Questions · 11 so far
We read Burk's Falls' financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 54 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
$378per home on council, 2024
Burk's Falls spent about $378 per home on council in 2024. The typical similar town spent $114. Only 4 of 54 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
$12,026per home on long-term debt, 2024
Burk's Falls spent about $12,026 per home on long-term debt in 2024. The typical similar town spent $578. None of the 54 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
$1,290,769.00the low bidder's revised price (plus HST) for the cut-down Yonge Street job, including a $180,000 contingency that staff later asked to cut to $100,000
The Village's biggest 2026 job is rebuilding Yonge Street. Council's own minutes say all the bids were over the approved budget. Council cut the scope of the job (called Option 5), the low bidder gave a new price, and council then said the extra would come out of the water reserve (savings kept for water and sewer work), to be paid back on a schedule. The papers we read do not say how much will come out of the reserve or how long repayment will take.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$1,929,777still owed to the Village by the Almaguin Manor Residence at December 31, 2024
The Village's audited statements include the Almaguin Manor Residence, a 32-suite affordable housing complex. The Village borrowed money from the province's lending agency and loaned it on to the Manor, and the statements say the Manor has not been able to make all of its payments since 2019. The loan was reworked at the end of 2022. The Manor also has its own mortgage, which the statements say is covered by a loan guarantee. By our arithmetic, that mortgage is about two-thirds of the Village's reported long-term debt.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$815,446estimated 2026 amortization, against $652,734 of steady yearly capital funding (the Village's own report)
Amortization is the accounting cost of assets wearing out each year. Budgets usually leave it out, which is allowed. The Village's own report for the 2026 budget says its steady yearly funding for capital (about $652,734) is below its yearly amortization (about $815,446), and calls that level of investment not sustainable in the longer term. The audited statements show the Village bought about half as much in capital assets as it wrote off in each of 2023 and 2024. This is the Village's own warning, not an overspend.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
+72%running the town office, 2019 to 2024
Burk's Falls spent $452K on running the town office in 2019 and $777K in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 7 of 54 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
$40,369budgeted for Rural Youth Group revenue in 2026, with $0.00 booked by June 30, 2026
The 2026 budget carries the Rural Youth Group as an even trade: $40,369 of expected revenue and $40,369 of supplies spending. By June 30, 2026 no revenue had been booked and $740.53 had been spent. Council said in April that the project was presented as having no cost to ratepayers, and asked for a written understanding to confirm it. In July the group's committee recommended pausing work on a physical youth centre location and noted that raising money is meant to be a main job of a coordinator who had not yet been hired.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$291,6542026 policing levy, up from $262,751 in 2025 (about 11 per cent, worked out by us)
Policing is the largest of the outside bills the Village must pay. For 2026 it rose by $28,903. The Village's own summary lists it as a mandatory levy, meaning council does not set it. We raise it only as context for why the 2026 tax bill went up.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$69,5002026 budget for council remuneration, against $57,783 spent in 2025 (before audit)
The council pay line in the 2026 budget is higher than what was spent in 2025. The 2025 council pay statement shows total pay below the budgeted amount. We do not compare members to each other; this is only about the total.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
−$2.8Mnet financial position, 2024
In 2019, Burk's Falls had $2.2M more in cash and money owed to it than it owed to others. By 2024 it was −$2.8M. About 7% of that change ($325K) 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 1 of 54 similar towns are in a weaker position.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$372per home on snow ploughing, 2024
Burk's Falls spent about $372 per home on snow ploughing in 2024. The typical similar town spent $93. Only 3 of 54 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
$378per home on council, 2024
Burk's Falls spent about $378 per home on council in 2024. The typical similar town spent $114. Only 4 of 54 similar towns spent more.
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.
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 Burk's Falls? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Council per home: Burk's Falls $378; typical similar town $114; ranked 5th highest of 55.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 54 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy
$12,026per home on long-term debt, 2024
Burk's Falls spent about $12,026 per home on long-term debt in 2024. The typical similar town spent $578. None of the 54 similar towns spent more.
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.
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 Burk's Falls? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Long-term debt per home: Burk's Falls $12,026; typical similar town $578; ranked 1st highest of 55.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 54 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy
$1,290,769.00the low bidder's revised price (plus HST) for the cut-down Yonge Street job, including a $180,000 contingency that staff later asked to cut to $100,000
The Village's biggest 2026 job is rebuilding Yonge Street. Council's own minutes say all the bids were over the approved budget. Council cut the scope of the job (called Option 5), the low bidder gave a new price, and council then said the extra would come out of the water reserve (savings kept for water and sewer work), to be paid back on a schedule. The papers we read do not say how much will come out of the reserve or how long repayment will take.
A reserve is money set aside for a future need. Borrowing from the water reserve to finish a road job is allowed, but residents who pay water bills should be able to see how much was taken and when it goes back.
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 Burk's Falls? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Water reserve use and repayment schedule for Yonge Street, with wording you can copy.
Minutes of the March 12, 2026 special meeting say: "all tenders received exceeded the approved budget." Staff asked the consulting engineer for ways to cut cost, and council chose Recommendation #5, using Gas Tax and OCIF (provincial infrastructure grant) funding in line with the Village's Asset Management Plan.
Council agenda package, April 21, 2026 · PDF page 4, minutes of the March 12, 2026 special meeting, Reports to Council, item B
A project memo dated April 16, 2026 says the engineer estimated Option #5 at $1,138,140.66 (plus HST). The low bidder's revised total was $1,290,769.00 (plus HST) and included a contingency of $180,000.00. With the contingency set at $100,000.00 and the building condition study removed, the gap to the estimate is $58,532.34. The memo recommends going ahead with Kenalex Construction Company Ltd.
Council agenda package, April 21, 2026 · PDF page 45, project memo "Yonge Street - Reduced Scope Contractor Price", dated April 16, 2026
The adopted 2026 capital list shows "Yonge Street Reconstruction - $1,113,302" under the roads department and "Yonge Street Watermain Replacement - $346,000" under water and wastewater. We cannot tell from the documents how the memo's price lines up with these two lines.
2026 Budget Highlights · PDF page 2, item 5 Capital
Minutes of the April 21, 2026 meeting, resolution 2026-113: council accepted Kenalex's tender for Option #5, and directed that the extra be taken from water reserves, with a repayment schedule to replenish the reserve. The same minutes say the shortfall is set aside for contingency and "may not be fully utilized".
Council agenda package, May 12, 2026 · PDF pages 3 and 4, minutes of the April 21, 2026 meeting, Reports to Council item C and resolution 2026-113
$1,929,777still owed to the Village by the Almaguin Manor Residence at December 31, 2024
The Village's audited statements include the Almaguin Manor Residence, a 32-suite affordable housing complex. The Village borrowed money from the province's lending agency and loaned it on to the Manor, and the statements say the Manor has not been able to make all of its payments since 2019. The loan was reworked at the end of 2022. The Manor also has its own mortgage, which the statements say is covered by a loan guarantee. By our arithmetic, that mortgage is about two-thirds of the Village's reported long-term debt.
If the Manor ever could not pay, the Village could be asked to cover loan payments out of ratepayers' money. The 2025 statements, which would show the latest picture, were not posted when we looked.
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 Burk's Falls? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Almaguin Manor Residence loan payment record, with wording you can copy.
Note 22: in 2019 the Village borrowed $1,999,900 and loaned it to the Manor for a 32-suite affordable housing complex. "Since 2019, Almaguin Manor Residence has been unable to make all payments as originally scheduled" and a revised repayment schedule was agreed on December 31, 2022. The loan is now repayable in annual payments of $84,000, including interest at 2.75%. The balance owed is $1,929,777 (2023 - $1,966,694).
2024 Consolidated Financial Statements · PDF page 34, Note 22 Related Party Transactions, Almaguin Manor Residence (a)
The repayment table in the same note shows, for 2025, principal of $23,739, interest of $53,261 and a total of $77,000. For "2030 onwards" it shows principal of $1,774,395, interest of $918,294 and a total of $2,692,689. Total interest over the life of the loan is $1,175,912.
2024 Consolidated Financial Statements · PDF page 34, Note 22 (a), repayment schedule
Note 11 lists a mortgage with RBC Life Insurance Company of $4,064,059 (2023 - $4,120,000), due January 2060, with the Manor's property (carrying value $5,802,458) pledged as security. Total long-term debt is $6,280,410 (2023 - $6,437,673).
2024 Consolidated Financial Statements · PDF page 21, Note 11 Long-Term Debt (a)
Note 5 says restricted cash includes amounts kept to meet a CMHC insurance requirement, "as a condition of the Almaguin Manor Residence loan guarantee with RBC". Restricted cash is $950,600 (2023 - $802,670).
2024 Consolidated Financial Statements · PDF page 17, Note 5 Cash
Note 22 also says the Village paid legal fees for the Manor: $1,861 in 2023 with no specific repayment terms, and $7,536 in 2024, expected to be repaid in 2025.
2024 Consolidated Financial Statements · PDF page 34, Note 22 (c) and (d)
$815,446estimated 2026 amortization, against $652,734 of steady yearly capital funding (the Village's own report)
Amortization is the accounting cost of assets wearing out each year. Budgets usually leave it out, which is allowed. The Village's own report for the 2026 budget says its steady yearly funding for capital (about $652,734) is below its yearly amortization (about $815,446), and calls that level of investment not sustainable in the longer term. The audited statements show the Village bought about half as much in capital assets as it wrote off in each of 2023 and 2024. This is the Village's own warning, not an overspend.
If wear is not matched by replacement spending over many years, repair bills arrive in lumps. Residents can ask what the plan is to close the gap.
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 Burk's Falls? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The Village's Ontario Regulation 284/09 report says: "The Village's estimated 2026 amortization expense is $815,446." It compares this with "permanent/predictable annual funding for capital asset purchases of $652,734", says the current level "remains insufficient to cover the existing amortization of the historical cost of its assets", and says the level of investment "is not sustainable in the longer-term".
Ontario Regulation 284/09 report, 2026 budget · PDF page 4, section 2
The Statement of Change in Net Debt shows acquisition of tangible capital assets of (477,252) in 2024 and (482,424) in 2023, and amortization of tangible capital assets of 908,048 in 2024 and 900,618 in 2023.
2024 Consolidated Financial Statements · PDF page 8, Consolidated Statement of Change in Net Debt
The Statement of Operations shows an annual operating deficit of (159,046) for 2024 and (260,810) for 2023. Note 23 shows the 2024 adopted budget was restated to include amortization of (908,048), which is why a budgeted deficit of (366,477) appears.
2024 Consolidated Financial Statements · PDF page 6 (Statement of Operations) and page 35 (Note 23 Budget Figures)
+72%running the town office, 2019 to 2024
Burk's Falls spent $452K on running the town office in 2019 and $777K in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 7 of 54 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Running the town office | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +14% | +1% |
| 2021 | +30% | +4% |
| 2022 | +40% | +11% |
| 2023 | +44% | +16% |
| 2024 | +72% | +18% |
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 Burk's Falls? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Running the town office: 2019 $452K, 2020 $514K, 2021 $589K, 2022 $633K, 2023 $652K, 2024 $777K.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Office and administration, from $205K to $421K.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 38%. Burk's Falls ranks 8th of 55.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 54 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
$40,369budgeted for Rural Youth Group revenue in 2026, with $0.00 booked by June 30, 2026
The 2026 budget carries the Rural Youth Group as an even trade: $40,369 of expected revenue and $40,369 of supplies spending. By June 30, 2026 no revenue had been booked and $740.53 had been spent. Council said in April that the project was presented as having no cost to ratepayers, and asked for a written understanding to confirm it. In July the group's committee recommended pausing work on a physical youth centre location and noted that raising money is meant to be a main job of a coordinator who had not yet been hired.
A budget line that depends on money not yet raised can fall back on the tax levy if it is not met. Residents can ask what happens to the line if the money does not come.
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 Burk's Falls? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Minutes of the April 21, 2026 meeting: council "emphasized that the initiative was presented as having no cost to ratepayers, and directed that a formal understanding confirming this be established moving forward."
Council agenda package, May 12, 2026 · PDF page 3, minutes of the April 21, 2026 meeting, Reports to Council item A
The budget-to-actual report for January 1 to June 30, 2026 shows account 15-391-00 Youth Group: current 0.00, year to date 0.00, budget 40,369.00, variance -40,369.00.
Council agenda package, July 21, 2026 · PDF page 37, Budgetary Control report for 01/01/2026 - 06/30/2026
The same report shows account 16-750-00 Youth Group-Supplies: current 157.12, year to date 740.53, budget 40,369.00.
Council agenda package, July 21, 2026 · PDF page 43, Budgetary Control report for 01/01/2026 - 06/30/2026
Draft minutes of the committee's July 6, 2026 meeting say fundraising is meant to be a primary responsibility of a coordinator for the program (not yet hired, as far as we can tell), and that the grants the Village knows of "have not required a dedicated physical space". The committee recommended that council pause development of a physical youth centre location.
Council agenda package, July 21, 2026 · PDF pages 46 and 47, Rural Youth Group Committee Meeting, July 6, 2026, item 7a and item 8
$291,6542026 policing levy, up from $262,751 in 2025 (about 11 per cent, worked out by us)
Policing is the largest of the outside bills the Village must pay. For 2026 it rose by $28,903. The Village's own summary lists it as a mandatory levy, meaning council does not set it. We raise it only as context for why the 2026 tax bill went up.
Residents see a 4 per cent municipal tax rate increase; the police bill rose faster than that. It is a cost council has little control over.
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 Burk's Falls? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
2026 Budget Highlights: "Policing Levy increased by $28,903 (From 262,751 to 291,654)". Total 2026 levies are $445,918, an overall increase of $35,938.
2026 Budget Highlights · PDF page 1, item 4 Mandatory Levies
The budget line 16-220-00 Policing Contract reads: 291,654 (2026 budget), 262,751 (2025 budget), 262,752 (2025 actual), 259,212 (2024 actual), 290,195 (2023 actual), 235,859 (2022 actual).
By-law 20-2026 with 2026 budget (Appendix A) · PDF page 7, Appendix A page 5 of 10, Expenditures-Protection to Persons, account 16-220-00
"With a 4% tax rate increase taxpayers will pay an additional $73.08 per year, or $6.09 per month".
2026 Budget Highlights · PDF page 1
$69,5002026 budget for council remuneration, against $57,783 spent in 2025 (before audit)
The council pay line in the 2026 budget is higher than what was spent in 2025. The 2025 council pay statement shows total pay below the budgeted amount. We do not compare members to each other; this is only about the total.
Council sets its own pay line. It is worth knowing what the 2026 line is built on, such as a full council all year, benefits, or a raise.
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 Burk's Falls? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The budget line 16-111-00 Council Remuneration reads: 69,500 (2026 budget), 65,340 (2025 budget), 57,783 (2025 actual), 7,557 (variance), 62,404 (2024 actual), 62,404 (2023 actual), 65,602 (2022 actual).
By-law 20-2026 with 2026 budget (Appendix A) · PDF page 6, Appendix A page 4 of 10, Expenditures-General Government, account 16-111-00
The 2025 Council Remuneration and Expenses report, made under section 284 of the Municipal Act, shows totals for all members of $57,075.00 in remuneration and $60,828.01 in total.
Council agenda package, February 17, 2026 · PDF page 32, 2025 Council Remuneration and Expenses, Totals row
−$2.8Mnet financial position, 2024
In 2019, Burk's Falls had $2.2M more in cash and money owed to it than it owed to others. By 2024 it was −$2.8M. About 7% of that change ($325K) 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 1 of 54 similar towns are in a weaker position.
| Year | Net financial position |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $2.2M |
| 2020 | $2.3M |
| 2021 | $3.2M |
| 2022 | $3.3M |
| 2023 | −$3.1M |
| 2024 | −$2.8M |
This number is one of the clearest signs of whether a town is living within its means. The accounting-rule part is a bill that will come due when the landfill closes, not money already spent. The rest is real borrowing and spending of savings.
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 Burk's Falls? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Net financial assets: 2019 $2.2M, 2020 $2.3M, 2021 $3.2M, 2022 $3.3M, 2023 −$3.1M, 2024 −$2.8M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 70, line 9945 · archived copy
Future landfill and similar closing costs recorded: $325K. Long-term debt: $6.3M. Temporary loans: $0.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 70, lines 2920, 2699, 2099 · archived copy
$372per home on snow ploughing, 2024
Burk's Falls spent about $372 per home on snow ploughing in 2024. The typical similar town spent $93. Only 3 of 54 similar towns spent more.
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.
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 Burk's Falls? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Snow ploughing per home: Burk's Falls $372; typical similar town $93; ranked 4th highest of 55.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 54 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy