Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1606 - Inside the Mississauga Budget: Taxes, Spending, and Oversight

Property taxes are rising again — but the bigger question is why, and whether taxpayers are getting the full picture. On this episode of The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian is joined by members of the Applewood Hills and Heights Residents Association Budget Committee — George Tavares, Kim Pines, Athena Tajido, and Mike Harris — who have taken on the rare task of reviewing the 350-page city budget in detail. What they found raises serious concerns about transparency, oversight, and accountability in Mississauga. Residents were told one story about property tax increases — but the underlying numbers suggest a different reality. The discussion explores a reported 25% rise in property taxes over three years, the growing reliance on reserve funds, and whether the full financial picture is being clearly communicated to the public. The conversation also examines the push for an independent Auditor General in Mississauga — a reform supported by residents but ultimately rejected by council. Many other cities use Auditor Generals to improve accountability and identify savings, raising the question of whether internal audits are sufficient on their own. We also look at broader spending pressures, including rising regional costs and a proposed 9.9% increase in policing expenditures through Peel Police. The discussion highlights concerns about duplication, efficiency, and the fact that Mississauga taxpayers fund a large share of regional services without direct control over outcomes. With a municipal election approaching, the debate over fiscal responsibility is intensifying, new candidates are entering the race, and residents are organizing around issues of spending and transparency. At the heart of it all is a simple but important question: Who is accountable for how your money is spent? Because in the end, budgets reflect priorities — and voters ultimately decide what those priorities should be.