Prince Edward County’s 2025 Sunshine List isn’t just a headline—it’s a signal. Over a decade, the number has grown nearly eightfold.
The County disclosed 92 municipal employees earning over $100,000, with total compensation exceeding $12 million annually¹. That’s a sharp increase from 64 employees in 2023, a 43% jump in just two years¹.
Even more striking: the County employs roughly 220 staff, meaning nearly half of all employees now earn above the Sunshine List threshold².
At a time when residents are facing rising taxes, infrastructure gaps, and cost-of-living pressures, this has become a focal point for public concern.
But to understand what this means, you have to look deeper.
Where the Money Is: Department Breakdown
Based on the official salary disclosure list and job titles, the 92 employees break down across departments as follows:
Sunshine List by Department (Prince Edward County)
| Department / Function | Employees | Estimated Share |
|---|---|---|
| Development, Planning, Housing | 18 | 20% |
| Operations, Engineering, Roads | 14 | 15% |
| Fire Services | 11 | 12% |
| Long-Term Care / Nursing / PSWs | 10 | 11% |
| Community Services / Recreation | 10 | 11% |
| Water / Wastewater | 9 | 10% |
| Corporate (CAO, Clerk, Admin) | 7 | 8% |
| Finance | 6 | 7% |
| HR / Health & Safety | 5 | 5% |
| IT | 2 | 2% |
Key insight:
This is not just a top-heavy organization. High salaries are distributed across operational and service delivery roles—including nurses, firefighters, planners, engineers, and technical staff¹.
How PEC Compares to Nearby Municipalities
Sunshine List Comparison
| Municipality | Employees >$100K | Population | Residents per Employee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Edward County | 92 | 25,704 | 279 |
| Quinte West | 77 | 46,560 | 605 |
| Belleville | 229 | 55,071 | 240 |
| Hastings County | 151 | 145,746 | 965 |
Prince Edward County has more than double the Sunshine List density of Quinte West and significantly higher than Hastings County³.
While Belleville appears similar, it operates as a larger urban centre with additional services such as policing, which materially affects staffing levels.
The Growth Story
The bigger issue isn’t just the number—it’s the trajectory.
Sunshine List Growth (PEC)
| Year | Employees >$100K |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2023 | 64 |
| 2025 | 92 |
Over a decade, the number has grown nearly eightfold².
Even when adjusting for inflation, the number of higher-income municipal roles has still increased significantly over time².
What the County Says
County officials point to several factors:
- The $100,000 threshold is outdated and not indexed to inflation¹
- A rare 27th pay period in 2025 temporarily increased reported earnings¹
- Wage growth reflects collective agreements and market conditions¹
These explanations are valid.
But they do not fully explain the structural growth.
The Bigger Question: Structure, Not Salaries
This is where the conversation needs to move.
The issue is not whether individual employees are fairly compensated.
The issue is whether the size and structure of the organization aligns with:
- the County’s population
- its tax base
- and the level of service residents experience
As one councillor noted, the concern is not just the number of employees—but the lack of a clear link between rising costs and improved service delivery¹.
A System Built for Growth That Didn’t Fully Materialize?
Local reporting suggests the County expanded staffing in anticipation of growth that has not fully materialized².
Meanwhile:
- infrastructure pressures remain
- road conditions continue to be a common concern
- financial pressures are increasing
This raises a difficult but necessary question:
Is the organization sized for expected growth rather than current reality?
Why This Matters
This is not just about salaries.
It connects directly to:
- property taxes
- service levels
- long-term financial sustainability
Because ultimately:
Municipal payroll is funded by taxpayers.
What Comes Next
The County has indicated that a third-party organizational review is underway¹.
Residents should expect:
- a department-by-department explanation of staffing levels
- benchmarking against comparable municipalities
- and clear reporting on service outcomes
The Bottom Line
Prince Edward County’s Sunshine List is not just growing—it is reshaping how residents view local government.
Not because people oppose fair pay.
But because they are asking a simple question:
Is the system delivering value for what it costs?
And until that question is clearly answered, the discussion is not going away.
Sources
Sources
- County’s $12 million ‘Sunshine List’ alarms councillor
Prince Edward County News (Countylive)
https://www.countylive.ca/countys-12-million-sunshine-list-alarms-councillor/ - Hangover: The municipality bulked up for boom times that never came
Wellington Times
https://wellingtontimes.ca/hangover/ - Public Sector Salary Disclosure (Sunshine List – Ontario)
Government of Ontario
https://www.ontario.ca/page/public-sector-salary-disclosure - 2021 Census Profile – Prince Edward County
Statistics Canada
https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021 - Quinte West Sunshine List Coverage (2026)
Quinte News
https://www.quintenews.com/2026/03/04/quinte-west-releases-sunshine-list/ - Belleville Community Profile / Data
City of Belleville
https://www.belleville.ca/en/do-business/community-profile.aspx - Hastings County Sunshine List (aggregated)
Ontario Sunshine List Database
https://www.ontariosunshinelist.com/employers/county-of-hastings
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