter: "This is a status quo budget -- one that holds the line on spending, protects the essential services you depend on, and keeps Wasaga Beach on a sustainable path forward."
2026 Mayor's Final Budget, Town of Wasaga Beach (operating and capital budgets and forecasts) · Mayor's letter, PDF page 3
Operating and Capital Forecasts, "Net Operating Expenditures - to be funded from taxation": 2026 (37,716,070); 2027 (40,053,279); 2028 (42,341,851); 2029 (44,625,015); 2030 (47,164,877).
2026 Mayor's Final Budget, Town of Wasaga Beach (operating and capital budgets and forecasts) · Operating and Capital Forecasts, PDF page 171