Questions · 10 so far
We read Algonquin Highlands' financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 28 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
+67%running the town office, 2019 to 2025
Algonquin Highlands spent $1.2M on running the town office in 2019 and $1.9M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 0 of 28 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
+80%roads and snow, 2019 to 2025
Algonquin Highlands spent $1.8M on roads and snow in 2019 and $3.2M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 2 of 28 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
$4,400,000new debenture in 2025, with 2,178,611 of interest still to pay over its life
In 2025 the Township took on its first long-term debt in the two years shown: a $4,400,000 debenture (a loan repaid over many years) from the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation, due December 1, 2045, at 4.32% interest, repaid in monthly instalments of $27,411. At the same time cash rose to 8,597,451 and reserves (savings set aside for later) stood at 8,017,083. Net financial assets, which is what the Township holds in cash and money owed to it minus what it owes, fell from 4,055,877 to 135,247. The budget column had expected (495,225). The note says the debt is "secured by future funding" but not what it paid for. The largest line of capital additions in 2025 was buildings at 4,123,907. We did not find a document that connects the two.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$153,877taken off the 2024 surplus and accumulated surplus when asset errors were corrected
The 2025 statements restate 2024. Note 2 says that "some capital assets were duplicated and some assets were not amortized in accordance with the Township's capital asset policy in the prior year." The 2024 surplus first reported as 958,410 became 804,533, and accumulated surplus went from 27,049,259 to 26,895,382, each down by 153,877. Worked out by us, the correction takes about 16% off the 2024 surplus. The auditor flags the restatement in an "Other Matter" paragraph but the opinion is clean. The note's table labels the 153,877 as "Assets capitalized but previously expensed" and "Net book value of tangible capital assets recorded", which is not the same wording as the description of duplicated and unamortized assets.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$3,468,831estimated landfill closure and care obligation, December 31, 2025
An asset retirement obligation is what a municipality will have to spend one day to close and look after old landfill sites. The Township owes an estimated 3,468,831 for its five waste sites, up from 2,102,641 at the start of 2024 (an adjustment of 1,289,017 in 2024 and 87,277 in 2025). The note says an engineering study received in 2025 raised the cost estimate for every site and the closing dates for two of them. Reserves for environmental services were 876,511 at the end of 2025. The Township's surplus schedule lists "Amounts to be recovered" of (7,868,831), which is the 3,468,831 plus the 4,400,000 of debt (worked out by us). The note also shows "Accretion expense" as a dash in both years, and gives a discount rate of 2.94% in the text and 3 in the table.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
7.12%increase in the Township's share of the 2026 tax rate, per $100,000 of residential assessment
The Township says Council adopted 2026 spending of $18,582,749.00 and revenue of $10,867,780.00, with $7,714,959.00 raised from property taxes. The Township's own share of the tax rate rises by $27.84 a year, or 7.12%, per $100,000 of residential assessment. The combined rate, with the County of Haliburton and school board amounts, rises by $44.98 a year, or 5.54%. The Township explains part of it: police costs rise 11% on the OPP's annual bill, and the budget carries road, building, dock, software and accessibility projects, with reserves and grants used where possible. Worked out by us, $10,867,780.00 plus $7,714,959.00 is $18,582,739.00, which is $10 less than the printed spending total.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
3 of 3years budgeted as a deficit in the statements, and finished as a surplus (2023 to 2025)
A surplus is what is left when a year's revenue is more than its spending. In the audited statements, the budget column showed a planned deficit for 2023, 2024 and 2025, and each year ended with a surplus. For 2025 the budget column says (564,350) and the actual is 60,073. For 2024 it says (171,972) and the actual first reported was 958,410 (later restated to 804,533). For 2023 it says (425,145) and the actual was 1,811,336. Worked out by us, the actual result beat the budget column by $2,236,481 in 2023, $1,130,382 in 2024 (as first reported) and $624,423 in 2025. The statements say the budget column is not the budget Council adopted: it was "prepared on a fund basis, and has been amended to conform with the accounting and reporting standards". In 2025 the budget column also shows exactly the same amounts as the actuals for amortization (2,140,893) and for buying capital assets (6,127,645).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$1.5 millionairport hangar roof repair in the 2026 budget, to be paid from reserves and gas tax funds
The 2026 budget includes airport hangar roof repairs that the Township describes as a "1.5-million-dollar project". It says the project will be "funded by Airport Reserves and Gas Tax Funds with the intention to replenish the reserve funds over time." The audited statements do not show a separate airport reserve. Reserves for transportation as a whole were 2,846,921 at the end of 2025. The federal gas tax balance held for future projects was 536,910, and 84,757 of new gas tax money was received in 2025.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
19.5%rise in transportation services expense, 2024 to 2025 (worked out by us)
Transportation services, which covers roads and winter control, cost 4,451,833 in 2025 against 3,726,006 in 2024 (restated). Worked out by us, that is $725,827 or 19.5% more. About $259,768 of the rise is amortization (1,276,404 against 1,016,636), which is the yearly wearing out of roads and equipment, not cash. Operating costs rose by about $262,180 (1,953,853 against 1,691,673) and salaries, wages and benefits by about $203,879 (1,221,576 against 1,017,697). The 2025 statement's budget column shows 4,417,275, so the actual cost was close to the budget column, but the statements say that column was rebuilt from the adopted budget.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
0budget books and council pay statements found on the Township's own website
The Township's budget page posts a written summary of the 2026 budget, not the budget book, and says a copy is available by contacting the Treasurer. We did not find the 2025 or earlier budgets, or the yearly statement of council pay and expenses, on the Township's website. Agendas, minutes and budget meeting papers are on a CivicWeb portal. That portal's robots.txt, a file that tells automated readers where they may go, says "Disallow: /" to all of them, so we could not read any council papers. People can still open the portal in a browser. This is a note about what we could and could not check, not a claim that anything is hidden.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
+67%running the town office, 2019 to 2025
Algonquin Highlands spent $1.2M on running the town office in 2019 and $1.9M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 0 of 28 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Running the town office | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | −9% | +1% |
| 2021 | −0% | +4% |
| 2022 | +13% | +11% |
| 2023 | +29% | +16% |
| 2024 | +48% | +18% |
| 2025 | +67% | +21% |
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Money spent running the office is money not spent on roads, water or safety. When office costs grow much faster than the services people see, it is fair to ask what the extra money is buying.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Algonquin Highlands? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Running the town office: 2019 $1.2M, 2020 $1.1M, 2021 $1.2M, 2022 $1.3M, 2023 $1.5M, 2024 $1.7M, 2025 $1.9M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Office and administration, from $994K to $1.7M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 36%. Algonquin Highlands ranks 1st of 29.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 28 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
+80%roads and snow, 2019 to 2025
Algonquin Highlands spent $1.8M on roads and snow in 2019 and $3.2M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 2 of 28 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Roads and snow | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | −7% | +1% |
| 2021 | +3% | +4% |
| 2022 | +12% | +11% |
| 2023 | +37% | +16% |
| 2024 | +45% | +18% |
| 2025 | +80% | +21% |
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
When one area grows much faster than prices, it is either doing more (which may be great) or paying more for the same thing. Residents deserve to know which.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Algonquin Highlands? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Roads and snow: 2019 $1.8M, 2020 $1.6M, 2021 $1.8M, 2022 $2.0M, 2023 $2.4M, 2024 $2.6M, 2025 $3.2M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Paved roads, from $963K to $2.1M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 44%. Algonquin Highlands ranks 3rd of 29.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 28 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
$4,400,000new debenture in 2025, with 2,178,611 of interest still to pay over its life
In 2025 the Township took on its first long-term debt in the two years shown: a $4,400,000 debenture (a loan repaid over many years) from the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation, due December 1, 2045, at 4.32% interest, repaid in monthly instalments of $27,411. At the same time cash rose to 8,597,451 and reserves (savings set aside for later) stood at 8,017,083. Net financial assets, which is what the Township holds in cash and money owed to it minus what it owes, fell from 4,055,877 to 135,247. The budget column had expected (495,225). The note says the debt is "secured by future funding" but not what it paid for. The largest line of capital additions in 2025 was buildings at 4,123,907. We did not find a document that connects the two.
A loan with $2,178,611 of interest to pay over 20 years is a cost residents carry, and it changes how much room the Township has left to borrow later. Residents are entitled to know what the money bought and why savings were not used instead.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Algonquin Highlands? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Statement of financial position, December 31, 2025: "Municipal debt (Note 6)" 4,400,000 (2024: nothing). "Cash and cash equivalents" 8,597,451 (2024: 7,900,557). "NET FINANCIAL ASSETS" 135,247 (2024: 4,055,877).
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, PDF page 6 (printed page 5)
Note 6: "Debenture issued to Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation ("OILC"), repayable in monthly instalments of $27,411 including interest at 4.32% per annum, due December 1, 2045 which is secured by future funding." Interest still to pay: 2026 187,298; total 2,178,611. Debt repayment limit "prescribed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing": $2,303,308.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Notes, 6. Municipal Debt, PDF page 15
Schedule 2, Supplementary unaudited schedule of surplus: "TOTAL RESERVES AND RESERVE FUNDS" 8,017,083 (2024: 7,282,434).
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Schedule 2, PDF page 23
Schedule 1, additions and betterments in 2025: Buildings 4,123,907, of a total of 6,127,645.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Schedule 1, Consolidated Schedule of Tangible Capital Assets, PDF page 22
Statement of change in net financial assets: "Net financial assets, end of year" budget $ (495,225), actual $ 135,247.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Consolidated Statement of Change in Net Financial Assets, PDF page 8 (printed page 7)
$153,877taken off the 2024 surplus and accumulated surplus when asset errors were corrected
The 2025 statements restate 2024. Note 2 says that "some capital assets were duplicated and some assets were not amortized in accordance with the Township's capital asset policy in the prior year." The 2024 surplus first reported as 958,410 became 804,533, and accumulated surplus went from 27,049,259 to 26,895,382, each down by 153,877. Worked out by us, the correction takes about 16% off the 2024 surplus. The auditor flags the restatement in an "Other Matter" paragraph but the opinion is clean. The note's table labels the 153,877 as "Assets capitalized but previously expensed" and "Net book value of tangible capital assets recorded", which is not the same wording as the description of duplicated and unamortized assets.
The Township's asset records drive its yearly amortization (2,140,893 in 2025) and its plans to replace roads, buildings and equipment. Errors in those records can hide what things are worth and what they will cost to replace.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Algonquin Highlands? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 2, Restatement: "management discovered some capital assets were duplicated and some assets were not amortized". Accumulated surplus as previously reported 27,049,259, restated 26,895,382. Annual surplus as previously reported 958,410, restated 804,533. Lines: "Net book value of tangible capital assets recorded" (153,877) and "Assets capitalized but previously expensed" (153,877).
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Notes, 2. Restatement, PDF page 14
Independent Auditors' Report, "Other Matter": "The comparative financial statements as at December 31, 2024 have been restated as disclosed in Note 2". Opinion: the statements "present fairly, in all material respects". Report dated August 13, 2026.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Independent Auditors' Report, PDF page 4
Consolidated Statement of Change in Net Financial Assets: "Amortization of tangible capital assets 2,140,893 2,140,893 1,757,560" (2025 budget, 2025 actual, 2024 actual).
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Consolidated Statement of Change in Net Financial Assets, PDF page 8
$3,468,831estimated landfill closure and care obligation, December 31, 2025
An asset retirement obligation is what a municipality will have to spend one day to close and look after old landfill sites. The Township owes an estimated 3,468,831 for its five waste sites, up from 2,102,641 at the start of 2024 (an adjustment of 1,289,017 in 2024 and 87,277 in 2025). The note says an engineering study received in 2025 raised the cost estimate for every site and the closing dates for two of them. Reserves for environmental services were 876,511 at the end of 2025. The Township's surplus schedule lists "Amounts to be recovered" of (7,868,831), which is the 3,468,831 plus the 4,400,000 of debt (worked out by us). The note also shows "Accretion expense" as a dash in both years, and gives a discount rate of 2.94% in the text and 3 in the table.
This is money the Township expects to owe, with no matching savings set aside, so it will fall on future taxpayers or other reserves. A growing estimate is a warning that costs may keep growing.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Algonquin Highlands? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 8: "An engineering study received in 2025 increased the estimate of expenditures for all landfill sites as well as closure dates for two of the operating landfill sites." Opening balance 2025 3,391,658 (2024: 2,102,641). Adjustment to asset retirement obligation 87,277 (2024: 1,289,017). Accretion expense: - in both years. Closing balance 3,468,831. Discounted "using a discount rate of 2.94% per annum".
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Notes, 8. Asset Retirement Obligations, PDF page 16
Schedule 2: reserves "Environmental" 876,511 (2024: 770,769). "Amounts to be recovered" (7,868,831) (2024: (3,391,658)).
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Schedule 2, Supplementary unaudited schedule of surplus, PDF page 23
Statement of operations, 2024 as first published: "Landfill" expense budget -, actual 113,082, 2023 actual (676,960).
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus, PDF page 7
7.12%increase in the Township's share of the 2026 tax rate, per $100,000 of residential assessment
The Township says Council adopted 2026 spending of $18,582,749.00 and revenue of $10,867,780.00, with $7,714,959.00 raised from property taxes. The Township's own share of the tax rate rises by $27.84 a year, or 7.12%, per $100,000 of residential assessment. The combined rate, with the County of Haliburton and school board amounts, rises by $44.98 a year, or 5.54%. The Township explains part of it: police costs rise 11% on the OPP's annual bill, and the budget carries road, building, dock, software and accessibility projects, with reserves and grants used where possible. Worked out by us, $10,867,780.00 plus $7,714,959.00 is $18,582,739.00, which is $10 less than the printed spending total.
The Township's share is the part Council controls directly. A rise larger than inflation on the part residents vote on is worth understanding line by line, and the posted summary does not break it down.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Algonquin Highlands? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
2026 Budget Highlights: "Council passed By-Law 2026-38 to adopt the estimates of expenditures, in the amount of $18,582,749.00 and revenues, in the amount of $10,867,780.00 for the 2026 calendar year. The sum of $7,714,959.00 shall be levied for General Municipal purposes".
Budget, Township of Algonquin Highlands website · 2026 Budget Highlights, first paragraph
"The Township portion of the tax rate will realize an increase of $27.84 per year or 7.12% per $100,000 of Residential Assessment. While the combined tax rate, including County of Haliburton and Education requirements, results in an increase of $44.98 per year or 5.54% per $100,000 of Residential Assessment."
Budget, Township of Algonquin Highlands website · 2026 Budget Highlights, second paragraph
Police Services: "The 2026 Budget reflects a 11% increase in police services costs based on the Annual Billing Statement submitted to the Township by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)." Projects planned are funded using "Township reserves and Government Grants ... where possible to keep budget increases at a minimum."
Budget, Township of Algonquin Highlands website · 2026 Budget Highlights, third paragraph and Police Services
3 of 3years budgeted as a deficit in the statements, and finished as a surplus (2023 to 2025)
A surplus is what is left when a year's revenue is more than its spending. In the audited statements, the budget column showed a planned deficit for 2023, 2024 and 2025, and each year ended with a surplus. For 2025 the budget column says (564,350) and the actual is 60,073. For 2024 it says (171,972) and the actual first reported was 958,410 (later restated to 804,533). For 2023 it says (425,145) and the actual was 1,811,336. Worked out by us, the actual result beat the budget column by $2,236,481 in 2023, $1,130,382 in 2024 (as first reported) and $624,423 in 2025. The statements say the budget column is not the budget Council adopted: it was "prepared on a fund basis, and has been amended to conform with the accounting and reporting standards". In 2025 the budget column also shows exactly the same amounts as the actuals for amortization (2,140,893) and for buying capital assets (6,127,645).
The budget is the promise made to taxpayers. If the figure printed in the audited statements is a rebuilt version of the budget, residents cannot tell from the statements how close the year came to the plan Council actually voted for. The adopted budget (revenue and spending must match in an Ontario budget) is the figure to compare with.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Algonquin Highlands? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Statement of operations, 2025: "ANNUAL SURPLUS (DEFICIT)" budget (564,350), actual 60,073, 2024 actual (restated) 804,533. Total revenue budget 12,495,973, actual 12,592,383. Total expenses budget 13,060,323, actual 12,532,310.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus, PDF page 7 (printed page 6)
Statement of change in net financial assets, 2025: "Amortization of tangible capital assets" budget 2,140,893, actual 2,140,893. "Acquisition of tangible capital assets" budget (6,127,645), actual (6,127,645).
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Consolidated Statement of Change in Net Financial Assets, PDF page 8 (printed page 7)
Note 12, Budget figures: "The unaudited budget adopted for the current year was prepared on a fund basis, and has been amended to conform with the accounting and reporting standards adopted for the current year actual results."
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Notes, 12. Budget Figures, PDF page 21
Statement of operations, 2024 as first published: "ANNUAL SURPLUS" budget (171,972), actual 958,410, 2023 actual 1,811,336.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus, PDF page 7
Statement of operations, 2023: "ANNUAL SURPLUS" budget (425,145), actual 1,811,336, 2022 actual 1,554,105. "Landfill" expense budget -, actual (676,960).
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2023 · Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus, PDF page 7
$1.5 millionairport hangar roof repair in the 2026 budget, to be paid from reserves and gas tax funds
The 2026 budget includes airport hangar roof repairs that the Township describes as a "1.5-million-dollar project". It says the project will be "funded by Airport Reserves and Gas Tax Funds with the intention to replenish the reserve funds over time." The audited statements do not show a separate airport reserve. Reserves for transportation as a whole were 2,846,921 at the end of 2025. The federal gas tax balance held for future projects was 536,910, and 84,757 of new gas tax money was received in 2025.
A single project of this size is about 8% of a year's total spending in the adopted budget (worked out by us from the posted 18,582,749.00). Residents may want to know whether it is funded from savings, grants or future taxes, and whether the airport's own income can repay the reserve.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Algonquin Highlands? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Airport: "The 1.5-million-dollar project will be funded by Airport Reserves and Gas Tax Funds with the intention to replenish the reserve funds over time."
Budget, Township of Algonquin Highlands website · 2026 Budget Highlights, Transportation and Environment, Airport
Airport: "The 2026 Budget includes the estimated costs for the roof repairs for the hangers at the airport." The page writes the cost as a "1.5-million-dollar project", which is $1.5 million.
Budget, Township of Algonquin Highlands website · 2026 Budget Highlights, Transportation and Environment, Airport
Schedule 2: reserves "Transportation" 2,846,921 (2024: 2,920,725).
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Schedule 2, PDF page 23
Note 5, Deferred revenue, 2025: "Federal gas tax" opening 586,396, contributions received 84,757, interest earned 18,592, taken into revenue (152,835), closing 536,910.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Notes, 5. Deferred Revenue, PDF page 15
19.5%rise in transportation services expense, 2024 to 2025 (worked out by us)
Transportation services, which covers roads and winter control, cost 4,451,833 in 2025 against 3,726,006 in 2024 (restated). Worked out by us, that is $725,827 or 19.5% more. About $259,768 of the rise is amortization (1,276,404 against 1,016,636), which is the yearly wearing out of roads and equipment, not cash. Operating costs rose by about $262,180 (1,953,853 against 1,691,673) and salaries, wages and benefits by about $203,879 (1,221,576 against 1,017,697). The 2025 statement's budget column shows 4,417,275, so the actual cost was close to the budget column, but the statements say that column was rebuilt from the adopted budget.
Roads are the biggest service by cost. A rise partly made of amortization shows how new roads, bridges and equipment feed through into yearly costs, even when no extra cash leaves the bank that year.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Algonquin Highlands? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Segment note, 2025: Transportation Services salaries, wages and benefits 1,221,576, operating expenses 1,953,853, amortization 1,276,404, total expenses 4,451,833.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Notes, 11. Segment Disclosures (2025 table), PDF page 19
Segment note, 2024 (restated): Transportation Services salaries, wages and benefits 1,017,697, operating expenses 1,691,673, amortization 1,016,636, total expenses 3,726,006.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Notes, 11. Segment Disclosures (2024 table), PDF page 20
Statement of operations, 2025: "Transportation services" budget 4,417,275, actual 4,451,833, 2024 actual 3,726,006.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus, PDF page 7
0budget books and council pay statements found on the Township's own website
The Township's budget page posts a written summary of the 2026 budget, not the budget book, and says a copy is available by contacting the Treasurer. We did not find the 2025 or earlier budgets, or the yearly statement of council pay and expenses, on the Township's website. Agendas, minutes and budget meeting papers are on a CivicWeb portal. That portal's robots.txt, a file that tells automated readers where they may go, says "Disallow: /" to all of them, so we could not read any council papers. People can still open the portal in a browser. This is a note about what we could and could not check, not a claim that anything is hidden.
Budgets and council pay are the first documents residents need to check how money is used. When they are not posted as plain files, the work of checking falls on whoever has time to ask.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Algonquin Highlands? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
"The Township's budget is a public document and you may view or receive a copy of it by contacting the Treasurer."
Budget, Township of Algonquin Highlands website · Budget page, third paragraph
"Agendas and Minutes are public documents. You may view Council agendas and meeting minutes online from 2006 to the present via the Township of Algonquin Highlands CivicWeb Portal."
Agendas and Minutes, Township of Algonquin Highlands website · Agendas and Minutes page, first paragraph