+45.4%forecast cost over the approved $6,573,100 budget for the Madoc standpipe (staff report, September 29, 2026)
A standpipe is a tall tank that stores drinking water and keeps pressure steady. Council approved a budget of $6,573,100 to replace Madoc's. After tenders came in, staff now forecast $9,560,511, which is $2,987,411 (45.4%) over. The province's grant is capped at $4,798,363, so the extra cost falls on the municipality. Staff say the municipality's share goes from $1,774,737 to $4,762,148, to be borrowed and paid back from water and sewer bills and development charges. The town has explained the main reasons in its own report.
$3,100,000long-term debt at December 31, 2025, up from $72,884 a year earlier, with more borrowing approved or planned
At the end of 2024 the municipality owed $72,884. At the end of 2025 it owed $3,100,000 for the St. Lawrence and Durham Streets work. On September 29, 2026 staff asked council to direct borrowing of $4,762,148 for the new standpipe instead of the $1,774,737 authorized earlier, and council authorized borrowing on May 20, 2026 for a $6,427,500 sewer project. The municipality also owes itself $2,672,451 for projects it paid for from cash before finding a funding source ("unfinanced capital"). Its financial assets, minus what it owes, fell from $4,824,579 to $2,131,922 in 2025. The town has published its debt limit calculation for the first project but we did not find one that includes the newer borrowing.
$2,973,300single-source award for the Madoc standpipe tank, March 18, 2026, the largest of four no-tender awards in 2026
In 2026 four contracts came to council without competitive bidding: the water tank ($2,973,300 plus HST, March 18), engineering for the St. Lawrence Street West bridge ($82,800, August 5), electrical and controls work at the sewage pumping stations (up to $167,500, plus about $32,500 already done after a failure, August 5), and the Well No. 3 controls ($550,000, September 29). The last two went to the same company. For each one staff explained why, and the policy requires council approval over $125,000. We read the staff recommendations; the September 29 minutes were not yet posted. What the public does not see in one place is how many such awards there are in a year.
+9.73%increase in the municipal tax levy for 2026 ($667,619), after +8.17% for 2025
The levy is the amount the municipality raises from property taxes. It was $6,342,241 for 2024, $6,860,555 for 2025 and $7,528,174 for 2026. For 2026 the municipal tax rate rises 8.06%. On a typical home assessed at $197,000, the total tax bill (including the county and schools) goes up about $230.83, or 6.68%. The municipality has published the reasons.