Steve Lesperance for CKL Councillor Ward 8

YOUR MONEY

City finances, explained honestly

The budget, the levy, reserves, and debt in plain language, with official sources, and without oversimplified math.

THE CURRENT BUDGET

The 2026 budget at a glance

OFFICIAL SOURCE

$472 million total budget

Adopted November 25, 2025. Covers operating, capital, special projects, and water and wastewater.
Source: City of Kawartha Lakes, 2026 Budget adoption noticeYear: 2025Accessed: August 25, 2026View source
OFFICIAL SOURCE

About $136.5 million general tax levy

The general levy adopted for 2026 is $136,538,998. The 5.9% levy increase is 2.9% operations, 2.0% dedicated capital, and 1.0% special area rates for policing and Lindsay Transit.
Source: City of Kawartha Lakes Council, 2026 taxation estimatesYear: 2026Accessed: August 25, 2026View source
OFFICIAL SOURCE

$126 million capital program

2026 capital spending includes about $58.9 million for roads and bridges, $48.2 million for facilities and siteworks, and $19.7 million for fleet and equipment.
Source: City of Kawartha Lakes, 2026 tax insertYear: 2026Accessed: August 25, 2026View source

NO OVERSIMPLIFIED MATH

How the budget is actually funded

Property taxes are one source among several. Describing this correctly is part of honest accountability.

Property taxes (the levy)

The tax bill on homes, farms, and businesses. For 2026, the general levy is about $136.5 million.

User fees and rates

Water and wastewater bills, transit fares, permits, and recreation fees. Water and wastewater largely pay for themselves through rates, not property taxes.

Provincial and federal funding

Grants and transfers for specific programs, infrastructure, and services.

Development charges

Fees on new construction that help pay for the growth-related infrastructure it requires.

Reserves and debt

Savings set aside for future needs, and borrowing for major long-life projects, both governed by policy and provincial rules.

A common mistake to avoid

Do not subtract the property tax levy from the total budget and call everything left a shortfall. The difference is funded by the other revenue sources above. Real accountability questions are about value and cost growth, not fabricated gaps.

THE DEEP RECORDS

Deficits, surpluses, reserves, and debt

These live in the City's audited statements and financial plans. Go straight to the official records.

Audited financial statements

The independently audited year-end statements: reserves, debt, surpluses, and spending by category.

View official statements

Budget documents and long-term plan

The City's budget portal: current budget books, the long-term financial plan, and updates.

View the budget portal

Council reports and minutes

The official record of financial decisions as Council makes them.

View Council records
QUESTION I AM ASKING

Is spending growing faster than population, inflation, and the services residents actually receive?

QUESTION I AM ASKING

Are reserves and debt being used for long-term value, or to smooth over structural cost growth?

STEVE'S POSITION

Cut the cost of government before asking taxpayers for more.

The numbers above are the honest starting point. The work is making sure every one of those dollars produces value, and showing that work in public.

The Lower Taxes Plan Savings Tracker

PLAIN ANSWERS

Common questions

YOUR NEXT STEP

Now watch the money being tracked, item by item.

Open the Savings Tracker

Or see the Sunshine List dashboard