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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Bonnechere Valley'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 · 8 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Bonnechere Valley's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 30 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.
$2,539,607owed to the Township at December 31, 2025, up from $451,793 a year earlier
"Accounts receivable" is money other people or governments owe the Township for things already done, such as grants it has claimed but not yet been paid. At the end of 2024 the Township showed $451,793 owed to it. At the end of 2025 it showed $2,539,607. Over the same year its cash fell from $3,357,871 to $1,450,129. The cash flow statement shows $2,087,814 of cash tied up in this one line. We did not find the Township's own explanation in the statements.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$1,216,069of loan principal due in 2027, against $236,599 in 2028
At the end of 2025 the Township's "net financial assets" (what it holds in cash and money owed to it, minus what it owes) was a negative $590,835. That is better than the negative $1,094,576 a year earlier. Its bank loans stood at $2,419,542. The repayment schedule in the statements shows $736,389 of principal due in 2026 and $1,216,069 in 2027, far more than the $236,599 due in 2028. In 2026 the Township's budget presentation also lists $8,009,470 of capital projects.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 6 sources
$3,436,404landfill closure and post-closure obligation, against a $71,455 reserve
Landfills have to be capped and monitored for years after they close. The statements estimate this will cost the Township $3,436,404 in total (discounted to today's money). The reserve set aside for it is $71,455. The statements list this obligation as "unfunded", meaning the Township will have to raise the money in later years. The Eganville site is expected to reach capacity in 5 years, with 3% of its space left.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$2,295,133surplus in 2025, against a budgeted $1,369,404
The 2025 budget in the audited statements planned a surplus of $1,369,404. The actual surplus was $2,295,133. The gap is mostly one line: "Other" revenue was budgeted at $817,787 and came in at $1,782,273. That is $964,486 more, worked out by us. The two years before were the other way: 2024 ended with a shortfall of $247,254 against a planned surplus of $239,383, and 2023 ended with a shortfall of $772,481. We did not find a breakdown of what is in "Other" revenue in the statements.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$1,019,193owed to the Township by its own generation company, with no fixed repayment terms
The Township owns all of the Eganville Generation Corporation, a company that runs a small power-generation system. The statements say the company owes the Township $1,019,193, up from $971,946, on a note that "has no fixed repayment terms and is unsecured" with interest charged at 7.25% and a variable rate. The statements explain how the loan began: the old local electricity system was sold to Hydro One in 2001 and the proceeds financed the generation upgrade. They say the note "is offset by reserves held by the Township".
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$855,923OPP costs in 2026, against a contract of $762,128 for 2025
The statements say the Township's contract with the Ontario Provincial Police cost $762,128 for 2025. The Treasurer's report in the October 6, 2026 committee agenda says 2026 OPP costs were $855,923, and that a cap of 11% for 2027 would add $94,152 for a total of $950,075. The Township has already answered part of the question itself: a draft Council resolution asks the Province to review how the OPP bills municipalities.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$20,000difference between two tax revenue figures in the same 2026 budget presentation, worked out by us
The first slide of the Township's 2026 budget presentation says $4,381,759 of the $10,755,030 budget comes from taxation, and that with County and school taxes the total collected is $7,932,054. The revenue table on a later slide lists "Taxation Revenue" of $4,401,759 and adds up to the same $10,755,030 total. The two taxation figures are $20,000 apart, worked out by us. We could not read the by-law that adopts the budget (it is a picture of a page), so we cannot say which figure was adopted.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
Ontario law requires municipalities to report each member's yearly pay and expenses. We did not find that statement on the pages we read. The October 6, 2026 committee agenda has a Council Remuneration Report and a draft pay by-law. The report says staff will bring the by-law to the October 21 council meeting, but the draft says it takes effect October 1, 2026, before that vote. It raises each councillor's yearly expense allowance from $500 to $750 and leaves the conference allowance at $2,000.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$2,539,607owed to the Township at December 31, 2025, up from $451,793 a year earlier
"Accounts receivable" is money other people or governments owe the Township for things already done, such as grants it has claimed but not yet been paid. At the end of 2024 the Township showed $451,793 owed to it. At the end of 2025 it showed $2,539,607. Over the same year its cash fell from $3,357,871 to $1,450,129. The cash flow statement shows $2,087,814 of cash tied up in this one line. We did not find the Township's own explanation in the statements.
Why it matters
Cash pays the bills. When a large amount is owed to the Township instead of sitting in the bank, the Township has to wait for it. If it is a grant from another government, it will probably arrive. If it is something else, residents may want to know who owes it and when it will be paid.
It could be because…
Grants for the 2025 capital work (the statements show $3,815,173 spent on capital assets) claimed from other governments but not yet paid at year end.
Timing: a large payment due in December 2025 that arrived in January 2026.
Money owed by the Township's own business, the Eganville Generation Corporation, or other local bodies.
Questions you could ask
Who owed the Township the $2,539,607 at December 31, 2025, and how much of it has been paid since?
How much of it is grant money for capital projects, and from which program?
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 Bonnechere Valley?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Statement of cash flows: "decrease (increase) in accounts receivable" (2,087,814) (2024: (79,222)). "Decrease in cash and cash equivalents during the year" $ (1,907,742).
$1,216,069of loan principal due in 2027, against $236,599 in 2028
At the end of 2025 the Township's "net financial assets" (what it holds in cash and money owed to it, minus what it owes) was a negative $590,835. That is better than the negative $1,094,576 a year earlier. Its bank loans stood at $2,419,542. The repayment schedule in the statements shows $736,389 of principal due in 2026 and $1,216,069 in 2027, far more than the $236,599 due in 2028. In 2026 the Township's budget presentation also lists $8,009,470 of capital projects.
Why it matters
Principal is the part of a loan that has to be paid back. A steep bump in one year means the Township must either find the cash, borrow again, or refinance. The statements say two loans, at 7.77% and 7.86%, were refinanced in December 2025, so refinancing at maturity looks like normal practice here. They do not say what rate the refinanced borrowing carries, so those two rates may no longer apply.
It could be because…
Most of the 2027 amount is loans that mature in 2027 and will be renewed with the bank, as two loans were in December 2025.
Grants for the 2026 capital projects (the presentation lists $3,176,059 in grants in the water and sewer budget) may mean little new borrowing is needed.
The statements say the Township's debt payments are within the provincial limit.
Questions you could ask
Which of the loans that mature in 2026 and 2027 will be renewed, and which will be paid from cash or reserves?
How much new borrowing does the 2026 capital plan, including the John Street project, require?
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 Bonnechere Valley?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 11(c), principal payments required: 2026 $ 736,389 principal, $ 104,816 interest; 2027 1,216,069 principal, 83,236 interest; 2028 236,599 principal. Total principal $ 2,419,542.
Note 12: total charges for net long term liabilities in 2025 were $ 669,121 (principal $ 522,421, interest $ 146,700). "These payments are within the annual debt repayment limit as prescribed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing under Ontario Regulation 403/02."
Statement of financial position: "Net financial assets (liabilities)" $ (590,835) (2024: $ (1,094,576)). Statement of changes in net financial assets: budgeted end of 2025 $ (1,432,383).
2026 budget presentation: "2026 TOTAL CAPITAL PROJECTS $8,009,470" (slide 14). "Plus $3,176,059 in grants in Water & Sewer Budget OCIF & HSWS (John Street)" (slide 10). We could not read the by-law adopting the budget, so we do not say these are the adopted figures.
Note 11(b): "Bank of Montreal loan payable, interest at 7.77%, $ 5,806 principal payment plus interest, payable monthly, refinanced December 2025." 2024 balance 272,924. "Bank of Montreal loan payable, interest at 7.86%, $ 3,411 principal payment plus interest, payable monthly, refinanced December 2025." 2024 balance 242,161. Neither has a 2025 balance.
$3,436,404landfill closure and post-closure obligation, against a $71,455 reserve
Landfills have to be capped and monitored for years after they close. The statements estimate this will cost the Township $3,436,404 in total (discounted to today's money). The reserve set aside for it is $71,455. The statements list this obligation as "unfunded", meaning the Township will have to raise the money in later years. The Eganville site is expected to reach capacity in 5 years, with 3% of its space left.
Why it matters
A cost that is known but not saved for will be paid by future taxpayers or through new borrowing. The Eganville site is the one closest to filling up, so its closing costs are the nearest. The Township does say some closure costs are paid as they come, through the yearly operating budget.
It could be because…
Closure costs are spread over 25 years of post-closure care, so the cash needed in any one year is much smaller than the total.
The total is an accounting estimate and can change with new information, as the statements say.
The Township may plan to cover it from yearly budgets, as the statements describe for some closure costs, or from grants.
Questions you could ask
What is the plan, and the date, for the Eganville site's closure, and what will replace it?
Does Council intend to build up the landfill reserve before the Eganville site fills?
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 Bonnechere Valley?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 7: "Landfill closure and post closure costs" $ 3,514,219 at the start of 2025, accretion recovery (77,815), $ 3,436,404 at the end of 2025 (2024: $ 3,514,219).
Note 7: "There is currently $ 71,455 in reserves set aside for either closure or post closure activities." Eganville Site: "expected to reach its capacity in 5 years", remaining capacity "4,410 cubic meters, which is 3% of the site's total capacity". Total undiscounted future expenditures for closure and post closure care $ 1,479,325. Ruby Road Site: capacity in 28 years, $ 1,694,587.
Statement of financial position: "Unfunded - asset retirement obligation (Note 2)" (3,436,404). Note 2: amounts to be recovered "represent the requirement of the Township to raise funds in subsequent periods to finance unfunded liabilities". Note 7 adds: "Some closure costs are incurred on an ongoing basis and are included in the yearly fiscal operating budget."
$2,295,133surplus in 2025, against a budgeted $1,369,404
The 2025 budget in the audited statements planned a surplus of $1,369,404. The actual surplus was $2,295,133. The gap is mostly one line: "Other" revenue was budgeted at $817,787 and came in at $1,782,273. That is $964,486 more, worked out by us. The two years before were the other way: 2024 ended with a shortfall of $247,254 against a planned surplus of $239,383, and 2023 ended with a shortfall of $772,481. We did not find a breakdown of what is in "Other" revenue in the statements.
Why it matters
A budget is the promise made to taxpayers about what a year will cost. A result far from the promise, in either direction, means the budget was a poor guide. This budget is the one printed in the audited statements, which the Township says was changed to follow accounting rules, so the gap is not simply the leftover non-cash cost of amortization (the wear on buildings and roads), which is the same in the budget and the actual column.
It could be because…
"Other" revenue can include one-time items such as grants recognized when capital work is done, donations, or investment and penalty income that the Township chose not to count on.
The statements say the budget was reclassified to match accounting rules, and that capital projects are budgeted project by project over several years, so the two columns are not exactly comparable.
2023 and 2024 shortfalls may have been driven by non-cash items such as the landfill estimate (an expense of $269,319 in 2024).
Questions you could ask
What makes up the $1,782,273 of "Other" revenue in 2025, and how much of it will not repeat?
Why was "Other" revenue budgeted at $817,787?
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 Bonnechere Valley?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Statement of operations, 2025: "Other" budget 817,787, actual 1,782,273 (2024 actual 991,915). "Excess (shortfall) of revenue over expenses" budget $ 1,369,404, actual $ 2,295,133, 2024 actual $ (247,254).
Statement of changes in net financial assets: "Amortization of tangible capital assets" budget 1,982,467, actual 1,982,467. "Acquisition of tangible capital assets" budget (3,689,678), actual (3,815,173). Note 9: "Budget figures have been reclassified for the purpose of these financial statements to comply with PSAB reporting requirements."
$1,019,193owed to the Township by its own generation company, with no fixed repayment terms
The Township owns all of the Eganville Generation Corporation, a company that runs a small power-generation system. The statements say the company owes the Township $1,019,193, up from $971,946, on a note that "has no fixed repayment terms and is unsecured" with interest charged at 7.25% and a variable rate. The statements explain how the loan began: the old local electricity system was sold to Hydro One in 2001 and the proceeds financed the generation upgrade. They say the note "is offset by reserves held by the Township".
Why it matters
The Township's own money is lent to a company it owns, with no repayment date. The company's results are small: $41,787 of net income in 2025 and long-term debt of $1,236,524. Residents may want to know whether the loan is expected to be repaid, and when, or whether it is really a long-term investment.
It could be because…
The note is a long-term way of funding the generation system, and the Township is content for it to stay in place, as the statements' explanation suggests.
The rise from $971,946 may be interest added to the note rather than new lending (the cash flow shows a $47,247 change in notes receivable, the same amount, worked out by us).
A reserve of $1,420,576 is held under "Hydro generation", so the loan is matched by saved money.
Questions you could ask
Is the note expected to be repaid, and if so when? If not, why is it carried as a loan?
Who sets the interest rate on the note, and how much interest did the Township collect from it in 2025?
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 Bonnechere Valley?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 3: "Due from Eganville Generation Corporation - $ 1,019,193 (2024 - $ 971,946)". "The Eganville Generation Corporation was formed and the proceeds from the sale were used to finance the generation system upgrade. The note receivable is offset by reserves held by the Township. The interest rates charged in 2025 were at 7.25% and a variable rate. The note has no fixed repayment terms and is unsecured."
Note 4: Township owns "a 100% interest". Long term debt 1,236,524; net income and comprehensive income $ 41,787 (2024: $ 76,568); dividends declared $ 40,000 (2024: $ 15,000).
$855,923OPP costs in 2026, against a contract of $762,128 for 2025
The statements say the Township's contract with the Ontario Provincial Police cost $762,128 for 2025. The Treasurer's report in the October 6, 2026 committee agenda says 2026 OPP costs were $855,923, and that a cap of 11% for 2027 would add $94,152 for a total of $950,075. The Township has already answered part of the question itself: a draft Council resolution asks the Province to review how the OPP bills municipalities.
Why it matters
Police is one of the few large costs that a small township cannot change. The 2025 and 2026 figures may not be measured the same way (the statements say the contract is reconciled to actual cost in the following year), so the increase we worked out ($93,795) is an approximate guide.
It could be because…
The 2025 contract figure is an estimate that is reconciled to actual cost a year later, so it may not be comparable to the 2026 figure.
The increase follows the provincial billing model, which the Township's draft resolution says it has limited control over.
The Treasurer's report says the 2027 increase is limited to no more than 11%, which would mean a 2% increase for Bonnechere Valley.
Questions you could ask
Was the 2026 OPP cost of $855,923 on the same basis as the 2025 figure of $762,128?
What did the 2026 budget plan for policing, and how will the extra be paid for?
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 Bonnechere Valley?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 16: OPP contract "for 2025 was $ 762,128 (2024 - $ 727,301)". "Annual charges are determined based on a level of service and are reconciled to actual cost in the following year."
Finance report: "2026 OPP costs were $855,923, an eleven percent increase would be $94,152 and would bring the 2027 OPP costs to $950,075. This increase means a 2% increase for Bonnechere Valley".
Draft resolution: "approximately 10% of Bonnechere Valley's calls for service relate to matters that are provincial responsibilities, resulting in approximately $27,168 in costs being charged to the Township"; other costs not allocated to the Township "would have been reduced by an additional $137,709". It asks the Province for a "comprehensive review of the OPP municipal billing model".
$20,000difference between two tax revenue figures in the same 2026 budget presentation, worked out by us
The first slide of the Township's 2026 budget presentation says $4,381,759 of the $10,755,030 budget comes from taxation, and that with County and school taxes the total collected is $7,932,054. The revenue table on a later slide lists "Taxation Revenue" of $4,401,759 and adds up to the same $10,755,030 total. The two taxation figures are $20,000 apart, worked out by us. We could not read the by-law that adopts the budget (it is a picture of a page), so we cannot say which figure was adopted.
Why it matters
A small difference may be nothing, but a budget presentation that gives two different tax figures is hard for residents to check. The by-law that adopts the budget, which would settle it, is not readable by search or screen reader.
It could be because…
The $20,000 may be extra tax revenue such as supplementary taxes or payments counted in the table but not in the levy.
The presentation may have been revised between slides.
The figures may differ because one is the levy and one is all taxation revenue.
Questions you could ask
Which taxation figure is in the adopted 2026 budget, $4,381,759 or $4,401,759?
Will the Township post the adopting by-law as text that can be searched?
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 Bonnechere Valley?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Slide 2: "$10,755,030, of which $4,381,759 comes from taxation". Also "$2,614,741 for the County of Renfrew and $935,554 for the Ontario school system for a total of $7,932,054".
Ontario law requires municipalities to report each member's yearly pay and expenses. We did not find that statement on the pages we read. The October 6, 2026 committee agenda has a Council Remuneration Report and a draft pay by-law. The report says staff will bring the by-law to the October 21 council meeting, but the draft says it takes effect October 1, 2026, before that vote. It raises each councillor's yearly expense allowance from $500 to $750 and leaves the conference allowance at $2,000.
Why it matters
Pay set by a council for itself is the kind of decision residents most expect to be able to look up. The draft was prepared with a committee that included the CAO, the Treasurer, a former councillor and a public member, and it compared the Township with others in Renfrew County, which is good practice. The date is a small point, but it is worth a clear answer.
It could be because…
The yearly statement may be posted somewhere we did not look, or published in another way.
An effective date before the vote is common for pay changes tied to a fixed yearly date. The draft ties yearly increases to October 1.
The date may be corrected in the final by-law.
Questions you could ask
Will the Township post its yearly statement of council pay and expenses for 2025?
Is the October 1, 2026 effective date in the draft by-law intended, given that first reading is October 21, 2026?
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 Bonnechere Valley?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Council Remuneration Report: "That committee direct staff to bring the draft by-law back to the October 21 council meeting". "Councillor portion remained at $2000 per annum"; "expenses were increased from $500 per Councillor per year to $750".
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