The Municipality of Highlands East held a June 15, 2026 special council meeting dedicated to the County of Haliburton’s Community‑wide Affordability and Governance Structure Study, facilitated by the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN). The study, running April 30 to July 31, 2026, is examining municipal financial health, future cost pressures, governance models, and service delivery options in response to growing fiscal pressures and a challenging 2026 budget. Council’s actions at the session are being confirmed via Bylaw 2026‑57, and EORN has assembled a multi‑firm project team (consulting, finance, communications) to analyze budgets, service reviews, and community input, with extensive engagement planned through June and an interim report by June 30 and final report by July 31.This is an early‑stage, strategic initiative that will shape how Haliburton County municipalities organize services, infrastructure investment, and financial planning for 2026–2030 councils. Vendors providing municipal finance, governance, service delivery, and change‑management support can position themselves for follow‑on work once options are identified and municipalities move from study to implementation.

Study focus includes long‑term financial resiliency, capacity building, governance effectiveness, and infrastructure funding pressures (roads, bridges, other assets) in a largely residential, tourism‑based tax base.