Keeping taxes low is putting residents first

Borrowing can be a useful tool, but it should never become the Town’s first solution to every challenge. Just as families carefully consider taking on debt, your municipal government should do the same.

As Mayor, I will champion a Budget Before Borrowing policy that requires every major project to first demonstrate that all reasonable alternatives have been explored before new debt is approved. That means examining available reserves, pursuing provincial and federal grants, considering partnerships where appropriate, phasing projects over time, and identifying opportunities to reduce costs through better planning.

When borrowing is necessary, residents deserve to know exactly why. Every proposal involving new debt should clearly explain:

• Why borrowing is required.
• What alternatives were considered.
• The total cost of borrowing, including interest.
• How long taxpayers will be repaying the debt.
• The long-term impact on future budgets and property taxes.

And if borrowing does occur, it should not disappear into the background.

Every approved borrowing decision should be publicly tracked through a municipal debt dashboard showing the amount borrowed, purpose of the borrowing, repayment schedule, interest costs, remaining balance, and impact on future budgets.

This is part of a larger commitment to Show Your Work Government: if taxpayers are being asked to carry the cost, they deserve to see the full picture.

Responsible borrowing is not about avoiding investment in our community. It is about ensuring that debt is used thoughtfully, transparently, and only when it delivers lasting value for residents.

Every dollar borrowed today is a commitment made on behalf of tomorrow’s taxpayers. That decision should never be taken lightly.

My commitment is simple: Budget and look for efficiencies before borrowing, borrow only when necessary, and publicly track every dollar.  It is your money and you deserve to know what it is doing.

One of the guiding principles of my campaign is simple:

Show Your Work.

When students are asked to solve a math problem, they are expected to show how they arrived at the answer. Municipal government should be no different. Residents shouldn't be expected to simply trust that decisions are being made wisely, they should be able to see the facts, the process, and the results for themselves.

That principle applies just as much to public finances as it does to public policy.

As Mayor, I will champion a Show Your Spending initiative that gives residents a clear, ongoing picture of how their tax dollars are being managed. Financial information shouldn't be hidden in hundreds of pages of reports or presented only during budget season. It should be available throughout the year in a format that is easy to find, easy to understand, and regularly updated.

The Town will develop a public financial dashboard that tracks:

• Current spending compared to the approved budget.
• Major capital project budgets and expenditures.
• Borrowing and outstanding debt.
• Reserve fund balances.
• Major contract awards.
• Significant unbudgeted expenditures.
• Quarterly financial summaries written in plain language.

Major projects will also have their own public dashboard showing the approved budget, spending to date, construction progress, schedule updates, and any approved changes to cost or scope. If a project exceeds its budget or falls behind schedule, residents shouldn't have to wait until year-end to find out—they should be able to see what happened, why it happened, and what is being done to correct it.

This isn't about creating more paperwork. It's about creating greater confidence in local government.

When residents can see where their money is going, understand why decisions were made, and follow projects from approval to completion, government becomes more accountable, taxpayers become better informed, and public trust grows stronger.

Show Your Work isn't just a slogan. It is a commitment to open, understandable, and accountable government—where every major financial decision can be followed, every dollar can be tracked, and every resident can see how their investment in Wasaga Beach is being managed.

The land owned by the Town of Wasaga Beach belongs to every resident. Whether it is being purchased, sold, leased, or exchanged, every decision involving public land should be based on objective evidence, not assumptions.

As Mayor, I will champion an Independent Value for Municipal Land policy requiring that every significant municipal land transaction be supported by one or more independent professional appraisals before Council makes a final decision.

The purpose is simple: taxpayers deserve confidence that public assets are being managed responsibly and that every transaction reflects fair market value.

Whenever legally possible, the independent appraisals, supporting reports, and the Town's rationale for the transaction will be made public. Residents should be able to see not only the proposed price, but how that price was determined and why the transaction is in the community's best interest.

Every major land transaction will include a public summary that explains:

• The independent appraised value.
• The proposed purchase or sale price.
• Why the transaction is being recommended.
• The financial benefits and risks.
• Any ongoing obligations or commitments.
• Any conditions attached to the agreement.

Where confidentiality is legally required during negotiations, it should be limited to protecting the Town's negotiating position, not withholding information indefinitely. Once negotiations are complete, the appraisals and supporting information should be released wherever legally permissible so residents can understand the basis for Council's decision.

This is another example of Show Your Work Government in action.

When public land changes hands, the public should be able to see the evidence, understand the reasoning, and evaluate the decision for themselves. Transparency doesn't end when a vote is taken, it begins with giving residents the information they need to hold their government accountable.

Public land is one of Wasaga Beach's most valuable assets. By requiring independent valuations, publishing the supporting information, and making decisions based on evidence, we will better protect taxpayers, strengthen public confidence, and ensure every land transaction stands up to public scrutiny.

Families build a budget so they can plan for the future. Your municipal government should do the same.

While emergencies can happen, significant unbudgeted spending should be the exception, not a regular way of doing business. Every dollar spent outside the approved budget reduces financial flexibility, increases uncertainty, and can place additional pressure on future property taxes or borrowing.

As Mayor, I will champion a No Surprise Spending policy that strengthens financial discipline and ensures taxpayers are informed before major unbudgeted expenditures are approved.

Before Council approves any significant spending that was not included in the annual budget, residents should be provided with a clear public explanation that answers five simple questions:

• Why was this expense not included in the approved budget?
• Is the expenditure mandatory, urgent, or discretionary?
• How will it be paid for?
• What effect will it have on the current budget, reserves, borrowing, or future tax rates?
• What alternatives were considered?

Every significant unbudgeted expenditure will also be added to the Town's public financial dashboard, allowing residents to see when it was approved, its cost, the funding source, and the current status of the project.

This is another example of Show Your Work Government. If taxpayers are being asked to fund an expense that wasn't part of the approved budget, they deserve to understand why the change is necessary and what impact it will have on the Town's finances.

Good financial management is built on careful planning, realistic budgeting, and accountability. The better we plan, the fewer financial surprises residents should face. By reducing unnecessary unbudgeted spending and making every exception transparent, we can strengthen public confidence, protect taxpayers, and keep Wasaga Beach on a more predictable and sustainable financial path.

Wasaga Beach should continue to grow—but growth must be planned responsibly and paid for fairly.

Too often, communities approve new development without ensuring that the roads, water systems, sewer capacity, parks, drainage, and other infrastructure needed to support that growth are funded. The result is that existing taxpayers are left paying for infrastructure that should have been planned for from the beginning.

As Mayor, I will champion a Growth Pays for Growth policy that works to ensure new development contributes fairly toward the infrastructure and municipal services it requires, helping protect existing residents from unnecessary financial burdens.

Before major developments are approved, the Town should clearly identify:

• What infrastructure improvements are required.
• How those improvements will be funded.
• What costs will be covered by development.
• What costs, if any, will be the responsibility of the municipality.
• The long-term operating and maintenance costs once the infrastructure is built.

These financial impacts should be publicly available so residents can understand how growth affects their community and their property taxes.

This is another example of Show Your Work Government. Growth decisions should be supported by transparent financial analysis, not assumptions. Residents deserve to know who is paying for new infrastructure, what commitments are being made, and what the long-term financial implications will be.

Responsible growth benefits everyone. New development expands the tax base, supports local businesses, and creates new opportunities—but only when it is matched by responsible financial planning.

Growth should strengthen Wasaga Beach, not strain it. By planning ahead, making costs transparent, and ensuring development contributes fairly to the infrastructure it requires, we can welcome new investment while protecting the taxpayers who already call Wasaga Beach home..

When the Town enters into major contracts or development agreements, taxpayers deserve more than promises, they deserve protection.

As Mayor, I will champion a Performance Before Payment policy that ensures public money and public assets are protected by strong contractual safeguards. The Town should receive the performance it was promised before the full value of public funds or public benefits is released.

Major municipal contracts should be structured around clearly defined milestones, with payments tied to measurable progress whenever practical. 

Development agreements should include appropriate financial protections to ensure commitments are fulfilled and taxpayers are not left carrying unnecessary risk if projects are delayed, abandoned, or significantly changed.

Depending on the nature of the project, these protections may include:

• Performance bonds.
• Construction and completion milestones.
• Holdbacks until obligations are fulfilled.
• Letters of credit or other financial security.
• Parent company guarantees where appropriate.
• Clearly defined default provisions and remedies.

These protections are not about discouraging investment, they are about creating certainty for everyone involved. Responsible developers benefit from clear expectations, while taxpayers gain confidence that public interests are being protected.

This is another example of Show Your Work Government. Residents should be able to understand what commitments have been made, what protections are in place, and how the Town will ensure those commitments are fulfilled. 

Wherever legally possible, the key terms of significant agreements and the safeguards protecting taxpayers should be made available to the public.

Trust is built through accountability. By ensuring performance comes before payment, Wasaga Beach can encourage investment, reduce financial risk, and demonstrate that every major agreement is built on responsibility, transparency, and protecting the public interest.

Keeping taxes low isn't just about spending less—it's about spending wisely.

Every dollar collected from taxpayers should deliver the greatest possible value to the community. That means regularly reviewing how municipal programs, services, and operations are performing and asking a simple question:

Are residents receiving good value for their tax dollars?

As Mayor, I will champion a Value for Money Reviews program that regularly examines municipal operations to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, eliminate unnecessary costs, modernize outdated processes, and improve service delivery without reducing the quality of services residents depend on.

These reviews will focus on questions such as:

• Can this service be delivered more efficiently?
• Are we achieving the results residents expect?
• Are there better technologies or processes available?
• Can we reduce duplication or unnecessary administration?
• Are there opportunities to collaborate with neighbouring municipalities or other partners?
• Are we measuring outcomes so residents can see the results?

This is not about cutting services for the sake of cutting costs. It is about making every tax dollar work harder.

Where recommendations are made, they should be shared publicly along with the expected financial savings, service improvements, implementation timelines, and regular progress updates. This is another example of Show Your Work Government, residents should be able to see not only what changes are proposed, but why they are being made and what benefits they are expected to deliver.

Innovation should also be part of the review process. 

New technology, including digital tools and artificial intelligence, should be evaluated wherever they can improve customer service, reduce administrative work, or increase efficiency while maintaining appropriate privacy, security, and human oversight.

Good government is never satisfied with "the way we've always done it." By continually looking for smarter ways to deliver services, we can protect taxpayers, improve municipal performance, and ensure Wasaga Beach delivers the greatest possible value for every tax dollar invested.

Good government doesn't just balance this year's budget—it prepares for the years ahead.

Too often, municipal decisions focus on the immediate cost of a project while overlooking the long-term financial commitments that follow. Every new road, building, park, facility, or piece of infrastructure brings future costs for maintenance, repairs, staffing, utilities, and eventual replacement. 

Responsible financial planning means understanding those costs before commitments are made.

As Mayor, I will champion a Long-Term Financial Planning policy that requires Council to consider the full lifecycle cost of every major financial decision—not just the initial price tag.

Before approving significant projects or borrowing, Council and the public should have access to a clear financial picture that includes:

• Construction or acquisition costs.
• Expected operating costs.
• Ongoing maintenance requirements.
• Future replacement costs.
• Debt servicing costs, where applicable.
• Expected funding sources.
• Long-term impacts on reserves and future property taxes.

This information should be presented in plain language so residents can understand not only what a project costs today, but what it is expected to cost over the next 10, 20, or even 30 years.

Long-term planning also means looking ahead to major infrastructure renewal before it becomes an emergency. Roads, bridges, drainage systems, parks, municipal buildings, and other public assets should be managed through long-range asset management and financial plans so that maintenance and replacement can be scheduled proactively rather than reacting to costly failures.

This is another example of Show Your Work Government. Residents deserve to see the full financial picture before major commitments are made. By openly sharing long-term forecasts, assumptions, and financial impacts, Council can make better-informed decisions and taxpayers can better understand how today's choices affect tomorrow's budgets.

Responsible financial planning is about more than balancing one budget. It is about protecting future generations from avoidable debt, reducing unexpected tax increases, and ensuring Wasaga Beach remains financially strong for decades to come.

My commitment is simple: Don't just plan for the next budget—plan for the next generation.

Every decision made by Council has a cost. Sometimes that cost is immediate. Sometimes it is spread over many years. Sometimes it is obvious, and sometimes it is hidden in future operating budgets, borrowing, or maintenance obligations.

Before asking taxpayers to support any major project or financial decision, Council should first answer one simple question:

What will this mean for the taxpayer?

As Mayor, I will introduce a Taxpayer Impact Test that requires every significant financial decision to include a clear, easy-to-understand assessment of its impact on residents before Council votes.

Every major report presented to Council should include a standardized Taxpayer Impact Statement that identifies:

• The one-time cost of the proposal.
• Any ongoing operating costs.
• Future maintenance and replacement obligations.
• Whether borrowing is required.
• The impact on reserves.
• The expected effect on future property taxes.
• Alternative options that were considered.
• The financial risks if the project does not proceed as planned.

Most importantly, this information should be written in plain language. Residents should not need to interpret technical financial reports to understand how a decision may affect their household.

This is the financial expression of Show Your Work Government.

Rather than simply recommending a project, every report should clearly demonstrate the financial reasoning behind it. Council should show the evidence, explain the assumptions, compare the alternatives, and make the taxpayer impact visible before any decision is made.

The Taxpayer Impact Test is not intended to stop investment or prevent important projects. It is intended to ensure that every investment is made with a full understanding of its long-term financial consequences and with complete transparency for the people who ultimately pay the bills.

Good government is built on informed decisions. By making the taxpayer impact visible before every major financial commitment, we can strengthen accountability, improve decision-making, and ensure that protecting taxpayers remains at the centre of every financial decision made by the Town.

If a proposal cannot clearly explain its impact on taxpayers, it is not ready for approval.