What can be compared
A budget line says almost nothing alone. Dysart et al spends more than Algonquin Highlands on nearly everything, and has three times the permanent population.
Dividing by people fixes that, except this county has no agreed number of people. On the 2021 census Algonquin Highlands holds 2,588 residents in February and up to 13,788 in August, and all of them use the roads. Pick a divisor and watch the order change.
The four townships are separately incorporated and define almost nothing the same way. These 94 survived the check.
The table opens divided by the person-year. Permanent residents plus seasonal dwellings weighted for the share of the year they are occupied, which is the only one of the three bases that counts the people actually being served. Every benchmarking report a councillor has seen divides by permanent residents instead, and in a county where 54% of the dwellings are not lived in year-round, that quietly answers a different question. Switch it above the table. Why this one.
Divide by
Divided per person-year. Divided per person-year, Algonquin Highlands carries the highest figure on 20 of 64 rows and the lowest on 17. Minden Hills carries the highest on 12 and the lowest on 20. Algonquin Highlands has the smallest divisor of the four, 5,948 in 2021, so nearly everything it does is large per head. Algonquin Highlands takes 20 of the high marks here and 34 per permanent resident, because Algonquin Highlands' population multiplies 5.3 times between winter and July on the 2021 counts.
| Metric | Dysart et al | Minden Hills | Highlands East | Algonquin Highlands | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it costs | |||||
| Amortization◇ | $278.58 | $216.73 | $192.40 lowest of the four | $290.93 highest of the four | 2023 |
| Bridge and culvert expenses◇ | $52.65 highest of the four | $4.21 lowest of the four | $19.60 | $7.55 | 2023 |
| Building and protective inspection expenses◇ | $69.35 | $40.82 lowest of the four | $82.31 highest of the four | $80.01 | 2023 |
| Fire protection expenses | $59.18 lowest of the four | $80.98 | $104.13 | $196.18 highest of the four | 2023 |
| Governance (council) expenses◇ | $18.06 lowest of the four | $22.26 | $36.06 highest of the four | $31.58 | 2023 |
| Library expenses | $8.67 highest of the four | $1.57 lowest of the four | $4.38 | $5.82 | 2023 |
| Planning and development expenses◇ | $64.12 highest of the four | $61.76 | $35.54 | $34.42 lowest of the four | 2023 |
| Policing expenses◇ | $186.13 | $182.49 | $180.99 lowest of the four | $196.84 highest of the four | 2023 |
| Recreation and culture expenses◇ | $213.44 | $266.37 | $133.83 lowest of the four | $294.59 highest of the four | 2023 |
| Paved road expenses | $283.83 | $268.26 lowest of the four | $337.29 | $413.04 highest of the four | 2023 |
| Unpaved road expenses | $17.25 | $27.07 | $48.62 highest of the four | $8.54 lowest of the four | 2023 |
| Salaries, wages and employee benefits◇ | $521.37 | $467.67 lowest of the four | $566.02 | $683.44 highest of the four | 2023 |
| Solid waste disposal expenses◇ | $191.48 highest of the four | $103.01 | $96.90 | $25.13 lowest of the four | 2023 |
| Total operating expenses◇ | $1,567 | $1,518 | $1,498 lowest of the four | $1,638 highest of the four | 2023 |
| Transportation services expenses◇ | $463.65 | $369.51 lowest of the four | $475.24 | $677.42 highest of the four | 2023 |
| Waste diversion expenses◇ | $39.18 | $22.18 lowest of the four | $46.55 | $54.67 highest of the four | 2023 |
| Winter control expenses◇ | $87.72 highest of the four | $62.73 lowest of the four | $63.38 | $87.23 | 2023 |
| Property tax levy, own purposes◇ | $999.87 lowest of the four | $1,058 | $1,092 highest of the four | $1,062 | 2023 |
| Conditional grants | $140.25 highest of the four | $79.92 | $64.56 | $23.66 lowest of the four | 2023 |
| Total own-purposes revenue◇ | $1,797 | $1,763 lowest of the four | $1,764 | $1,943 highest of the four | 2023 |
| User fees and service charges◇ | $274.50 | $244.30 | $142.37 lowest of the four | $301.70 highest of the four | 2023 |
| Total taxes levied on properties◇ | $2,285 highest of the four | $2,074 | $1,908 lowest of the four | $2,250 | 2023 |
| What the money buys | Dysart et al | Minden Hills | Highlands East | Algonquin Highlands | |
| Fire stationsper 1,000 | 0.1 lowest of the four | 0.1 | 0.8 highest of the four | 0.5 | 2026 |
| Municipal road kilometresper 1,000 | 28.1 km highest of the four | 27.7 km | 25.5 km | 18.1 km lowest of the four | current |
| Lane kilometres maintained in winter◇per 1,000 | 44.3 km | 55.4 km | 66.5 km highest of the four | 30.9 km lowest of the four | 2023 |
| Solid waste collected◇no figure for Dysart et al | — | 0.5 t highest of the four | 0.3 t lowest of the four | 0.4 t | 2021 |
| Solid waste disposed◇per 1,000 | 492 t highest of the four | 428 t | 82.8 t lowest of the four | 297 t | 2021 |
| Waste diverted◇per 1,000 | 144 t | 117 t lowest of the four | 181 t highest of the four | 118 t | 2021 |
| Waste disposal sitesper 1,000 | 0.5 lowest of the four | 0.7 | 0.8 highest of the four | 0.7 | current |
| Weekly open hours, summer seasonper 1,000 | 15.0 h lowest of the four | 20.3 h | 20.7 h | 22.9 h highest of the four | current |
| Weekly open hours, winter seasonper 1,000 | 12.5 h | 12.5 h | 15.2 h highest of the four | 11.9 h lowest of the four | current |
| Financial position | Dysart et al | Minden Hills | Highlands East | Algonquin Highlands | |
| Tangible capital assets, net book value◇ | $3,487 | $4,273 highest of the four | $2,560 lowest of the four | $3,110 | 2023 |
| Net long-term liabilities | $152.81 | $1,095 highest of the four | $0.00 lowest of the four | $0.00 lowest of the four | 2023 |
| Obligatory reserve funds, end of year | $99.53 | $50.82 lowest of the four | $53.24 | $99.97 highest of the four | 2023 |
| Total reserves and reserve funds↑◇ | $587.44 lowest of the four | $1,253 | $1,614 | $1,620 highest of the four | 2023 |
| Building and development | Dysart et al | Minden Hills | Highlands East | Algonquin Highlands | |
| Land division files before councilper 1,000 | 3.2 highest of the four | 0.4 | 0.3 lowest of the four | 0.3 | 2026 |
| Zoning relief files before councilper 1,000 | 3.6 | 2.4 lowest of the four | 4.8 | 6.6 highest of the four | 2026 |
| Road allowance files before councilper 1,000 | 2.0 | 1.6 lowest of the four | 1.7 | 6.6 highest of the four | 2026 |
| Planning files before councilper 1,000 | 9.9 | 4.5 lowest of the four | 6.8 | 14.5 highest of the four | 2026 |
| Building permits issued◇per 1,000 | 50.4 highest of the four | 26.3 | 21.8 lowest of the four | 34.6 | 2023 |
| Value of building permits◇ | $9,543 highest of the four | $3,145 lowest of the four | $3,960 | $4,529 | 2023 |
| How council works | Dysart et al | Minden Hills | Highlands East | Algonquin Highlands | |
| Council remuneration and expenses, totalno figure for Highlands East | $15.84 lowest of the four | $20.40 | — | $28.38 highest of the four | 2023 |
| Funded positions, all types◇per 1,000 | 7.3 | 6.5 lowest of the four | 6.6 | 8.1 highest of the four | 2023 |
| Businesses and services within reach | Dysart et al | Minden Hills | Highlands East | Algonquin Highlands | |
| Public library branches↑per 1,000 | 0.1 lowest of the four | 0.1 | 0.6 highest of the four | 0.3 | current |
| Post officesper 1,000no figure for Algonquin Highlands | 0.1 lowest of the four | 0.1 | 0.5 highest of the four | — | current |
| Schools↑per 1,000 | 0.2 | 0.1 lowest of the four | 0.3 highest of the four | 0.2 | current |
| Bank branches↑per 1,000 | 0.2 | 0.2 highest of the four | 0 lowest of the four | 0 lowest of the four | current |
| Family health teams↑per 1,000 | 0.1 | 0.1 highest of the four | 0 lowest of the four | 0 lowest of the four | current |
| Hospital sites↑per 1,000 | 0.1 | 0.1 highest of the four | 0 lowest of the four | 0 lowest of the four | current |
| LCBO stores and agency outletsper 1,000 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.5 highest of the four | 0.2 lowest of the four | current |
| Long-term care homes↑per 1,000 | 0.2 highest of the four | 0.1 | 0 lowest of the four | 0 lowest of the four | current |
| Pharmacies↑per 1,000 | 0.4 highest of the four | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0 lowest of the four | current |
| Shops licensed to sell alcoholper 1,000 | 0.9 | 1.0 highest of the four | 0.9 | 0.7 lowest of the four | current |
| Specimen collection centres↑per 1,000 | 0.1 | 0.1 highest of the four | 0 lowest of the four | 0 lowest of the four | current |
| Getting online | Dysart et al | Minden Hills | Highlands East | Algonquin Highlands | |
| Sites licensed for fixed wireless accessper 1,000 | 0.9 lowest of the four | 1.3 highest of the four | 0.9 | 1.0 | current |
| Sites licensed for mobile carrier spectrumper 1,000 | 1.4 | 1.9 highest of the four | 1.2 lowest of the four | 1.5 | current |
| Licensed radio sitesper 1,000 | 1.8 | 2.4 highest of the four | 1.7 lowest of the four | 2.0 | current |
| Public Wi-Fi hotspotsper 1,000 | 0.4 | 0.3 lowest of the four | 1.2 highest of the four | 0.8 | current |
| Safety | Dysart et al | Minden Hills | Highlands East | Algonquin Highlands | |
| Registered AED locations↑per 1,000 | 0.6 lowest of the four | 0.7 | 1.2 highest of the four | 0.8 | current |
| Losses due to structural fires, 3-year average↓ | $62.66 lowest of the four | $223.23 highest of the four | $67.98 | $209.19 | 2020 |
| Recreation and setting | Dysart et al | Minden Hills | Highlands East | Algonquin Highlands | |
| Beaches and swimming areasper 1,000 | 0.6 highest of the four | 0.3 lowest of the four | 0.6 | 0.3 | current |
| Community centresper 1,000 | 0.3 | 0.1 lowest of the four | 0.6 highest of the four | 0.2 | current |
| Museumsper 1,000 | 0 lowest of the four | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.5 highest of the four | current |
| Recreation facilitiesper 1,000 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 highest of the four | 0.2 lowest of the four | current |
Not divided by population
A count of bridges belongs to the road network rather than to the people on it, and a diversion rate is already a rate. These 30 carry their own basis and the control above does not apply to them.
| Metric | Dysart et al | Minden Hills | Highlands East | Algonquin Highlands | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it costs | |||||
| Salaries, wages and benefits: 10-year growth (nominal) | 8.8%/yr highest of the four | 3.9%/yr lowest of the four | 7.7%/yr | 6.3%/yr | 2024 |
| Salaries, wages and benefits: 10-year growth (constant dollars) | 5.9%/yr highest of the four | 1.1%/yr lowest of the four | 4.8%/yr | 3.5%/yr | 2024 |
| Salaries, wages and benefits: 5-year growth (nominal) | 10.1%/yr | 5.4%/yr lowest of the four | 10.5%/yr highest of the four | 7.7%/yr | 2024 |
| Salaries, wages and benefits: 5-year growth (constant dollars) | 6.5%/yr | 2.1%/yr lowest of the four | 6.9%/yr highest of the four | 4.2%/yr | 2024 |
| Total operating expenses: 10-year growth (nominal) | 4.6%/yr | 5.5%/yr | 4.3%/yr lowest of the four | 6.4%/yr highest of the four | 2024 |
| Total operating expenses: 10-year growth (constant dollars) | 1.8%/yr | 2.7%/yr | 1.6%/yr lowest of the four | 3.6%/yr highest of the four | 2024 |
| Total operating expenses: 5-year growth (nominal) | 4.8%/yr | 5.5%/yr | 3.0%/yr lowest of the four | 6.1%/yr highest of the four | 2024 |
| Total operating expenses: 5-year growth (constant dollars) | 1.4%/yr | 2.2%/yr | -0.4%/yr lowest of the four | 2.6%/yr highest of the four | 2024 |
| Total operating expenses: 10-year growth above inflation | 1.8 | 2.7 | 1.6 lowest of the four | 3.7 highest of the four | 2024 |
| Total operating expenses: 5-year growth above inflation | 1.4 | 2.3 | -0.4 lowest of the four | 2.7 highest of the four | 2024 |
| Property tax levy: 10-year growth (nominal) | 7.3%/yr highest of the four | 6.4%/yr | 5.6%/yr lowest of the four | 5.7%/yr | 2024 |
| Property tax levy: 10-year growth (constant dollars) | 4.4%/yr highest of the four | 3.5%/yr | 2.8%/yr lowest of the four | 2.9%/yr | 2024 |
| Property tax levy: 5-year growth (nominal) | 5.5%/yr highest of the four | 5.5%/yr | 4.8%/yr lowest of the four | 5.3%/yr | 2024 |
| Property tax levy: 5-year growth (constant dollars) | 2.0%/yr | 2.1%/yr highest of the four | 1.4%/yr lowest of the four | 1.9%/yr | 2024 |
| Property tax levy: 10-year growth above inflation | 4.5 highest of the four | 3.6 | 2.9 lowest of the four | 2.9 | 2024 |
| Property tax levy: 5-year growth above inflation | 2.1 | 2.2 highest of the four | 1.4 lowest of the four | 1.9 | 2024 |
| What the money buys | Dysart et al | Minden Hills | Highlands East | Algonquin Highlands | |
| Bridge and culvert spending per m² of deck↓ | 313.7 highest of the four | 31.1 lowest of the four | 146.6 | 61.5 | 2023 |
| Disposal spending per tonne disposed↓ | 675.5 | 295.0 lowest of the four | 1192.0 highest of the four | 397.7 | 2021 |
| Diversion spending per tonne diverted↓ | 270.8 | 213.5 | 146.0 lowest of the four | 422.8 highest of the four | 2021 |
| Winter control spending per lane kilometre↓ | 1978.4 | 1131.8 | 953.7 lowest of the four | 2819.9 highest of the four | 2023 |
| Bridges rated good to very good↑ | 46.7% | 41.2% lowest of the four | 62.5% | 100% highest of the four | 2023 |
| Bridge and culvert deck areaper 1,000 | 260 m² highest of the four | 222 m² | 195 m² lowest of the four | 220 m² | 2023 |
| Bridgesper 1,000 | 2.1 | 2.8 highest of the four | 1.8 | 1.2 lowest of the four | 2023 |
| Waste diversion rate↑ | 22.7% | 21.4% lowest of the four | 68.6% highest of the four | 28.5% | 2021 |
| Financial position | Dysart et al | Minden Hills | Highlands East | Algonquin Highlands | |
| Total reserves and reserve funds: 10-year growth (nominal) | 7.9%/yr | 6.3%/yr | 14.2%/yr highest of the four | 6.2%/yr lowest of the four | 2024 |
| Total reserves and reserve funds: 10-year growth (constant dollars) | 5.0%/yr | 3.5%/yr | 11.2%/yr highest of the four | 3.4%/yr lowest of the four | 2024 |
| Total reserves and reserve funds: 5-year growth (nominal) | 12.0%/yr | 9.2%/yr | 17.7%/yr highest of the four | 0.5%/yr lowest of the four | 2024 |
| Total reserves and reserve funds: 5-year growth (constant dollars) | 8.3%/yr | 5.7%/yr | 13.9%/yr highest of the four | -2.8%/yr lowest of the four | 2024 |
| Building and development | Dysart et al | Minden Hills | Highlands East | Algonquin Highlands | |
| Total value of construction activity | $14,804 highest of the four | $5,147 lowest of the four | $5,784 | $8,102 | 2023 |
| New residential units permittedper 1,000no figure for Minden Hills | 8.2 | — | 7.9 lowest of the four | 14.1 highest of the four | 2024 |