Your town, in plain words
A clear, checkable guide to Casselman's budget, taxes and council decisions. A municipality in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, east of Ottawa, with a mayor and four councillors. Every figure links back to the public record.
Follow Casselman in one tapWhere it goes
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.
+89%running the town office, 2019 to 2025
Casselman spent $905K on running the town office in 2019 and $1.7M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 1 of 29 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
+113%roads and snow, 2019 to 2025
Casselman spent $621K on roads and snow in 2019 and $1.3M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 0 of 29 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$8,969per home on long-term debt, 2025
Casselman spent about $8,969 per home on long-term debt in 2025. The typical similar town spent $855. None of the 29 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
$1,972,277in the 2026 budget for the 1 Industriel project, after $1,050,000 in the 2025 budget
The 2025 budget set aside $1,050,000 to modernize the building at 1 Industriel as a town hall. The 2026 budget adds $1,972,277 for the same project and lists a bank loan of $5,696,099 under a by-law passed in 2025. The budgets do not print one total for the project.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$11,447,399of borrowing room, all covered by by-laws for Pumping Station 1 and the new town hall
The town's debt was $17,906,216 at the end of 2024. Council has passed by-laws that use up all of the $11,447,399 the province says it could still borrow. The 2024 statements also show about $5.96 million of principal falling due in 2026 and 2027.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$3,650,000of a $5,000,000 pumping station is shown as a grant in the 2026 budget
The 2025 budget put Pumping Station 1 at $4,000,000, paid mostly by debt. The 2026 budget puts it at $5,000,000 and pays $3,650,000 of it with a grant. The budget pages we read do not say which grant it is or whether it has been approved.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$6,309,000a year: the funding gap in the town's own Asset Management Plan
The town's Asset Management Plan says it needs about $8,076,000 a year to keep its roads, water, sewers and buildings in their current condition, and puts in about $1,767,000. Council adopted the plan in February 2026. The 2026 budget raises the tax rate 5.853%.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$1,196,307drop in reserves and reserve funds during 2024
Reserves and reserve funds are money set aside for future needs. They fell from $4,376,518 to $3,180,211 in 2024. The waterworks reserve fund ended 2024 at negative $153,199, and the town's forecast shows it still negative at the end of 2025.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$2,706,482spent on planning and development in 2023, against a budget of $638,602
In the 2023 statements, planning and development spending was more than four times its budget, and the town ended the year with a deficit of $814,537. The next year the same line was $708,058. The town's 2026 budget says planning costs are often passed on to developers, but it does not speak to 2023.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$300non-refundable, to file a complaint about a council member
The town's page on the Integrity Commissioner tells residents to send a $300 non-refundable cheque with a complaint about a council member's conduct. The page does not say why, and we did not find any Integrity Commissioner reports posted.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
+54%police, fire and safety, 2019 to 2025
Casselman spent $1.1M on police, fire and safety in 2019 and $1.7M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
+91%water, sewers and garbage, 2019 to 2025
Casselman spent $1.4M on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $2.6M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$3.7Min savings at the end of 2025
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Casselman had $3.7M saved at the end of 2025, up from $3.4M in 2019. That is 40% of one year's spending. Only 4 of 29 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$130per home on council, 2025
Casselman spent about $130 per home on council in 2025. The typical similar town spent $77. Only 4 of 29 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
$2,140,449depreciation in 2024, against $1,789,246 in the budget
The 2025 and 2026 budget summaries both print depreciation (the yearly cost of assets wearing out) as $1,789,246. The 2024 audited statements show the real 2024 cost was $2,140,449. The budget is built on a cash basis, so this is not a cash gap, but the printed figure does not follow the town's growing asset list.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
A property tax bill in Casselman pays for three governments. Only part of it goes to the town, and that part is what Casselman council controls.
Local businesses can sponsor this page · How it works →
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.
Council meetings are open to the public, and councillors answer to you. How to reach Casselman's council · Council Books is free and paid for by readers: support this work.