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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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Casselman'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 · 15 so far

Things worth asking about

We read Casselman's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 29 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.
Needs an answer

Needs an answer

These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.

Needs an answerRising costs

Why did the cost of running the town office grow 89% in 6 years?

+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

Needs an answerRising costs

Why did the cost of roads and snow grow 113% in 6 years?

+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

Worth asking

Worth asking

There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.

Worth askingRising costs

How much will the new town hall at 1 Industriel cost in all, and how is it being paid for?

$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

Worth askingMoney health

How much more can the town borrow, and what happens when its short-term loans come due in 2026 and 2027?

$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

Worth askingMoney health

Is the $3,650,000 grant that now pays for most of Pumping Station 1 confirmed?

$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

Worth askingMoney health

The town's own plan says it is $6.3 million a year short on infrastructure. How will the budget close that gap?

$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

Worth askingRising costs

Why did planning and development cost $2,706,482 in 2023 when the budget said $638,602?

$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

Worth askingOpenness

Why does a complaint to the Integrity Commissioner need a $300 non-refundable cheque?

$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

Worth askingMoney health

Does Casselman have enough saved for repairs and emergencies?

$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

Good to know

Good to know

Background that helps make sense of the rest.

Good to knowRecord-keeping

Why does the budget print the same depreciation figure every year when the real figure was higher?

$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

Each question in full

Needs an answerFound automatically from financial reports

Why did the cost of running the town office grow 89% in 6 years?

+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.

Why did the cost of running the town office grow 89% in 6 years?
+89%
Show as a table
YearRunning the town officePrices (inflation)
2019+0%+0%
2020+4%+1%
2021+24%+4%
2022+61%+11%
2023+57%+16%
2024+61%+18%
2025+89%+21%

Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.

Why it matters

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.

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

  1. What did the extra $803K a year pay for?
  2. Why did office and administration go from $417K to $947K?
  3. 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 Casselman? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. Running the town office: 2019 $905K, 2020 $943K, 2021 $1.1M, 2022 $1.5M, 2023 $1.4M, 2024 $1.5M, 2025 $1.7M.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy

  2. Biggest driver: Office and administration, from $417K to $947K.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy

  3. Typical growth among similar towns: 35%. Casselman ranks 2nd of 30.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 29 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy

↑ All questions

Needs an answerFound automatically from financial reports

Why did the cost of roads and snow grow 113% in 6 years?

+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.

Why did the cost of roads and snow grow 113% in 6 years?
+113%
Show as a table
YearRoads and snowPrices (inflation)
2019+0%+0%
2020−9%+1%
2021+38%+4%
2022+94%+11%
2023+81%+16%
2024+79%+18%
2025+113%+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

  1. What did the extra $702K a year pay for?
  2. Why did paved roads go from $285K to $1.1M?
  3. 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 Casselman? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. Roads and snow: 2019 $621K, 2020 $566K, 2021 $857K, 2022 $1.2M, 2023 $1.1M, 2024 $1.1M, 2025 $1.3M.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy

  2. Biggest driver: Paved roads, from $285K to $1.1M.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy

  3. Typical growth among similar towns: 44%. Casselman ranks 1st of 30.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 29 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy

↑ All questions

Needs an answerFound automatically from financial reports

Why does Casselman spend more than most similar towns on long-term debt?

$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.

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

  1. What makes this cost higher here than in similar towns?
  2. 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 Casselman? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. Long-term debt per home: Casselman $8,969; typical similar town $855; ranked 1st highest of 30.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 29 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy

↑ All questions

Worth askingFound by reading the town's documents

How much will the new town hall at 1 Industriel cost in all, and how is it being paid for?

$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.

Why it matters

A town hall is a big purchase for a town of this size. Residents pay it back through taxes and fees for years, so they should be able to see one total and one plan.

It could be because…

  • The loan may be a ceiling that covers the building purchase and fit-up, with only part drawn each year.
  • A loan listed in the 2025 budget may have been replaced by a new loan with another bank, which would explain why the lists differ.
  • Work may be spread over several years, so no single year shows the total.

Questions you could ask

  1. What is the total cost of the 1 Industriel town hall project, and how much has been spent so far?
  2. What is the status of the Infrastructure Ontario loan of 2,200,000 shown in the 2025 budget, and why does the 2026 list show a different lender?
  3. What will the building cost each year to run and pay for, compared with the two older town halls?

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 Casselman? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. The 2025 budget's capital list includes "1 Industriel - Town Hall Modernization" at 1,050,000.

    Budget 2025 · PDF page 8, capital budget, Rental Services line 2025-RL-012

  2. The 2025 budget's debt list shows a loan for "1 Industriel" from Infrastructure Ontario under by-law 2022-025: initial loan 2,200,000, new loan in 2025 of 1,050,000, expected balance 3,300,000.

    Budget 2025 · PDF page 12, Long-Term Debt table

  3. The 2026 budget lists capital spending of 1,972,277 for "1 Industriel" under General Management. It adds that the project "includes certain non-capitalizable expenses, which explains why the loan covers $30,000 more than the capitalized amount."

    Budget 2026 · PDF page 7 (capital budget) and page 56 (General Management)

  4. The 2026 debt list shows "1 Industriel" with National Bank under by-law 2025-022: initial loan 5,696,099, new loan in 2026 of 2,002,277, expected balance 3,116,433. The 2022-025 Infrastructure Ontario loan is not in this list.

    Budget 2026 · PDF page 10, Long-Term Debt table, Rental Services

↑ All questions

Worth askingFound by reading the town's documents

How much more can the town borrow, and what happens when its short-term loans come due in 2026 and 2027?

$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.

Why it matters

Debt payments come out of taxes and water and sewer fees. When a town borrows to its limit, it has less room if costs rise or grants do not come.

It could be because…

  • Authorizing a loan up to the limit does not mean the town will draw all of it. Grants may reduce what it needs.
  • Loans marked "Variable" and due in 2027 may be short-term loans that are meant to be renewed or replaced by long-term ones.
  • The jump in principal due in 2026 and 2027 may come from those variable-rate loans, which the town may plan to refinance.

Questions you could ask

  1. Which loans make up the principal due in 2026 and 2027, and does the town plan to repay or refinance them?
  2. Was the 18.17% in the 2026 budget updated for the 2024 debt, or carried over from the 2025 budget?
  3. How much of the $11,447,399 will actually be drawn, and what will that do to yearly debt payments?

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 Casselman? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. The 2026 budget says that at the 2024 statement date the town had $17,906,216 in long-term debt, which the Ministry said was 18.17% of revenue, allowing it to borrow a total of $11,447,399. It says by-laws 2025-22 and 2025-23 authorize lines of credit totalling $11,447,399 for Pumping Station No. 1 and the new City Hall at 1 Industriel.

    Budget 2026 · PDF page 9, Long-Term Debt

  2. The 2025 budget says that at the 2023 statement date the town had $18,949,730 in long-term debt, which the Ministry said was 18.17% of revenue, allowing it to borrow a total of $9,137,911. The percentage is the same as in the 2026 budget although the debt is different.

    Budget 2025 · PDF page 11, Long-Term Debt

  3. Note 7 of the 2024 statements lists principal payments due: 2025, 1,069,945; 2026, 2,647,169; 2027, 3,309,935; 2028, 951,732. It says the payments needed are "within the annual debt repayment limits prescribed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs."

    Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Note 7, Debts, PDF page 15

  4. The 2026 debt list shows new loans of 2,920,277 in 2026, interest of 793,688, principal of 1,211,089 and an expected balance of 17,575,376. The loan for "Main Pumping Station Upgrade (PS1)" with National Bank is for 5,751,300; the town hall loan is 5,696,099. Added together (worked out by us) these are 11,447,399.

    Budget 2026 · PDF pages 10 and 11, Long-Term Debt tables

↑ All questions

Worth askingFound by reading the town's documents

Is the $3,650,000 grant that now pays for most of Pumping Station 1 confirmed?

$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.

Why it matters

A sewer pumping station is needed whatever happens to the grant. If the grant does not arrive, the cost falls back on borrowing or on sewer fees.

It could be because…

  • The town may have applied for, or already been told it will get, a provincial or federal grant that the budget book does not name.
  • The project cost may have grown because the design was completed after the 2025 budget.
  • Little of the 2025 money was spent, so the project may simply be starting in 2026.

Questions you could ask

  1. Which grant is the 3,650,000, and has the town been told it is approved?
  2. What happens to the project and its borrowing if the grant is smaller or late?
  3. Why did the project cost go from 4,000,000 to 5,000,000?

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 Casselman? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. The 2025 budget lists "Main Pumping Station Upgrade (PS1)" at 4,000,000, with 3,654,400 from debt and 345,600 from development charges.

    Budget 2025 · PDF page 9, capital budget, Sewer 2025-EN-001

  2. The 2026 budget lists "Pumping Station 1" at 5,000,000, with 3,650,000 from grants, 918,000 from debt and 432,000 from development charges.

    Budget 2026 · PDF page 7, capital budget, Sewer 2026-EN-001

  3. The Sewer page shows capital expenses of 4,092,500 in the 2025 budget against a 2025 forecast of 423,354, and a capital grant line of (3,650,000) for 2026. The text on that page does not say where the grant comes from.

    Budget 2026 · PDF pages 48 and 49, Sewer

↑ All questions

Worth askingFound by reading the town's documents

The town's own plan says it is $6.3 million a year short on infrastructure. How will the budget close that gap?

$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%.

Why it matters

Roads and pipes wear out whether or not the budget sets money aside. A gap this size means either higher taxes and fees, more borrowing, or worse roads and water over time.

It could be because…

  • Most small towns show a large gap in these plans because replacement costs are high. The plan itself looks 10 to 20 years ahead.
  • Grants such as the ones for Pumping Station 1 are not counted as steady funding in the plan, so they may fill part of the gap.
  • The plan says debts that finish can be turned into capital savings, which would reduce the tax increases needed.

Questions you could ask

  1. How much of the 2026 tax increase is set aside for replacing roads and pipes, and how much pays for operating costs and the new town hall?
  2. Does the plan's 3.1% a year assume the town's debt payments are redirected once loans end, and does the 2026 borrowing change that?
  3. Which assets does the town expect to run past their useful life first?

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 Casselman? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. The Asset Management Plan's key statistics list a "$6.3m Annual Capital Infrastructure Deficit", a target investment rate of 2.1% and an actual investment rate of 0.54%.

    Asset Management Plan 2025 · PDF page 3, Key Statistics

  2. "Based on a historical analysis of sustainable capital funding sources, the Municipality is committing approximately $1,767,000 towards capital projects per year." The yearly requirement is $8,076,000, so "the current funding gap is $6,309,000 annually."

    Asset Management Plan 2025 · section 6.1.2, PDF page 55

  3. The plan says council adopted the "maintain condition" option on February 10 (resolution 2026-38), and that "total tax revenues must increase by 3.1 % annually for 20 years", with water rates up 3.5% a year for 20 years and wastewater rates up 1.3% a year for 10 years.

    Asset Management Plan 2025 · section 1.3, PDF page 7

  4. The 2026 budget says it "includes a 5.853 % increase in the tax rate for the year 2026, bringing the estimated tax rate to 0.00772176."

    Budget 2026 · PDF page 70, Property taxes

↑ All questions

Worth askingFound by reading the town's documents

Why did the town's savings fall by $1,196,307 in 2024, and why was the waterworks fund below zero?

$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.

Why it matters

Savings are what a town uses when a repair or a late grant arrives. A fund below zero means the water system has spent more than it set aside, so other money is covering it.

It could be because…

  • Reserves may have paid for capital projects that are now finished and will be partly repaid by grants or fees.
  • The town's budget plans to put $314,960 back into the waterworks fund in 2026, so the negative balance may be a short-term timing gap.
  • The statements say the town does not budget reserve activity except where it affects operations or capital, so large swings may not be planned in the budget.

Questions you could ask

  1. What did the 2024 reserve withdrawals pay for?
  2. When the waterworks fund is negative, which other fund or source is covering it?
  3. What is the plan to rebuild the fire and roads reserves?

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 Casselman? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. Schedule 3 shows reserves and reserve funds, beginning of year 4,376,518 and end of year 3,180,211, a change of (1,196,307). Net transfers from operating are (1,269,049).

    Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Schedule 3, PDF page 20

  2. Schedule 2 shows the Waterworks reserve fund at (153,199) in 2024 and 186,007 in 2023. The Fire department reserve fell from 780,525 to 395,811, and the Roads reserve from 271,025 to 116,672.

    Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Schedule 2, PDF page 19

  3. Note 14 says "the Municipality does not budget activity within reserves and reserve funds, with the exception being those transactions, which affect either operations or tangible capital assets."

    Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Note 14, Budget amounts, PDF page 17

  4. The 2026 budget's reserve table shows Waterworks at (153,199) on December 31, 2024, (180,456) at December 31, 2025 (forecast), a 2026 transfer to the fund of 314,960, and 134,504 at December 31, 2026.

    Budget 2026 · PDF page 12, Reserve

↑ All questions

Worth askingFound by reading the town's documents

Why did planning and development cost $2,706,482 in 2023 when the budget said $638,602?

$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.

Why it matters

A single line that is far over budget is worth a plain explanation, especially in a year when the town ran a deficit.

It could be because…

  • The town says planning is paid for by user fees and that professional costs are billed to the client, so a large private project could raise both costs and fees in the same year.
  • User fees were also higher than budget in 2023, which fits a pass-through.
  • Costs of land or servicing work could have been recorded under planning in 2023 and later moved.

Questions you could ask

  1. What made up the 2,706,482 in 2023, and how much was billed back to developers?
  2. Why was the 2023 budget so far from the actual, and has the budgeting of pass-through costs changed?

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 Casselman? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. The 2023 statement of operations shows Planning and development at 638,602 in the budget column and 2,706,482 actual (767,738 in 2022). Total expenses were 9,233,407 budgeted and 12,537,998 actual.

    Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2023 · Statement of operations, PDF page 5

  2. Schedule 4 shows contracted services at 3,537,671 budgeted and 6,227,918 actual in 2023.

    Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2023 · Schedule 4, PDF page 21

  3. The 2024 statements show Planning and development at 649,440 budgeted and 708,058 actual for 2024.

    Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Statement of operations, PDF page 5

  4. The 2026 budget says: "The Planning Department is based on user fees. Some requests require professional services (engineering, lawyers, external planners) and the costs of these are then invoiced to the client, which creates significant variations in the finance of the service."

    Budget 2026 · PDF page 38, Planning

  5. Consolidated statement of operations: "Annual (deficit) surplus 2,355,029 (814,537) 3,755,633" (2023 budget, 2023 actual, 2022 actual).

    Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2023 · Statement of operations, PDF page 5

↑ All questions

Worth askingFound by reading the town's documents

Why does a complaint to the Integrity Commissioner need a $300 non-refundable cheque?

$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.

Why it matters

The Integrity Commissioner is how a resident asks whether a member broke the code of conduct. A fee at the front door could keep people from using it, and without posted reports residents cannot see how it works.

It could be because…

  • A fee may be meant to discourage complaints that are not serious.
  • The fee may be refunded or waived in some cases that the page does not mention.
  • Reports may exist but be posted somewhere we did not look, such as the meeting portal.

Questions you could ask

  1. On what authority is the $300 charged, and when is it refunded?
  2. How many complaints were received and how many Integrity Commissioner reports have been made public?
  3. What did the Integrity Commissioner cost the town in 2024 and 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 Casselman? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. The page says to "Enclose a $300 non-refundable cheque with your complaint" and send it to the Town Clerk's Office.

    Transparency, Ethics and Integrity (Municipality of Casselman web page) · Integrity Commissioner section, How do I file a complaint?

  2. The 2026 budget says for Council and Committees that "The increase in contractual services corresponds to the amounts budgeted for handling complaints by the Integrity Commissioner." The line shows 9,500 for 2026.

    Budget 2026 · PDF pages 54 and 55, Council and Committees

↑ All questions

Worth askingFound automatically from financial reports

Why did the cost of police, fire and safety grow 54% in 6 years?

+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.

Why did the cost of police, fire and safety grow 54% in 6 years?
+54%
Show as a table
YearPolice, fire and safetyPrices (inflation)
2019+0%+0%
2020−2%+1%
2021+0%+4%
2022+26%+11%
2023+30%+16%
2024+45%+18%
2025+54%+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

  1. What did the extra $595K a year pay for?
  2. Why did fire department go from $202K to $544K?
  3. 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 Casselman? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. Police, fire and safety: 2019 $1.1M, 2020 $1.1M, 2021 $1.1M, 2022 $1.4M, 2023 $1.4M, 2024 $1.6M, 2025 $1.7M.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy

  2. Biggest driver: Fire department, from $202K to $544K.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy

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Worth askingFound automatically from financial reports

Why did the cost of water, sewers and garbage grow 91% in 6 years?

+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.

Why did the cost of water, sewers and garbage grow 91% in 6 years?
+91%
Show as a table
YearWater, sewers and garbagePrices (inflation)
2019+0%+0%
2020+57%+1%
2021+28%+4%
2022+50%+11%
2023+73%+16%
2024+46%+18%
2025+91%+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

  1. What did the extra $1.2M a year pay for?
  2. Why did water treatment go from $372K to $823K?
  3. 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 Casselman? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. Water, sewers and garbage: 2019 $1.4M, 2020 $2.1M, 2021 $1.7M, 2022 $2.0M, 2023 $2.3M, 2024 $2.0M, 2025 $2.6M.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy

  2. Biggest driver: Water treatment, from $372K to $823K.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy

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Worth askingFound automatically from financial reports

Does Casselman have enough saved for repairs and emergencies?

$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.

Does Casselman have enough saved for repairs and emergencies?
$3.7M
Show as a table
YearSavings (reserves)
2019$3.4M
2020$3.5M
2021$5.4M
2022$4.4M
2023$4.4M
2024$3.2M
2025$3.7M

Why it matters

With little saved, a broken bridge or a storm has to be paid for with a sudden tax increase or a loan. Low savings can also mean past budgets were balanced by spending savings instead of facing the real cost.

It could be because…

  • The town spent savings on purpose, on projects that were planned and saved up for.
  • Some savings were used to match grant money, which brings in more than it costs.
  • The town has a plan to rebuild its savings.

Questions you could ask

  1. Does the town have a written reserve policy with a target amount?
  2. What were the savings spent on between 2019 and 2025?
  3. What is the plan to rebuild them, and by when?

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 Casselman? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. Savings (reserves and reserve funds): 2019 $3.4M, 2020 $3.5M, 2021 $5.4M, 2022 $4.4M, 2023 $4.4M, 2024 $3.2M, 2025 $3.7M.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 70, line 6420 · archived copy

  2. Typical among similar towns: savings equal to 78% of a year's spending. Casselman: 40%.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 29 similar municipalities · Schedules 40 and 70 · archived copy

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Worth askingFound automatically from financial reports

Why does Casselman spend more than most similar towns on council?

$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.

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

  1. What makes this cost higher here than in similar towns?
  2. 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 Casselman? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. Council per home: Casselman $130; typical similar town $77; ranked 5th highest of 30.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 29 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy

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Good to knowFound by reading the town's documents

Why does the budget print the same depreciation figure every year when the real figure was higher?

$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.

Why it matters

Budget-to-actual comparisons can look like overspending when part of the gap is only depreciation. We do not call the 2024 gap overspending: the gap in total expenses (worked out by us, 452,058) is mostly this line (worked out by us, 351,203).

It could be because…

  • Depreciation is a book entry that the town does not pay in cash, so it may not bother to update the budget figure.
  • The town says its budget is prepared on a cash basis, so the line may be there for information only.

Questions you could ask

  1. Will the 2027 budget print an updated depreciation figure that matches the audited statements?
  2. How much more depreciation will the town hall and Pumping Station 1 add once finished?

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 Casselman? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. The 2025 budget summary prints "Depreciation" as 1,789,246 for the 2024 budget, the 2024 forecast and the 2025 budget.

    Budget 2025 · PDF page 5, Budget Summary

  2. The 2026 budget summary prints "Depreciation" as 1,789,246 for the 2025 budget, the 2025 forecast and the 2026 budget. It says "The budget is prepared using the cash basis of accounting."

    Budget 2026 · PDF page 5 (Budget Summary) and page 3 (Budget Process)

  3. The 2024 statement of change in net debt shows amortization of tangible capital assets at 1,789,246 budgeted and 2,140,449 actual for 2024 (1,937,567 in 2023).

    Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Statement of change in net debt, PDF page 7

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