Not the full picture. Built from public records, which leave things out.Read by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Read by hand. We read Black River - Matheson'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 Black River - Matheson's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 17 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.
$6,140,893asset retirement obligation at December 31, 2025, up from $1,142,453
An asset retirement obligation is the cost an owner must someday pay to close down or clean up something it owns, such as a landfill site or a building with asbestos. Accounting rules make a town write that cost down as a debt-like line even though it is not due yet. The Township's line for it was $1,142,453 at the end of 2024 and $6,140,893 at the end of 2025. The statements say $4,569,732 of the rise was a re-estimate (a "revaluation") and $428,708 was yearly build-up of the cost over time ("accretion"). They also say no remediation work is budgeted for the next twelve months. The same year the Township's net financial assets (what it has in the bank and owed to it, less what it owes) fell from $6,215,856 to $2,474,414. The statements print only one total for the obligation, covering four landfill sites and several buildings.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$410,100budgeted for long-term debt repayments in 2025; the cash flow statement shows $31,539 repaid
To put its budget on the same footing as its audited statements, the Township adds back certain items. The note that does this lists "Long-term debt repayments" of $410,100 for 2025. The cash flow statement shows principal repayments on municipal debt of $31,539 for the year. The Township's debt at the end of 2025 was one loan from Infrastructure Ontario of $559,988, repaid at about $32,000 of principal a year, plus a small tile drainage loan of $11,490 that landowners repay. The line of credit with the bank was $Nil. The difference, $378,561 (worked out by us), is about 40% of the budgeted 2025 surplus of $941,495.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$512,774budgeted for "Other" revenue in 2025; $29,760 came in
The Township budgeted total revenue of $12,443,475 for 2025 and booked $12,036,005. That near-match hides large gaps on single lines. "Other" revenue was budgeted at $512,774 and came in at $29,760. Federal operating grants were budgeted at $544,142 and came in at $225,229. "User charges" went the other way: budgeted at $154,514, actual $443,465. Water, sewer and garbage charges were budgeted at $1,266,511 and came in at $1,121,374. Adding the "Other" and "User charges" budget lines gives $667,288 and the two actual lines give $473,225 (worked out by us), so some of the gap may be the same money filed under a different label.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$1,974,321general government spending in 2025, down from $3,489,855 in 2024 (budget $2,642,518)
General government covers council, the administration and the costs of running the Township itself. It cost $3,489,855 in 2024 and $1,974,321 in 2025, against a 2025 budget of $2,642,518. Two lines moved most. "Contracted services" in general government were $1,546,059 in 2024 and $413,679 in 2025. "Rents and financial expenses" went the other way: $45,973 in 2024 and $298,111 in 2025. The statements do not say what is in either line. The Township's 2024 was unusual. A provincial appointee did the work of council from April 29 to August 27, 2024, a by-election was held on August 12, 2024, and the appointee's reports mention a labour dispute and litigation, but they do not give any cost. We do not know whether any of that explains these lines.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$500,000cap on legal fees reimbursed for each of two outstanding claims
The Township's 2025 statements say that various claims for damages have been filed against it. It expects them to be unfounded or covered by insurance, after a $10,000 deductible for each claim. For two of the claims, however, legal fees are reimbursed only up to $500,000 each. After that, the Township pays. The statements say any loss cannot be estimated. They do not say how much of either cap has been used or when the claims were filed.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
In 2025, Black River - Matheson collected $488K more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 7% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. Only 1 of 17 similar towns raised theirs by more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$672,014deficit shown for environmental services in 2025, before leaving out $722,960 of non-cash costs (worked out by us)
Water, sewer and garbage are paid for by their own fees, separate from the property tax levy. In 2025 the statements show these environmental services with revenue of $1,227,374 and expenses of $1,899,388, a gap of $672,014. But $294,252 of the expenses is amortization (the yearly wearing-out of pipes and plant, which is not cash) and $428,708 is accretion expense (the build-up of the landfill cost, also not cash). Leaving those two out, the service came out $50,946 ahead (worked out by us). In 2024 the same service showed a surplus of $12,790. The water reserve went from $2,233,019 to $2,151,794 and the sewer reserve from $1,836,433 to $2,077,596.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
10%levy increase proposed to the Minister's Appointee on June 26, 2024
In the spring of 2024 the Township had no sitting council. A person appointed by the province did council's work from April 29, 2024. Her May 15, 2024 report says the 2024 budget process was started on May 13, 2024. On June 26, 2024, staff presented a levy budget with a "proposed 10% levy increase". She asked for more work. Her June 30, 2024 report says she could not adopt the budget (section 275 of the Municipal Act, 2001 limits what she could do once nominations closed) and wanted the new council to approve it. Her July 31, 2024 report says staff were to bring back a consolidated report "prior to August 12, 2024". We found no budget on the Township's website, and the meeting portal that holds agendas was not open to us. We could not find out when the 2024 budget was adopted or what it set.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$2,490,755market value of the Canadian equity portfolio held at December 31, 2025
The Township holds $6,264,949 in short-term investments through The ONE Investment Program. Of that, $2,490,755 is in a Canadian equity (stock) portfolio. That is about 40% of the total (worked out by us). The equity portfolio cost $1,776,063, so it is $714,692 above cost on paper (worked out by us). The statements show a fall in value of $(78,555) for the year on pooled funds. We did not find the Township's investment policy.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
Black River - Matheson spent about $312 per home on snow ploughing in 2025. The typical similar town spent $158. Only 2 of 17 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
$6,140,893asset retirement obligation at December 31, 2025, up from $1,142,453
An asset retirement obligation is the cost an owner must someday pay to close down or clean up something it owns, such as a landfill site or a building with asbestos. Accounting rules make a town write that cost down as a debt-like line even though it is not due yet. The Township's line for it was $1,142,453 at the end of 2024 and $6,140,893 at the end of 2025. The statements say $4,569,732 of the rise was a re-estimate (a "revaluation") and $428,708 was yearly build-up of the cost over time ("accretion"). They also say no remediation work is budgeted for the next twelve months. The same year the Township's net financial assets (what it has in the bank and owed to it, less what it owes) fell from $6,215,856 to $2,474,414. The statements print only one total for the obligation, covering four landfill sites and several buildings.
Why it matters
The obligation is a real cost that will land on taxpayers if and when the sites are closed or the asbestos is removed. A jump of this size changes how much of the Township's savings are really free to spend. The statements show reserves of $8,666,946 in all, of which $4,291,556 is the working funds reserve and the rest is set aside for water, sewer and garbage. They do not say how the Township plans to pay for the clean-up.
It could be because…
The new figure may come from a fresh engineering estimate of closing four landfill sites. Such estimates often rise a lot when done properly for the first time.
The obligation is a number on paper. Landfill closure and building demolition may be many years away, and the Township is not asked to pay it now.
The Township's statements adjust for it: the rise was added to the recorded cost of its buildings, so the 2025 surplus was not reduced by it. The drop in net financial assets is accounting, not cash that left the bank.
Provincial or federal programs may share the cost of some of the work, though we did not find any such program named in the statements.
Questions you could ask
What changed in the estimate in 2025, who made it, and how much of the $6,140,893 is for landfills and how much for asbestos?
When does the Township expect to close each landfill site and remove the asbestos, and when would it first need the money?
Does the Township have a plan, or a reserve, to pay for this, and is it in the 2026 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 Black River - Matheson?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Statement of financial position: "Asset retirement obligation (note 7)" 6,140,893 at 2025 and 1,142,453 at 2024. "Net financial assets" 2,474,414 at 2025 and 6,215,856 at 2024.
Note 7: "Balance, beginning of year" $1,142,453; "Revaluation of asset retirement obligation" 4,569,732; "Accretion expense" 428,708; "Balance, end of year" $6,140,893. "The Township does not have any estimated remediation efforts budgeted for the next twelve months." The note on landfills says: "The Township owns and operates four landfill sites." Asbestos in several buildings is the second part of the obligation. The statements print one total, not a split.
Note 13, accumulated surplus: reserves total 8,666,946 at 2025 (working funds reserve $4,291,556, water reserve 2,151,794, sewer reserve 2,077,596, garbage collection reserve 146,000). "Asset retirement obligation" (6,140,893) at 2025 and (1,142,453) at 2024. "Total reserves and amounts to be recovered" $1,966,065 at 2025 and 5,628,952 at 2024.
Note 18, tangible capital assets, cost: "Buildings" 6,624,742 at the start of 2025, additions 19,944, disposals/transfers 782,009, "Revaluation of ARO" 4,569,732, 11,996,427 at the end of 2025.
Statement of changes in net financial assets: "Revaluation of asset retirement obligation" (4,569,732) in 2025. "Net financial assets, end of year" budget $5,177,113, actual $2,474,414.
$410,100budgeted for long-term debt repayments in 2025; the cash flow statement shows $31,539 repaid
To put its budget on the same footing as its audited statements, the Township adds back certain items. The note that does this lists "Long-term debt repayments" of $410,100 for 2025. The cash flow statement shows principal repayments on municipal debt of $31,539 for the year. The Township's debt at the end of 2025 was one loan from Infrastructure Ontario of $559,988, repaid at about $32,000 of principal a year, plus a small tile drainage loan of $11,490 that landowners repay. The line of credit with the bank was $Nil. The difference, $378,561 (worked out by us), is about 40% of the budgeted 2025 surplus of $941,495.
Why it matters
The budgeted surplus is the number the statements use to judge whether the Township did better or worse than planned. If $410,100 was planned for repayments that never came due, the planned surplus and the plan itself were off by that amount, and the Township's own comparison of budget to actual is harder to trust.
It could be because…
The budget line may include repayments the Township planned to make on new borrowing, a planned early payoff, or a payment to a reserve that it labels debt repayment.
The line may carry an amount that was dropped when the budget was adopted but not removed from the note.
The note says the budget figures are "the financial plan adopted by Council with adjustments as follows", so the line may be a bookkeeping adjustment rather than a council decision.
Questions you could ask
What is the $410,100 in the 2025 budget, and which council decision set it?
Was any debt planned for 2025 that the Township did not take on?
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 Black River - Matheson?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 12, budget information: "Budgeted surplus for the year" $-; "Add: investment in tangible capital assets" 1,885,175; "Long-term debt repayments" 410,100; "Less: estimated amortization" (846,432); "Reserve transfers" (507,348); "Budget surplus" $941,495.
Note 11, municipal debt: a serial debenture with Infrastructure Ontario for "a new municipal building" of $559,988 at 2025. Principal due: 2026 $32,043, 2027 32,914, 2028 33,809, 2029 34,728, 2030 35,672. Note 14: the CIBC operating line of $2,000,000 had a balance of "$Nil (2024 - $Nil)".
Note 10, tile drainage: "The total amount outstanding as at December 31, 2025 is $11,490 (2024 $17,373)"; the payment of principal and interest "has been assumed by the benefiting landowners".
$512,774budgeted for "Other" revenue in 2025; $29,760 came in
The Township budgeted total revenue of $12,443,475 for 2025 and booked $12,036,005. That near-match hides large gaps on single lines. "Other" revenue was budgeted at $512,774 and came in at $29,760. Federal operating grants were budgeted at $544,142 and came in at $225,229. "User charges" went the other way: budgeted at $154,514, actual $443,465. Water, sewer and garbage charges were budgeted at $1,266,511 and came in at $1,121,374. Adding the "Other" and "User charges" budget lines gives $667,288 and the two actual lines give $473,225 (worked out by us), so some of the gap may be the same money filed under a different label.
Why it matters
A budget tells taxpayers what the Township expects to collect. Lines that are far off, in both directions, suggest the budget and the books file money under different labels, which makes it hard for a resident to see whether a shortfall is real.
It could be because…
The budget may have put some items under "Other" that the auditors file under "User charges" or another line.
Federal grants are booked when conditions are met, so a grant planned for 2025 may be booked in a later year. The statements show deferred revenue of $623,520 at 2025.
Water, sewer and garbage billings depend on connections and use, and may come in lower than planned without any problem.
Questions you could ask
Which items did the 2025 budget put under "Other" revenue, and where did they end up?
Which federal grants did the Township expect in 2025, and when are they now expected?
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 Black River - Matheson?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Statement of operations, 2025 (budget, actual): "Other" 512,774, 29,760. "Federal grants" 544,142, 225,229. "User charges" 154,514, 443,465. "Water, sewer and garbage charges" 1,266,511, 1,121,374. Total revenue 12,443,475, 12,036,005.
$1,974,321general government spending in 2025, down from $3,489,855 in 2024 (budget $2,642,518)
General government covers council, the administration and the costs of running the Township itself. It cost $3,489,855 in 2024 and $1,974,321 in 2025, against a 2025 budget of $2,642,518. Two lines moved most. "Contracted services" in general government were $1,546,059 in 2024 and $413,679 in 2025. "Rents and financial expenses" went the other way: $45,973 in 2024 and $298,111 in 2025. The statements do not say what is in either line. The Township's 2024 was unusual. A provincial appointee did the work of council from April 29 to August 27, 2024, a by-election was held on August 12, 2024, and the appointee's reports mention a labour dispute and litigation, but they do not give any cost. We do not know whether any of that explains these lines.
Why it matters
Spending that falls by 43% in a year (worked out by us) may have been a one-time cost in 2024, or a cost that moved to another line. The rise in "rents and financial expenses" has no stated reason. Residents deserve to know which it is before the next council sets a budget.
It could be because…
A by-election, the legal work around it and one-time consulting in 2024 would not repeat in 2025.
The 2024 contracted services may include costs for the dispute and claims mentioned in the appointee's reports, which may have ended or been settled.
"Rents and financial expenses" may hold insurance, bank charges or interest that was filed elsewhere in 2024.
The 2024 column is marked "Restated - note 2" but the statements have no note 2, so 2024 may have been reclassified, which could explain part of the gap.
Questions you could ask
What made up the $1,546,059 of general government contracted services in 2024, and what is in the 2025 $413,679?
What is in the $298,111 of "rents and financial expenses" in 2025?
What was restated in the 2024 figures, and why is note 2 missing?
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 Black River - Matheson?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Statement of operations: "General government" budget 2025 2,642,518, actual 2025 1,974,321, actual 2024 3,489,855.
Schedule to note 16, general government column: 2025 "Contracted services" 413,679 and "Rents and financial expenses" 298,111. The 2024 schedule, headed "(Restated - note 2)", shows "Contracted services" 1,546,059 and "Rents and financial expenses" 45,973. The index lists notes 6 to 23 and the notes jump from note 1 to note 3.
Report of May 15, 2024: "On April 29, 2024 by Minister's order, I was appointed to exercise the duties and obligations of the Township of Black River - Matheson council". The May 13, 2024 meeting dealt with "matters related to the 2024 municipal budget, by-election and labour dispute."
$500,000cap on legal fees reimbursed for each of two outstanding claims
The Township's 2025 statements say that various claims for damages have been filed against it. It expects them to be unfounded or covered by insurance, after a $10,000 deductible for each claim. For two of the claims, however, legal fees are reimbursed only up to $500,000 each. After that, the Township pays. The statements say any loss cannot be estimated. They do not say how much of either cap has been used or when the claims were filed.
Why it matters
Legal fees above $1,000,000 in total (the two caps added, worked out by us) would be large compared with the Township's 2025 property tax revenue of $7,139,122. Residents cannot tell from the statements how close the Township is to that point.
It could be because…
Both claims may be settled or dismissed well before the caps are reached.
The Township may have disclosed the cap because disclosure rules require it, not because it is close.
Questions you could ask
How much has been paid in legal fees on each of the two claims, and how much of each $500,000 cap remains?
What does the Township expect to do if the cap is reached before the claims end?
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 Black River - Matheson?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 15, legal contingencies: "Various other statements of claim have been issued against the Township claiming damages." The Township "is of the opinion that these claims would be unfounded or covered by insurance after application of a $10,000 deductible per claim. Two of the outstanding claims have a cap on legal fees reimbursed at $500,000 each. Once the cap has been reached, the township will be responsible to pay any legal fees incurred."
In 2025, Black River - Matheson collected $488K more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 7% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. Only 1 of 17 similar towns raised theirs by more.
Why did Black River - Matheson's property tax go up 7% in 2025?
$0$2.0M$4.0M$6.0M$8.0M
$7.1M
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Town property tax
2019
$3.9M
2020
$4.1M
2021
$4.5M
2022
$4.9M
2023
$6.6M
2024
$6.7M
2025
$7.1M
Why it matters
A big one-year jump usually means something changed: a new cost, a service that grew, savings being rebuilt, or a problem from earlier years being paid for now. Residents should be able to see exactly which. Spread across every home, it is about $331 more each year.
It could be because…
Costs the town cannot control went up, such as policing, insurance or county charges.
The town kept taxes too low in earlier years and is catching up.
The town is rebuilding savings or paying for a big project like a bridge or equipment.
Questions you could ask
What were the three biggest reasons for the 2025 increase, in dollars?
Is a similar increase planned for next 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 Black River - Matheson?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Town property tax: $6,651,560 in 2024, $7,139,122 in 2025.
Black River - Matheson spent $1.1M on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $1.6M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Why did the cost of water, sewers and garbage grow 52% in 6 years?
Water, sewers and garbage
Prices (inflation)
−20%+0%+20%+40%+60%
+52%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Water, sewers and garbage
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
−10%
+1%
2021
+35%
+4%
2022
+13%
+11%
2023
−1%
+16%
2024
−1%
+18%
2025
+52%
+21%
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 $551K a year pay for?
Why did garbage pickup go from $50,886 to $555K?
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 Black River - Matheson?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
$672,014deficit shown for environmental services in 2025, before leaving out $722,960 of non-cash costs (worked out by us)
Water, sewer and garbage are paid for by their own fees, separate from the property tax levy. In 2025 the statements show these environmental services with revenue of $1,227,374 and expenses of $1,899,388, a gap of $672,014. But $294,252 of the expenses is amortization (the yearly wearing-out of pipes and plant, which is not cash) and $428,708 is accretion expense (the build-up of the landfill cost, also not cash). Leaving those two out, the service came out $50,946 ahead (worked out by us). In 2024 the same service showed a surplus of $12,790. The water reserve went from $2,233,019 to $2,151,794 and the sewer reserve from $1,836,433 to $2,077,596.
Why it matters
It is the gap between the printed deficit and the cash picture that residents need to see. The deficit is mostly accounting, and the fees appear to cover cash costs. Whether they cover the long-term cost of replacing pipes, plant and landfills is a different question.
It could be because…
Fees may be set to cover cash costs and a planned transfer to reserves, not the full accounting cost.
A deficit that is mostly amortization and accretion is normal for a small water system with older pipes.
The Township posts a drinking water financial plan for 2026 to 2032 on its plans page. We did not read it.
Questions you could ask
Do the fees set aside enough each year to replace pipes and plant as they wear out, according to the Township's own plan?
Why did the water reserve fall in 2025 while the sewer reserve rose?
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 Black River - Matheson?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Schedule to note 16, 2025, environmental services column: total revenue 1,227,374; "Amortization expense" 294,252; "Accretion expense" 428,708; total expenses 1,899,388; "Annual surplus (deficit)" (672,014). The 2024 schedule shows the same column's "Annual surplus (deficit)" as 12,790.
10%levy increase proposed to the Minister's Appointee on June 26, 2024
In the spring of 2024 the Township had no sitting council. A person appointed by the province did council's work from April 29, 2024. Her May 15, 2024 report says the 2024 budget process was started on May 13, 2024. On June 26, 2024, staff presented a levy budget with a "proposed 10% levy increase". She asked for more work. Her June 30, 2024 report says she could not adopt the budget (section 275 of the Municipal Act, 2001 limits what she could do once nominations closed) and wanted the new council to approve it. Her July 31, 2024 report says staff were to bring back a consolidated report "prior to August 12, 2024". We found no budget on the Township's website, and the meeting portal that holds agendas was not open to us. We could not find out when the 2024 budget was adopted or what it set.
Why it matters
Property tax bills depend on the budget. A resident cannot check the final 2024 levy decision from the Township's website.
It could be because…
The appointee's June 30, 2024 report says a fall adoption "is not uncommon for some northern municipalities".
The final levy may have differed from the 10% proposed in June 2024.
The 2024 budget may be in agendas on the meeting portal, which we did not read.
Questions you could ask
On what date did council adopt the 2024 operating and capital budget, and what levy increase did it set?
Will the Township post each year's adopted budget on its Budget and Financials page?
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 Black River - Matheson?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Report of June 30, 2024: "Municipal staff explained the budget pressures, capital requirements, future capital needs and the impacts these have on the proposed 10% levy increase." "Since the 2024 operating and capital budget was not adopted by June 28, 2024, I will not be able to adopt the budget." "While a fall adoption date is late, it is not uncommon for some northern municipalities to have a late adoption date with final tax payments due in September and October."
Report of July 31, 2024: for the July 25, 2024 special meeting, staff were asked for a written report "incorporating information presented on the operating and capital multi-year levy budget to date", expected "at a special meeting prior to August 12, 2024."
Report of May 15, 2024: the Clerk-Treasurer presented budget guidelines on May 13, 2024 and "By adopting this report, the 2024 budget deliberation process was officially initiated."
$2,490,755market value of the Canadian equity portfolio held at December 31, 2025
The Township holds $6,264,949 in short-term investments through The ONE Investment Program. Of that, $2,490,755 is in a Canadian equity (stock) portfolio. That is about 40% of the total (worked out by us). The equity portfolio cost $1,776,063, so it is $714,692 above cost on paper (worked out by us). The statements show a fall in value of $(78,555) for the year on pooled funds. We did not find the Township's investment policy.
Why it matters
Stocks can lose value. The statements do not say which of the Township's reserves are held in these funds, and the equity portfolio is large compared with the working funds reserve of $4,291,556.
It could be because…
The investments are held through a pooled program, which may set its own limits on how they are spread.
Holding some stocks for the long term may earn more than a bond fund.
Investment income was $726,018 against a budget of $800,000, so the investments paid close to what was expected.
Questions you could ask
What does the Township's investment policy say about the share of savings that may be held in equities?
Does council review the holdings each 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 Black River - Matheson?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 6: Canadian government bond portfolio market value 2,215,100, cost 2,333,278; Canadian corporate bond portfolio 1,559,094, cost 1,647,259; "Canadian equity portfolio" 2,490,755, cost 1,776,063. Total $6,264,949, cost $5,756,600.
Statement of remeasurement gains: "Pooled funds" (78,555) in 2025 and 164,212 in 2024. Statement of operations: "Investment income" budget 800,000, actual 726,018.
Black River - Matheson spent about $312 per home on snow ploughing in 2025. The typical similar town spent $158. Only 2 of 17 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 Black River - Matheson?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Snow ploughing per home: Black River - Matheson $312; typical similar town $158; ranked 3rd highest of 18.
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