Questions · 9 so far
We read Cavan Monaghan's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 90 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
+82%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2024
Cavan Monaghan spent $894K on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $1.6M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 5 of 90 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
$320,000of OLG slot revenue in the 2026 budget, after an announced March 2026 end to operations at Kawartha Downs
The Township gets a share of the money from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) slot machines in the township. It took in $307,769 in 2024 and $330,078 in 2023. The audited statements say OLG announced it would stop operating at Kawartha Downs in March 2026 and that this will affect future revenue. The 2026 budget, approved on February 2, 2026, still lists $320,000 of OLG revenue for 150 slots, and the budget shows the same $320,000 going to a reserve loan. We did not read anything dated after February 2026 that says whether the slots closed or whether the budget was changed.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$15,129,780unfunded capital at December 31, 2024 (2023: $5,398,882)
Capital means roads, buildings and other things that last for years. At the end of 2024 the Township had spent $15,129,780 on capital projects that no money was yet set aside for, up from $5,398,882 a year earlier. The largest piece is $6,333,724 under "Protection", up from $104,129. The Township spent $13,010,583 on capital in 2024 and its cash fell from $21,987,607 to $15,556,342. The statements say the unfunded amount "will be recovered from future development charges and other revenues". Development charges are fees on new buildings that help pay for the growth they cause. The 2026 budget has a "Fire Station #1 Loan" line that rose from $188,000 to $250,300, while the statements show no debt except water and wastewater debt.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
14.17%rise in net protective services cost in the 2026 budget (2025: $1,149,305.00; 2026: $1,312,205.00)
The 2026 budget raised the municipal residential tax rate by 2.65%. The net cost of protective services (the fire department and its vehicles) goes from $1,149,305.00 in the 2025 approved budget to $1,312,205.00 in 2026, which is up 14.17%. Some lines rise a lot: fire communication by 51.88%, Fire Hall #1 by 95.19% and fire administration by 9.83%. Separately, the Township's "Fire Station #1 Loan" rises 33.14%. We did not find the budget explain these rises in the pages we read. The 2026 column is headed "Proposed Budget" in a document that says Council approved it, and its summary page is headed "Final Approved".
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$27,888,939of water and wastewater capital requests in the 2026 budget
The 2026 budget lists $27,888,939 of water and wastewater capital requests. $9,340,579 of that is pre-approved for future years. The largest line, "Water Storage Pipe and Distribution Future Capital (2027-2028)", is $17,079,500 and carries a grant label. A separate $3,375,000 grant application for the Tupper Street pumping station is listed as pending. At the end of 2024 the Township's development charges reserve fund held $504,579 and its long-term debt was $6,359,871, all in water and wastewater. The budget does show a funding column for each project, but we did not match the columns to rows because the table does not line up in the text version.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
+77%running the town office, 2019 to 2024
Cavan Monaghan spent $1.6M on running the town office in 2019 and $2.8M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 12 of 90 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$3.2Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2024
At the end of 2024, $3.2M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 15% of everything billed. Only 3 of 90 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $3.1M.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
$30,920,942in reserves at December 31, 2024, against $15,556,342 in cash
Reserves are amounts Council sets aside for later costs, such as replacing trucks or buildings. The audited statements list $30,920,942 in reserves, including $22,560,413 for future capital. The same statements show cash of $15,556,342 and investments of $1,270,739, which we added to $16,827,081 (worked out by us). Reserves are bookkeeping labels on the Township's savings, not separate bank accounts, and money set aside can already have been spent on buildings and roads. We are not saying anything is missing. We are asking how much of each reserve is actually in the bank.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$211,360of development charges earned in 2024, against a budgeted $4,135,415
The 2024 budget in the audited statements listed $4,135,415 of "Development charges earned". The actual figure was $211,360. The annual surplus was $3,338,610 against a budgeted $4,870,714. The Township has explained part of this: the statements say development charges are counted as revenue only when the related spending is recorded, and that the budget shown in the statements is adjusted from the budget Council approved. In 2024 capital purchases were $13,010,583, below the $15,344,128 budgeted, so less of the money was drawn.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
+82%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2024
Cavan Monaghan spent $894K on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $1.6M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 5 of 90 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Parks, arena and library | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +5% | +1% |
| 2021 | +17% | +4% |
| 2022 | +53% | +11% |
| 2023 | +80% | +16% |
| 2024 | +82% | +18% |
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
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.
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 Cavan Monaghan? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Parks, arena and library: 2019 $894K, 2020 $942K, 2021 $1.0M, 2022 $1.4M, 2023 $1.6M, 2024 $1.6M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Parks, from $228K to $707K.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 39%. Cavan Monaghan ranks 6th of 91.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 90 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
$320,000of OLG slot revenue in the 2026 budget, after an announced March 2026 end to operations at Kawartha Downs
The Township gets a share of the money from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) slot machines in the township. It took in $307,769 in 2024 and $330,078 in 2023. The audited statements say OLG announced it would stop operating at Kawartha Downs in March 2026 and that this will affect future revenue. The 2026 budget, approved on February 2, 2026, still lists $320,000 of OLG revenue for 150 slots, and the budget shows the same $320,000 going to a reserve loan. We did not read anything dated after February 2026 that says whether the slots closed or whether the budget was changed.
A reserve is money set aside for a later cost. If a regular source of money disappears, the Township either has to find the money elsewhere, raise taxes, or slow the repayment of whatever the money was paying for. Residents should know which.
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 Cavan Monaghan? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Reports to Council about the OLG slots at Kawartha Downs, with wording you can copy.
Note 14, Subsequent Event: "Subsequent to year end the Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) announced that they are ceasing operations at Kawartha Downs in March 2026. This announcement will impact future revenue streams."
Township of Cavan Monaghan, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Baker Tilly KDN LLP) · Note 14, PDF page 20 (printed page 15)
Statement of Operations: "Ontario Lottery and Gaming" actual 2024 307,769; actual 2023 330,078. Total revenues 2024 19,100,803.
Township of Cavan Monaghan, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Baker Tilly KDN LLP) · Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus, PDF page 7 (printed page 2)
2026 Budget Summary: "Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corp. (OLG) Revenues, 150 Slots (estimated) (320,000)" and, on the next line, "Contributions to Asset Replacement Reserve Loan 320,000". The cover page says Council approved the budget on February 2, 2026.
Township of Cavan Monaghan, 2026 Approved Budget (operating and capital) · Consolidated Budget Summary, PDF page 3; cover, PDF page 1
$15,129,780unfunded capital at December 31, 2024 (2023: $5,398,882)
Capital means roads, buildings and other things that last for years. At the end of 2024 the Township had spent $15,129,780 on capital projects that no money was yet set aside for, up from $5,398,882 a year earlier. The largest piece is $6,333,724 under "Protection", up from $104,129. The Township spent $13,010,583 on capital in 2024 and its cash fell from $21,987,607 to $15,556,342. The statements say the unfunded amount "will be recovered from future development charges and other revenues". Development charges are fees on new buildings that help pay for the growth they cause. The 2026 budget has a "Fire Station #1 Loan" line that rose from $188,000 to $250,300, while the statements show no debt except water and wastewater debt.
Unfunded capital has to be paid by someone later: by new development fees if enough building happens, by borrowing, or by taxes. Which one decides who pays.
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 Cavan Monaghan? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Funding plan for unfunded capital at December 31, 2024, with wording you can copy.
Note 16(b): "Unfunded capital consists of the following": Transportation 2,753,965 (2023: 2,426,213); Recreation 4,565,492 (2,253,428); Water and sewer 1,476,599 (615,112); Protection 6,333,724 (104,129); total 15,129,780 (5,398,882). "These amounts will be recovered from future development charges and other revenues."
Township of Cavan Monaghan, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Baker Tilly KDN LLP) · Note 16(b), PDF page 23 (printed page 18)
Statement of Cash Flows, 2024: "Purchase of tangible capital assets" (13,010,583). "CASH - end of year" 15,556,342; "CASH - beginning of year" 21,987,607.
Township of Cavan Monaghan, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Baker Tilly KDN LLP) · Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, PDF page 9 (printed page 4)
Note 8(c): "All long-term debt reported in (a) is under Water & Wastewater services and is funded through user fees and development charges." Total long term debt 6,359,871.
Township of Cavan Monaghan, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Baker Tilly KDN LLP) · Note 8, PDF page 16 (printed page 11)
Finance and IT summary: "Fire Station #1 Loan" 2025 approved budget 188,000.00; 2025 YTD actual 223,549.50; 2026 proposed budget 250,300.00; change 33.14%. (The column is headed "2026 Proposed Budget" in a document that says Council approved the budget on February 2, 2026.)
Township of Cavan Monaghan, 2026 Approved Budget (operating and capital) · Summary Finance & IT, PDF page 12
14.17%rise in net protective services cost in the 2026 budget (2025: $1,149,305.00; 2026: $1,312,205.00)
The 2026 budget raised the municipal residential tax rate by 2.65%. The net cost of protective services (the fire department and its vehicles) goes from $1,149,305.00 in the 2025 approved budget to $1,312,205.00 in 2026, which is up 14.17%. Some lines rise a lot: fire communication by 51.88%, Fire Hall #1 by 95.19% and fire administration by 9.83%. Separately, the Township's "Fire Station #1 Loan" rises 33.14%. We did not find the budget explain these rises in the pages we read. The 2026 column is headed "Proposed Budget" in a document that says Council approved it, and its summary page is headed "Final Approved".
A tax rate rise that looks small can hide larger rises in particular services. Residents are asked to judge the whole budget, so the reasons behind the largest rises should be published next to them.
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 Cavan Monaghan? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Summary Protective Services: Fire Services Communication 2025 approved 64,625.00, 2026 proposed 98,150.00, 51.88%; Fire Hall #1 (est. 2024) 28,875.00, 56,360.00, 95.19%; Fire Services Administration 599,980.00, 658,945.00, 9.83%.
Township of Cavan Monaghan, 2026 Approved Budget (operating and capital) · Summary Protective Services, PDF page 18
Summary Protective Services: "Report Net" 2025 approved 1,149,305.00; 2025 YTD actual 1,187,418.91; 2026 proposed 1,312,205.00; 14.17%.
Township of Cavan Monaghan, 2026 Approved Budget (operating and capital) · Summary Protective Services (net), PDF page 20
"Estimated increase in Residential Tax Rate %" 2.65%. "Approximately every 1% residential tax rate increase equals $124,000".
Township of Cavan Monaghan, 2026 Approved Budget (operating and capital) · 2026 Municipal Tax Rates, Final Approved (2.65%), PDF page 31
Finance and IT summary: "Fire Station #1 Loan" 2025 approved budget 188,000.00; 2026 proposed budget 250,300.00; 33.14%.
Township of Cavan Monaghan, 2026 Approved Budget (operating and capital) · Summary Finance & IT, PDF page 12
$27,888,939of water and wastewater capital requests in the 2026 budget
The 2026 budget lists $27,888,939 of water and wastewater capital requests. $9,340,579 of that is pre-approved for future years. The largest line, "Water Storage Pipe and Distribution Future Capital (2027-2028)", is $17,079,500 and carries a grant label. A separate $3,375,000 grant application for the Tupper Street pumping station is listed as pending. At the end of 2024 the Township's development charges reserve fund held $504,579 and its long-term debt was $6,359,871, all in water and wastewater. The budget does show a funding column for each project, but we did not match the columns to rows because the table does not line up in the text version.
Water systems are paid by growth fees, grants, water bills and sometimes debt. If a large grant is not approved, the Township would have to choose between borrowing, higher water rates or delaying the work.
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 Cavan Monaghan? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Water and Wastewater Capital Requests in 2026 totals: "Total Capital Requests" $27,888,939; "Less: Future Year pre-approvals" ($9,340,579); "Total 2026 Capital Expenditures" $17,907,155; "Net 2026 Capital Expenditures" $1,636,070. Pending: "Tupper Street SPS Upgrade - Health and Safety Water Stream Grant (HSWS)" $3,375,000; "Total Grant Applications" $3,375,000.
Township of Cavan Monaghan, 2026 Approved Budget (operating and capital) · Water and Wastewater Capital Requests, PDF page 35
"Water Storage Pipe and Distribution Future Capital (2027-2028)" $17,079,500, under the heading "HEWSF Grant - r2".
Township of Cavan Monaghan, 2026 Approved Budget (operating and capital) · Water and Wastewater Capital Requests, PDF page 34
Note 10: "Development charges" obligatory reserve fund balance 504,579. Note 8: long term debt total 6,359,871, all "under Water & Wastewater services".
Township of Cavan Monaghan, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Baker Tilly KDN LLP) · Note 10, PDF page 18; Note 8, PDF page 16 (same document)
+77%running the town office, 2019 to 2024
Cavan Monaghan spent $1.6M on running the town office in 2019 and $2.8M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 12 of 90 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Running the town office | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +8% | +1% |
| 2021 | +5% | +4% |
| 2022 | +32% | +11% |
| 2023 | +48% | +16% |
| 2024 | +77% | +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 Cavan Monaghan? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Running the town office: 2019 $1.6M, 2020 $1.7M, 2021 $1.6M, 2022 $2.1M, 2023 $2.3M, 2024 $2.8M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Senior management, from $998K to $2.0M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 43%. Cavan Monaghan ranks 13th of 91.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 90 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
$3.2Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2024
At the end of 2024, $3.2M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 15% of everything billed. Only 3 of 90 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $3.1M.
| Year | Unpaid property tax at year end |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $1.7M |
| 2020 | $2.0M |
| 2021 | $2.0M |
| 2022 | $2.4M |
| 2023 | $3.1M |
| 2024 | $3.2M |
When taxes go unpaid, everyone else carries the cost, and the town may borrow to cover the gap. The Province's financial indicators treat 10% to 15% as a moderate risk and more than 15% as a high risk. Collection is the town's job, so a rising number is worth asking about.
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 Cavan Monaghan? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Taxes receivable: 2019 $1.7M, 2020 $2.0M, 2021 $2.0M, 2022 $2.4M, 2023 $3.1M, 2024 $3.2M. Of the 2024 total, $0 was from earlier years.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 70, lines 0610 to 0699 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: 7.5% of taxes billed.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 90 similar municipalities · Schedules 26 and 70 · archived copy
$30,920,942in reserves at December 31, 2024, against $15,556,342 in cash
Reserves are amounts Council sets aside for later costs, such as replacing trucks or buildings. The audited statements list $30,920,942 in reserves, including $22,560,413 for future capital. The same statements show cash of $15,556,342 and investments of $1,270,739, which we added to $16,827,081 (worked out by us). Reserves are bookkeeping labels on the Township's savings, not separate bank accounts, and money set aside can already have been spent on buildings and roads. We are not saying anything is missing. We are asking how much of each reserve is actually in the bank.
If reserves are larger than the cash that backs them, then a future bill for a truck or a building may have to be paid by borrowing or taxes, even though a reserve with that name exists.
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 Cavan Monaghan? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 16(a): "Future capital" 22,560,413 (2023: 19,393,779); "Total Reserves" 30,920,942 (2023: 28,114,479).
Township of Cavan Monaghan, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Baker Tilly KDN LLP) · Note 16(a), PDF page 22 (printed page 17)
Statement of Financial Position: "Cash" 15,556,342 (2023: 21,987,607); "Investments (note 4)" 1,270,739; "Accounts receivable (note 5)" 1,929,939; "Taxes receivable" 3,203,325.
Township of Cavan Monaghan, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Baker Tilly KDN LLP) · Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, PDF page 6 (printed page 1)
$211,360of development charges earned in 2024, against a budgeted $4,135,415
The 2024 budget in the audited statements listed $4,135,415 of "Development charges earned". The actual figure was $211,360. The annual surplus was $3,338,610 against a budgeted $4,870,714. The Township has explained part of this: the statements say development charges are counted as revenue only when the related spending is recorded, and that the budget shown in the statements is adjusted from the budget Council approved. In 2024 capital purchases were $13,010,583, below the $15,344,128 budgeted, so less of the money was drawn.
Development charges are meant to pay for growth, and a gap between the budgeted and the used amount shows how much planned building work did not happen in the year. It also means the budget figure can overstate what residents will see in a given year.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Cavan Monaghan? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Statement of Operations: "Development charges earned (note 10)" budget 2024 4,135,415; actual 2024 211,360; actual 2023 689,686. "ANNUAL SURPLUS" budget 4,870,714; actual 3,338,610.
Township of Cavan Monaghan, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Baker Tilly KDN LLP) · Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus, PDF page 7 (printed page 2)
Note 1(d): "Canada Community-Building Fund, development charges and parkland fees are recognized in the period in which the related expenditures are recorded."
Township of Cavan Monaghan, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Baker Tilly KDN LLP) · Note 1(d), PDF page 11 (printed page 6)
Note 7, Budget figures: "the approved budget has been adjusted to comply with PSA reporting requirements." Reconciliation lists "Tangible capital asset additions" 15,344,128 against an "Annual surplus reported on the Consolidated Statement of Operations" of 4,870,714.
Township of Cavan Monaghan, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Baker Tilly KDN LLP) · Note 7, PDF page 15 (printed page 10)
Note 10: "Development charges" obligatory reserve fund balance 504,579 (2023: 468,659).
Township of Cavan Monaghan, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Baker Tilly KDN LLP) · Note 10, PDF page 18 (printed page 13)
Consolidated Statement of Change in Net Financial Assets: "Purchase of tangible capital assets (15,344,128) (13,010,583) (8,732,315)" (budget 2024, actual 2024, actual 2023).
Township of Cavan Monaghan, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Baker Tilly KDN LLP) · Consolidated Statement of Change in Net Financial Assets, PDF page 8 (printed page 3)