For many residents—especially seniors, working families, and small business owners—the cost of living here has become unsustainable in prince Edward County. The root of the frustration? A mounting combination of taxes and fees that now place PEC among the most heavily taxed communities in Ontario. Which makes the County one of the most unattractive places to do business in.
How PEC Compares to Other Ontario Municipalities
A recent analysis of average residential tax burdens across Ontario shows that Prince Edward County ranks among the highest per $100,000 of assessment—higher than large cities like Ottawa, Toronto, and Mississauga, which provide far more extensive municipal services.
Ontario Municipalities with Lowest to Highest Property Taxes (2023 Estimates)
Average Municipal Property Tax per $100,000 of Assessed Residential Value
| Municipality | Avg. Property Tax / $100K Assessment | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Milton | $850 | BMA Municipal Study 2023 |
| Oakville | $860 | Town of Oakville Tax Rates, 2023 |
| Burlington | $870 | BMA Study & City of Burlington, 2023 |
| Markham | $870 | City of Markham 2023 Residential Rates |
| Caledon | $880 | Town of Caledon Tax Facts 2023 |
| Vaughan | $890 | Vaughan Residential Property Tax Estimator 2023 |
| Toronto | $930 | City of Toronto Budget Summary 2023 |
| Mississauga | $1,050 | Mississauga Tax Calculator, 2023 |
| Ottawa | $1,120 | City of Ottawa 2023 Residential Rate Tables |
| Quinte West | $1,180 | Quinte West Council Reports 2023 |
| Kawartha Lakes | $1,195 | City Budget Summary 2023 |
| Kingston | $1,200 | Kingston Finance Dept. 2023 |
| Belleville | $1,225 | Belleville Residential Tax Calculator 2023 |
| Thunder Bay | $1,350 | Thunder Bay Property Tax Lookup 2023 |
| Prince Edward County | $1,400 | PEC 2023 Budget Summary & Tax Rate Bylaw |
Interpretation
This table confirms that Prince Edward County ranks among the most heavily taxed municipalities in Ontario—despite having a far smaller tax base and fewer urban services. The average property tax burden is 50–65% higher than major centres like Oakville, Markham, and Toronto. This disparity is driving increasing scrutiny of spending practices, staffing costs, and service delivery in PEC.
Expanded Tax Comparison Across Ontario Municipalities
Here is the updated property tax comparison chart, now including several of Ontario’s lowest-tax municipalities like Milton, Oakville, Burlington, and Caledon. This broader comparison highlights that Prince Edward County residents pay significantly more per $100,000 of assessed home value than residents in more urban, service-rich communities:
- Milton: $850
- Oakville: $860
- Markham: $870
- Burlington: $870
- Prince Edward County: $1,400
Despite PEC’s smaller population and limited services, its residential property tax burden is among the highest in the province. This disconnect raises serious questions about cost-efficiency, planning, and fiscal accountability. These towns have far better community centers and other services.
The Tax and Fee Breakdown
| Charge (estimates) | Typical Annual Cost (Detached Home) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Property Tax | $4,000 – $8,000 | Based on MPAC-assessed home value |
| Water and Wastewater Fees | $1,800 – $2,500 | Among the highest in Ontario |
| Garbage Bag Tags | $3.25 per bag (est. $195/year) | $5 per-bag for drop off at collection locations |
| Landfill Site Fees | $5 – $20 per visit | Additional fees for bulk or non-household items |
| Development Charges (Passed to Buyers) | $18,000 – $35,000 per unit | Adds cost to housing and local rental prices |
Why the Burden Feels Excessive
- High Water Rates
PEC has one of the highest per-capita water and wastewater rate structures in Ontario. The costs are borne by a small customer base, making the system financially inefficient and disproportionately expensive. - User Fees
Unlike most municipalities, PEC charges per bag fees instead of a low annual garbage collection fee. In Cobourg, for example, there is no charge for curbside garbage collection. Other fees include burn permit fees that has doubled in a few years to an exorbitant $25. These fees should be covered by property tax funds. - Rising Property Assessments + Tax Rates
Many residents now pay between $6,000 and $8,000 annually in property tax alone. That’s comparable to urban centres but without their transit, hospitals, or major infrastructure. - Opaque Budgeting and Capital Spending
Despite a municipal budget exceeding $116 million, there is little visibility into value for money, and capital projects often run behind schedule with no performance metrics. - Unequal Rural Service Levels
Rural wards pay the same base tax as urban Picton—but often lack paved roads, fire hydrants, public transit, or municipal water and sewer.
What Are We Paying For?
Major spending areas include:
- $100M+ in committed Waterworks projects
- $30M+ in road and bridge maintenance
- $8M+ annually on municipal administration
- Millions spent annually on tourism-related infrastructure
Despite this, many rural roads remain impassable, public consultation is limited, and basic services like paramedicine or bylaw enforcement are inconsistent.
Case in point – Cobourg vs. PEC
Cobourg:
Curbside Collection: No charge for up to two bags of garbage per week.
Disposal at Landfill: A minimum load fee of $12 for loads under 60kg, according to Cobourg Municipal Services.
Other Waste: No charge for sorted recyclables, green bin organics, large appliances (excluding refrigerators), scrap metal, leaves, garden waste, tires, electronic waste, and Christmas trees, according to Cobourg Municipal Services.
Prince Edward County:
Curbside Collection: Uses a bag tag system where each bag requires a tag,
Annual Fees: $213 for households and $115/$140 for cottages (depending on length of stay).
Landfill/Transfer Site Disposal: Fees apply per bag or container deposited.
Sale of Blue Boxes and Bins: Fees apply for these items.
Recyclables: No charge, according to Prince Edward County.
Why the Burden Feels Excessive
High Utility Rates
PEC’s small population is spread across a large geographic area. As a result, relatively few users shoulder the cost of major infrastructure like $100M+ in waterworks upgrades—making the water and wastewater system among the most expensive per capita in Ontario.
Garbage Fees Despite Limited Flexibility
While curbside pickup is provided, residents must still purchase $3.25 bag tags for every bag of garbage. For families, this adds up quickly. Many residents feel this system penalizes them for routine waste, especially when tax rates are already high. Bulky item disposal and landfill visits add further costs.
Rapidly Rising Property Assessments
Many households now face tax bills between $6,000 and $8,000 per year—an unsustainable burden for retirees, low-income households, or those on fixed incomes.
Oversized Administration and High Salaries
PEC’s administrative staffing levels are high relative to population. In 2023, over 35 municipal employees earned more than $100,000 annually (Ontario Sunshine List), including senior managers and departmental directors whose salaries mirror those in far larger cities. This growing wage bill puts added pressure on municipal budgets—and taxpayers.
Limited Transparency on Outcomes
Despite over $116M in annual expenses, there is no public dashboard showing service delivery performance, cost-efficiency, or taxpayer ROI. Residents are asking: Where is the value?
PECRA’s Call to Action
The Prince Edward County Residents Association (PECRA) urges the County to:
- Conduct a third-party staffing and compensation audit
- Benchmark service delivery against similar-sized municipalities
- Publish transparent cost-per-service dashboards
- Re-evaluate garbage and water billing models
- Launch participatory budgeting to rebuild public trust