Not the full picture. Built from public records, which leave things out.Older reportDetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date. Check the sources, and tell us if you spot a mistake. What this site can't tell you An older report. We have no 2024 report for Amaranth in the Province's latest release, so these pages use its 2023 report. It may simply be filed late. Read by hand. We read Amaranth's own documents for this site in October 2026; the Sources page lists which ones. The comparisons with other places still come from the Province's yearly reports.
Questions · 11 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Amaranth's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 54 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
What these are, and what they are not. A question here means a number or practice is unusual, or harder to see than it should be. It does not mean anyone did anything wrong. Most unusual numbers turn out to have ordinary explanations, and every question lists some. The only way to know is to ask.
Worth asking
Worth asking
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
Qualifiedthe auditor's opinion on the 2023 statements, dated December 5, 2024 (2022: clean)
A qualified opinion means the auditor said the statements are fair except for a stated problem. For 2023 the problem was a new accounting rule about the cost of closing down old assets (such as a landfill). The Township had not finished working out those costs, so the auditor could not say how much they affect the results. The 2022 statements had a clean opinion.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$206,508general deficit in 2023, transferred from reserves as approved by Council
The 2023 budget planned an annual surplus of $601,451. The statements show an annual deficit of $(329,752), a swing of $931,203 (worked out by us). Most of that gap is explained by the Township's own note: the budget leaves out amortization (the yearly wear and tear on buildings, roads and equipment), which was $995,791 in the actual results. Even on the budget's own terms, though, the year ended $206,508 short, and Council covered it from reserves (savings set aside for later). The 'working funds' reserve fell from $1,322,002 to $615,494.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$750,000borrowed from Infrastructure Ontario in 2023, at 4.79%
In 2023 the Township borrowed $750,000 from Infrastructure Ontario for a bridge. Before that its only debt was a small amount of tile drainage loans (loans it passes on to the property owners who benefit). Total long-term liabilities rose from $125,666 to $837,714. The note says the loan is repaid in blended semi-annual payments of $85,230 until July 2028, so the payments come out of the yearly budget.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$120,816landfill closure and post-closure liability, unchanged from 2022 to 2023
The Township sets aside a liability for closing its landfill and looking after it afterwards. It was $120,816 in both 2022 and 2023. The Township's note says the site mostly stopped taking garbage in 2012 and that, at year end, it was still considering options, so the amount had not been changed. The auditor also noted that this liability is still counted under an old, withdrawn standard.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$1,206,302taxes receivable at December 31, 2023, up from $923,994
Taxes receivable (property taxes billed but not yet paid) went from $923,994 at the end of 2022 to $1,206,302 at the end of 2023, up $282,308. The year before, the change was $22,195. The increase of about 31% is worked out by us. Taxation revenue itself rose from $4,346,381 to $4,724,968.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
2023is the newest year of audited statements we found on the Treasury page
On October 7, 2026 the Treasury page listed audited financial statements for 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020, but not 2024 or 2025. The 2023 audit report is signed December 5, 2024, and the 2022 one November 28, 2023, so each year's statements are normally signed close to a year after year end. We did not find the 2024 statements anywhere on the Township's site.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
At the end of 2023, $1.2M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 13% of everything billed. Only 5 of 54 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $924K.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$452,984spent on environmental services in 2023, against a budget of $214,616
Environmental services (the Township's landfill, cemeteries, drainage and similar work) were budgeted at $13,285 in 2022 and came in at $325,730. In 2023 the budget was $214,616 and the actual $452,984. That is a gap of $312,445 in 2022 and $238,368 in 2023 (both worked out by us). The budget leaves out amortization, and the statements do not say how much of it falls in this line.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
Qualifiedthe auditor's opinion on the 2023 statements, dated December 5, 2024 (2022: clean)
A qualified opinion means the auditor said the statements are fair except for a stated problem. For 2023 the problem was a new accounting rule about the cost of closing down old assets (such as a landfill). The Township had not finished working out those costs, so the auditor could not say how much they affect the results. The 2022 statements had a clean opinion.
Why it matters
The yearly audit is the main outside check on the Township's numbers. A qualified opinion means part of the picture was left open, and it is worth knowing whether it was closed in later years.
It could be because…
The rule (PS 3280, asset retirement obligations) was new in 2023, and many small municipalities needed more time to inventory their assets.
The Township says it intends to finish the assessment after the 2023 year end, so the gap may already be closed in the 2024 statements.
Questions you could ask
Has the Township finished its asset retirement obligation assessment, and did the 2024 and 2025 audit opinions come back clean?
What was the dollar amount of the obligation once it was worked out?
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 Amaranth?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The auditor wrote: "Management has not completed its assessment of the tangible capital assets for potential asset retirement obligations. As a result, it is not possible to quantify the impact of this departure from Canadian public sector accounting standards".
The Township's own note says: "Management intends to complete an assessment of the asset retirement obligation subsequent to the December 31, 2023 year end."
$206,508general deficit in 2023, transferred from reserves as approved by Council
The 2023 budget planned an annual surplus of $601,451. The statements show an annual deficit of $(329,752), a swing of $931,203 (worked out by us). Most of that gap is explained by the Township's own note: the budget leaves out amortization (the yearly wear and tear on buildings, roads and equipment), which was $995,791 in the actual results. Even on the budget's own terms, though, the year ended $206,508 short, and Council covered it from reserves (savings set aside for later). The 'working funds' reserve fell from $1,322,002 to $615,494.
Why it matters
Reserves are the Township's cushion for surprises and for replacing equipment. Drawing them down to cover a year's shortfall is allowed, but it leaves less for the next bad winter or bridge repair.
It could be because…
Council may have planned to use reserves for capital work that was approved as part of the year.
Amortization is a bookkeeping charge, not cash, so the statement-level deficit overstates the cash squeeze. The $206,508 is the better measure.
The working-funds reserve may have been meant to be spent down.
Questions you could ask
What caused the $206,508 shortfall on the budget's own terms, and which lines ran over?
Does Council have a target level for the working-funds reserve, and what is the plan to rebuild it?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Amaranth?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Annual surplus (deficit): budget "601,451", 2023 actual "(329,752)", 2022 actual "797,730".
The budget reconciliation prints the budget column for amortization as a dash and the actual as "995,791" (2022: "880,054"). It then shows "Current year surplus before transfer to reserves" of "(206,508)" and "Deficit/(surplus) transfer from/(to) reserves" of "206,508".
Reserves: Working funds "$ 615,494" in 2023 and "$ 1,322,002" in 2022. Total reserves and reserve funds "$ 2,590,162" in 2023 and "$ 3,283,206" in 2022.
$750,000borrowed from Infrastructure Ontario in 2023, at 4.79%
In 2023 the Township borrowed $750,000 from Infrastructure Ontario for a bridge. Before that its only debt was a small amount of tile drainage loans (loans it passes on to the property owners who benefit). Total long-term liabilities rose from $125,666 to $837,714. The note says the loan is repaid in blended semi-annual payments of $85,230 until July 2028, so the payments come out of the yearly budget.
Why it matters
Debt payments are a fixed yearly cost on the tax levy. Residents may want to know what the loan paid for, and where the money to repay it comes from.
It could be because…
Borrowing is a normal way to pay for a bridge that will last decades.
The loan replaced $669,807 of capital work that the 2022 notes list as 'unfinanced', so it may simply have turned an earlier gap into a loan.
Questions you could ask
What did the $750,000 pay for, and is the yearly payment built into the budget each year?
Is any grant money expected to cover part of the repayment?
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 Amaranth?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
"Infrastructure Ontario Loan, Bridge 2, interest at 4.79%, repayable in blended semi-annual payments of $85,230, due July 2028" with a balance of "750,000" (2022: a dash). Tile drainage loans: "87,714" (2022: "125,666"). Total "$ 837,714".
Note 8 lists "Capital assets financed by long-term liabilities and to be funded in future years" of "(750,000)" for 2023, against "Unfinanced capital assets" of "(669,807)" for 2022.
$120,816landfill closure and post-closure liability, unchanged from 2022 to 2023
The Township sets aside a liability for closing its landfill and looking after it afterwards. It was $120,816 in both 2022 and 2023. The Township's note says the site mostly stopped taking garbage in 2012 and that, at year end, it was still considering options, so the amount had not been changed. The auditor also noted that this liability is still counted under an old, withdrawn standard.
Why it matters
A landfill that is closed or nearly closed has real costs for covers, monitoring and groundwater. If the true cost is much higher than $120,816, the Township would have to find the difference later.
It could be because…
The estimate may be right: the Township says the liability reflects only the part of the site's cells that has been used.
A decision on the site's future may be waiting on engineering advice.
Questions you could ask
What is the current estimate of closing and monitoring the site, and what options is Council considering?
Will the 2024 and later statements move the landfill liability to the new standard, and by how much?
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 Amaranth?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
"Landfill closure and post-closure liability $ 120,816 $ 120,816" (2023 and 2022), and the Township's explanation: "during the 2012 fiscal year, the Township of Amaranth assumed garbage collection and disposal responsibility and the landfill site ceased to be used for a significant volume of garbage. At year end, the Township was undertaking a process of considering various options for the site".
$1,206,302taxes receivable at December 31, 2023, up from $923,994
Taxes receivable (property taxes billed but not yet paid) went from $923,994 at the end of 2022 to $1,206,302 at the end of 2023, up $282,308. The year before, the change was $22,195. The increase of about 31% is worked out by us. Taxation revenue itself rose from $4,346,381 to $4,724,968.
Why it matters
Taxes that go unpaid for a long time cost the Township interest and cash, and the Township collects school board and county taxes on top of its own.
It could be because…
A bigger levy and a bill that fell due near year end would raise the balance without more people falling behind.
Properties in the tax sale process can sit on the books for a year or more before the money is recovered.
Questions you could ask
How much of the taxes receivable at the end of 2023 was collected in the following year?
Does the Township have a policy for when it starts a tax sale, and how many properties are in that process?
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 Amaranth?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
2023is the newest year of audited statements we found on the Treasury page
On October 7, 2026 the Treasury page listed audited financial statements for 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020, but not 2024 or 2025. The 2023 audit report is signed December 5, 2024, and the 2022 one November 28, 2023, so each year's statements are normally signed close to a year after year end. We did not find the 2024 statements anywhere on the Township's site.
Why it matters
With an election on October 26, 2026, voters have no audited look at the Township's last two years, and the qualified 2023 opinion is the most recent outside check on record.
It could be because…
The 2024 audit may be finished and simply not yet posted.
The audit may have been delayed while the Township finished its asset retirement obligation work (see the question on the qualified opinion).
The statements may be on the meeting portal inside an agenda, which refused our scripted downloads.
Questions you could ask
When will the 2024 and 2025 audited statements be posted, and what do their auditor's opinions say?
Will the Township post them before the October 26, 2026 election?
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 Amaranth?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The Treasury Department page lists, under the heading "Financial Statements", links for "2023", "2022", "2021" and "2020" and no later year.
Amaranth spent $1.5M on roads and snow in 2019 and $2.1M in 2023. Prices only went up about 16% in that time.
Why did the cost of roads and snow grow 43% in 4 years?
Roads and snow
Prices (inflation)
−20%+0%+20%+40%+60%
+43%
20192020202120222023
Show as a table
Year
Roads and snow
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
+7%
+1%
2021
+7%
+4%
2022
−3%
+11%
2023
+43%
+16%
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Why it matters
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.
It could be because…
The town added a service, a building or staff that residents asked for.
Costs were moved from another area, so the total did not really change.
Accounting rules changed how costs are sorted.
Large one-time costs, like a study, lawsuit or repair, landed in one year.
Questions you could ask
What did the extra $645K a year pay for?
Why did paved roads go from $1.5M to $2.1M?
Was each increase approved by council as a separate decision, or did it happen through the yearly budget?
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 Amaranth?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Amaranth spent $129K on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $377K in 2023. Prices only went up about 16% in that time.
Why did the cost of water, sewers and garbage grow 192% in 4 years?
Water, sewers and garbage
Prices (inflation)
−50%+0%+50%+100%+150%+200%
+192%
20192020202120222023
Show as a table
Year
Water, sewers and garbage
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
+7%
+1%
2021
−5%
+4%
2022
+93%
+11%
2023
+192%
+16%
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Why it matters
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.
It could be because…
The town added a service, a building or staff that residents asked for.
Costs were moved from another area, so the total did not really change.
Accounting rules changed how costs are sorted.
Large one-time costs, like a study, lawsuit or repair, landed in one year.
Questions you could ask
What did the extra $247K a year pay for?
Why did water treatment go from $50,445 to $375K?
Was each increase approved by council as a separate decision, or did it happen through the yearly budget?
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 Amaranth?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
At the end of 2023, $1.2M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 13% of everything billed. Only 5 of 54 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $924K.
Why are so many property taxes unpaid?
$0$500K$1.0M$1.5M
$1.2M
20192020202120222023
Show as a table
Year
Unpaid property tax at year end
2019
$933K
2020
$1.1M
2021
$902K
2022
$924K
2023
$1.2M
Why it matters
When taxes go unpaid, everyone else carries the cost, and the town may borrow to cover the gap. The Province's financial indicators treat 10% to 15% as a moderate risk and more than 15% as a high risk. Collection is the town's job, so a rising number is worth asking about.
It could be because…
The final tax bill was due late in the year, so some payments simply arrived in January.
A few large properties are in dispute or being sold for back taxes.
Hard times for residents, which the town may be handling with payment plans.
Questions you could ask
How much is more than one year overdue, and from how many properties?
Are the rules for chasing unpaid taxes applied the same way to everyone?
Has the town registered tax arrears certificates on properties about two years behind? If still unpaid a year after that, Ontario law lets the town sell the property.
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 Amaranth?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Taxes receivable: 2019 $933K, 2020 $1.1M, 2021 $902K, 2022 $924K, 2023 $1.2M. Of the 2023 total, $216K was from earlier years.
Amaranth spent about $99 per home on council in 2023. The typical similar town spent $61. Only 8 of 54 similar towns spent more.
Why it matters
Spending more than neighbours is not wrong by itself. It might buy better service. But it is the first place to look for costs that could be lower, such as contracts that were not competitively bid.
It could be because…
Geography: more roads, more snow, a bigger area or a landfill of its own.
Accounting: some towns record the same cost in a different category.
A one-time cost in this year.
Questions you could ask
What makes this cost higher here than in similar towns?
When were the main contracts in this area last put out to competitive tender?
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 Amaranth?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Council per home: Amaranth $99; typical similar town $61; ranked 9th highest of 55.
$452,984spent on environmental services in 2023, against a budget of $214,616
Environmental services (the Township's landfill, cemeteries, drainage and similar work) were budgeted at $13,285 in 2022 and came in at $325,730. In 2023 the budget was $214,616 and the actual $452,984. That is a gap of $312,445 in 2022 and $238,368 in 2023 (both worked out by us). The budget leaves out amortization, and the statements do not say how much of it falls in this line.
Why it matters
Two years in a row with spending far above the budget line suggests the budget may be set too low, or that costs are being recovered elsewhere, which residents would not see in the budget.
It could be because…
Drainage work can be paid up front and then recovered from the property owners who benefit. The 2023 other-income note lists "Local improvements municipal drainage" of "191,002", which may be that recovery.
The 2022 other-income note lists "Pullen Well" of "510,019", which may be money linked to a one-off project in that year.
The statements do not say what is inside the environmental services line, so we cannot tell which items ran over.
Questions you could ask
What is in the environmental services line, and how much of the 2022 and 2023 overruns was recovered from property owners or other sources?
Has the budget for this line been reset since, so that it reflects the real cost?
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 Amaranth?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Environmental services: 2023 budget "214,616", 2023 actual "452,984", 2022 actual "325,730".
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