Your town, in plain words
A clear, checkable guide to Asphodel-Norwood's budget, taxes and council decisions. A township in Peterborough County, Ontario, with a mayor, a deputy mayor and three councillors, who are elected at large. Every figure links back to the public record.
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Questions worth asking
Each one is a question, not an accusation. Every one lists ordinary reasons it could be true, and the documents it comes from.
+86%running the town office, 2019 to 2024
Asphodel-Norwood spent $766K on running the town office in 2019 and $1.4M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 2 of 55 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$2,109,276net debt at December 31, 2024, up from $598,789 a year earlier
Net debt is what a township owes minus the money and money-owed-to-it that it holds. At the end of 2023 it was $598,789 (as restated). At the end of 2024 it was $2,109,276. The Township spent $2,655,204 on buildings, roads, water systems and equipment in 2024, against $1,723,203 of wear and tear (amortization) on what it already owned. Money owed to the Township by others (trade and other receivable) also fell, from $2,950,069 to $1,593,257.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$560,680deficit in 2024, against $343,904 in the statements' budget column
A deficit means spending was more than revenue. The audited statements show a 2024 deficit of $560,680. The budget column in the same statements shows a deficit of $343,904. Revenue came in $85,868 under budget (worked out by us from $8,341,294 against $8,427,162) and spending $130,908 over (worked out by us from $8,901,974 against $8,771,066). 'User charges' (fees for services) were $2,308,775 against a budget of $2,709,133. Among the spending lines, general government (administration) was $1,455,556 against $1,340,074, health services $437,783 against $363,140, and recreation and culture $1,366,953 against $1,235,650.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$3,374,127total reserves at December 31, 2024, down from $4,243,817
Reserves are money a township sets aside for future needs. Total reserves were $4,243,817 at the end of 2023 and $3,374,127 at the end of 2024, a fall of $869,690 (worked out by us). The biggest drops were Recreation facilities ($422,480 to $72,236), Building department ($620,557 to $409,266) and Fire ($459,576 to $296,554). The same note shows the Township's own operating position, before its capital assets, at a deficit of $923,944, against a deficit of $691,989 a year earlier.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$375,292medical centre capital not yet funded at December 31, 2024
The Township leased a 4,028-square-foot medical space that opened on March 7, 2024. The 2024 statements list "Medical centre capital" of $375,292 as an unfunded capital project, which the Township says will be paid from future property taxes and user fees. Spending on health services (which also includes the cemetery) was $437,783 in 2024 against $161,507 in 2023. The Township's 2026 budget names the new medical centre as one of its budget pressures, and the Township is asking residents and businesses to sponsor rooms.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$1,510,100landfill closure and post-closure obligation at December 31, 2024
The Township owns two landfill sites and says the one still operating was projected to close in 2025. Its estimate of the closure and 25 years of monitoring afterward was $1,510,100 at the end of 2024. The reserve set aside for the landfill site was $347,872 (down from $383,683). All asset retirement obligations ($2,279,570) are listed in the statements as unfunded. The 2026 budget slides name 'Landfill Closure' as a reason Environmental Services will cost more.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$117per home on council, 2024
Asphodel-Norwood spent about $117 per home on council in 2024. The typical similar town spent $62. Only 8 of 55 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
$1,986.96Township share of tax on a $227,000 home in 2026, up from $1,827.46 in 2025
For a home assessed at $227,000, the Township's own share of the tax bill was $1,711.96 in 2024, $1,827.46 in 2025 and $1,986.96 in 2026. That is $275.00 (worked out by us) more over two years. The Township's slides give its reasons: the province froze assessment values, insurance and police costs rose, the new medical centre, inflation, replacing old assets and putting money aside for future equipment. The County and school board shares are not in these figures.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$470,000gravel pit closure obligation not previously recorded
The 2024 statements say the Township 'restated' (corrected) 2023 because the cost of closing and restoring its gravel pit was 'previously omitted in error'. The 2023 obligation total went from $1,781,770 to $2,251,770, the 2023 surplus from $2,630,484 to $2,606,984 and 2023 accumulated surplus from $40,974,691 to $40,951,191. The auditor's opinion on 2024 is clean.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
October 26, 2026election day; we did not find these documents on the pages we read
The Township says it posts its budgets and audited statements, and its election pages have a heading for candidates' financial statements. On October 7, 2026 we did not find a pay statement on the pages we read. The 2024 audited statements were approved on November 10, 2025, but we did not find 2025 statements on the budget and finance page. The election financial statements page shows the headings Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillor under the words 'TO BE FILED', with nothing listed under them. We could not tell which election the page covers. The Township does post a conflict of interest registry that runs to August 25, 2026.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
−$2.1Mnet financial position, 2024
In 2019, Asphodel-Norwood had $1.3M more in cash and money owed to it than it owed to others. By 2024 it was −$2.1M. About 66% of that change ($2.3M) is a new accounting rule from 2023: towns must now record the future cost of closing things like a landfill. That is not new spending or borrowing. Even leaving that out, only 12 of 55 similar towns are in a weaker position.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
2024 tax year · Asphodel-Norwood, Ontario
Enter your home's assessed value to see roughly what you pay in property tax each year, who gets it, and what Asphodel-Norwood's share pays for.
Ontario still uses property values from January 1, 2016 for tax, so your assessed value is probably well below what your home would sell for today.
It is on your property assessment notice from MPAC, and on your tax bill. We filled in the typical value in Asphodel-Norwood.
a year in property tax, at 2024 rates
Asphodel-Norwood council sets only its own share. County or region sets its share, the Province sets the school rate.
An estimate. It uses the residential tax rate, and splits Asphodel-Norwood's share by what each service cost in 2024 after its own fees and grants (for example, water bills pay for much of a water system). Real bills also depend on your property class, local charges and any rebates.
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Each number links to the public document it came from. Check it yourself.
We ask questions. Every one lists ordinary reasons a number could look odd.
Towns are only compared with places of a similar size and kind, from the same yearly reports.
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