City tracks blaze battle costs; may seek provincial funds

When it comes to budgets, 2025 has created fiscal challenges for the City of Kawartha Lakes.

While contingencies are often built into budgets, no one could have foreseen excessive snow in January and February impacting winter maintenance costs, the March ice storm taxing emergency services and public works — estimates could see the final bill exceed $20 million — and firefighters battling three wildfires in the second week of August.