Questions · 9 so far
We read Chisholm's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 40 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
$650Kin savings at the end of 2024
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Chisholm had $650K saved at the end of 2024, up from $446K in 2019. That is 26% of one year's spending. Only 4 of 40 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
$1,256,283recorded at December 31, 2025 for the Cassellholme rebuild, up from $1,240,731 a year earlier
Cassellholme is the long-term care home that several nearby municipalities own together, and it is being rebuilt. Chisholm records $1,256,283 as the present value of what it expects to pay for its share, which is about 70% of its long-term debt (worked out by us from the $1,806,063 total). It has also promised, as one of the joint guarantors of the home's loan, to stand behind up to $942,169.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
Qualifiedauditor's opinion on the 2025 statements, dated July 30, 2026, same as 2024
A qualified opinion means the auditor says the statements are fair except for one stated problem. For both 2024 and 2025, the auditor says the Township has not finished working out what it will owe to close or take apart some of its assets, so the effect on the statements cannot be measured.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$534,457cash at December 31, 2025, against $1,318,669 at the start of 2024
Cash at the end of 2025 was $534,457, down from $709,594 a year earlier and $1,318,669 at the start of 2024. Reserves (money set aside for specific purposes) fell from $649,808 to $534,176 in 2025. The Township must repay $276,383 of long-term debt in 2026.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
$1,543,922transportation expenses in 2025 statements, against a budget column of $1,135,502
On the statements, 2025 transportation (roads) expenses are well over the budget column. Most of the gap looks like a difference in how the two are counted: the budget includes capital spending and leaves out amortization (the yearly wearing-out cost of roads and equipment), which the statements include.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$945,855government transfers and grants in 2025, against a budget of $714,790
In 2025 the Township took in $945,855 in government transfers and grants, well above its $714,790 budget, and about 30% of its $3,133,431 total revenue (worked out by us). Property tax brought in $2,019,583.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
June 12, 2025date council adopted the 2025 budget by-law, according to the audited statements
The Township's Budget and Finance page lists a 2025 budget as its newest, and the file has no readable text. We did not find a 2026 budget there. Council's May 26, 2026 meeting received a budget report, but we could not find the adopted 2026 budget itself.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
June 9, 2026date on the 2025 council remuneration memo, which says it is due by March 31
The 2025 council pay and expenses memo is dated June 9, 2026. The memo itself says the statement is due on or before March 31st. The 2024 memo is dated January 23, 2025.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
August 30, 2024date of the newest Integrity Commissioner report we found
The Integrity Commissioner's August 30, 2024 report says it continues to recommend a review and update of the Code of Conduct and complaint procedures for the Township's website. We did not find a later report or an updated procedure.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$650Kin savings at the end of 2024
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Chisholm had $650K saved at the end of 2024, up from $446K in 2019. That is 26% of one year's spending. Only 4 of 40 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
| Year | Savings (reserves) |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $446K |
| 2020 | $515K |
| 2021 | $606K |
| 2022 | $677K |
| 2023 | $567K |
| 2024 | $650K |
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.
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 Chisholm? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Savings (reserves and reserve funds): 2019 $446K, 2020 $515K, 2021 $606K, 2022 $677K, 2023 $567K, 2024 $650K.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 70, line 6420 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: savings equal to 68% of a year's spending. Chisholm: 26%.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 40 similar municipalities · Schedules 40 and 70 · archived copy
$1,256,283recorded at December 31, 2025 for the Cassellholme rebuild, up from $1,240,731 a year earlier
Cassellholme is the long-term care home that several nearby municipalities own together, and it is being rebuilt. Chisholm records $1,256,283 as the present value of what it expects to pay for its share, which is about 70% of its long-term debt (worked out by us from the $1,806,063 total). It has also promised, as one of the joint guarantors of the home's loan, to stand behind up to $942,169.
A small township with about $534,457 in cash has little room to absorb a surprise. If the project costs more or the payments start earlier, the yearly cost lands on local taxes.
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 Chisholm? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 8, Long-term Debt, lists "Cassellholme redevelopment commitment (ii) 1,256,283" for 2025 against 1,240,731 for 2024, out of total long-term debt of $1,806,063. The note says the present value of the expected payments commencing in 2027 is $1,256,283, based on a borrowing rate of 4.76% over 30 years and construction completion anticipated in 2028.
Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Note 8, Long-term Debt, PDF pages 22 and 23
The same note says the Township is named as a joint guarantor of the home's financing agreement with Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation, and that the Township's maximum liability is $942,169 (2024 - $900,051).
Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Note 8, Long-term Debt (continued), PDF page 23
The Statement of Operations shows a line "Cassellholme redevelopment commitment (Note 8)" of (15,552) for 2025 and (60,136) for 2024, with a budget of nil.
Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus, PDF page 7
Statement of Financial Position, December 31: "Cash and cash equivalents (Note 6) $ 534,457" (2024 $ 709,594).
Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Statement of Financial Position, PDF page 6
Qualifiedauditor's opinion on the 2025 statements, dated July 30, 2026, same as 2024
A qualified opinion means the auditor says the statements are fair except for one stated problem. For both 2024 and 2025, the auditor says the Township has not finished working out what it will owe to close or take apart some of its assets, so the effect on the statements cannot be measured.
A qualified opinion means residents cannot be sure how large the Township's real long-term obligations are. The landfill is one example: its estimated liability is larger than the reserve held for it.
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 Chisholm? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The Independent Auditor's Report gives a qualified opinion and says under Basis for Qualified Opinion: "Management has not completed its assessment of the tangible capital assets for potential retirement obligations." It says the effect on 2025 and 2024 expenses, assets and accumulated surplus cannot be quantified. The report is dated July 30, 2026.
Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Independent Auditor's Report, PDF pages 3 to 5
The 2024 Independent Auditor's Report, dated April 10, 2025, also gives a Qualified Opinion under a Basis for Qualified Opinion section.
Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Independent Auditor's Report, PDF pages 3 to 5
Note 9 says the landfill closure and post-closure liability at year end was $237,155 (2024 - $248,279), that total estimated future spending is $407,869, and that Township reserves for the landfill site total $140,064 (2024 - $129,664).
Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Note 9, Landfill Closure and Post-Closure Accrual, PDF page 24
$534,457cash at December 31, 2025, against $1,318,669 at the start of 2024
Cash at the end of 2025 was $534,457, down from $709,594 a year earlier and $1,318,669 at the start of 2024. Reserves (money set aside for specific purposes) fell from $649,808 to $534,176 in 2025. The Township must repay $276,383 of long-term debt in 2026.
Cash and reserves are what a township uses to cover surprises, like a washed-out road. They are shrinking while loan payments and the Cassellholme share are coming due.
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 Chisholm? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The Statement of Cash Flows shows "Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year" of 709,594 for 2025 and 1,318,669 for 2024, and "Cash and cash equivalents, end of year" of $534,457 for 2025. It shows acquisition of tangible capital assets of (691,121) in 2025 and repayment of long-term debt of (151,867).
Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Statement of Cash Flows, PDF page 9
Note 13 lists total reserve funds of $534,176 (2024 - $649,808). Capital expenses reserve: 25,086 (2024 - 112,746). Road equipment reserve: 61,859 (2024 - 117,906).
Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Note 13, Accumulated Surplus, PDF page 26
Note 8 lists principal repayments of long-term debt for 2026 of $276,383, then 166,529 for 2027. Two Scotiabank loans are listed at 6.37%.
Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Note 8, Long-term Debt, PDF pages 22 and 23
Note 6, Credit Facilities, says the Township has a line of credit with a maximum credit limit of $400,000, and that the balance used at year end was $Nil.
Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Note 6, Credit Facilities, PDF page 22
$1,543,922transportation expenses in 2025 statements, against a budget column of $1,135,502
On the statements, 2025 transportation (roads) expenses are well over the budget column. Most of the gap looks like a difference in how the two are counted: the budget includes capital spending and leaves out amortization (the yearly wearing-out cost of roads and equipment), which the statements include.
A reader comparing the two columns could think roads cost far more than planned. The Township explains in a note that the columns are not on the same basis.
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 Chisholm? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The Statement of Operations shows Transportation services (Note 8): budget 1,135,502, 2025 actual 1,543,922, 2024 actual 1,594,761.
Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Statement of Operations, PDF page 7
Note 15 says the budget "expensed all tangible capital expenses rather than including amortization expense" and lists capital expenses of 344,900 and debt repayment of 168,047 as adjustments.
Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Note 15, Budget, PDF page 28
$945,855government transfers and grants in 2025, against a budget of $714,790
In 2025 the Township took in $945,855 in government transfers and grants, well above its $714,790 budget, and about 30% of its $3,133,431 total revenue (worked out by us). Property tax brought in $2,019,583.
Grants can change with a provincial decision. A township this size leans on them to keep roads up.
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 Chisholm? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The Statement of Operations shows Government transfers and grants: budget 714,790, 2025 actual 945,855, 2024 actual 952,046; Taxation 2,019,583; total revenues 3,133,431.
Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Statement of Operations, PDF page 7
June 12, 2025date council adopted the 2025 budget by-law, according to the audited statements
The Township's Budget and Finance page lists a 2025 budget as its newest, and the file has no readable text. We did not find a 2026 budget there. Council's May 26, 2026 meeting received a budget report, but we could not find the adopted 2026 budget itself.
The budget is the plan for the taxes residents pay. It is hardest to check when the file is pictures of pages or is not posted.
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 Chisholm? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 15 says the Budget By-law was adopted by Council on June 12, 2025 (2024 - May 28, 2024).
Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Note 15, Budget, PDF page 28
Resolution 2026-86 says: be it resolved that the Budget Report printed May 8, 2026, be received. The report itself is described only as "(Encl.)" in the agenda.
Council agenda package, May 26, 2026 · Item 9, Review Budget Report, PDF page 4
June 9, 2026date on the 2025 council remuneration memo, which says it is due by March 31
The 2025 council pay and expenses memo is dated June 9, 2026. The memo itself says the statement is due on or before March 31st. The 2024 memo is dated January 23, 2025.
Residents rely on this yearly statement to see what council members are paid. The memo itself gives March 31st as the due date.
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 Chisholm? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The memo is dated June 9, 2026 and says the Treasurer is required to submit, "on or before March 31st, an itemized statement of the remuneration and expenses paid to each member of Council" for the previous year.
August 30, 2024date of the newest Integrity Commissioner report we found
The Integrity Commissioner's August 30, 2024 report says it continues to recommend a review and update of the Code of Conduct and complaint procedures for the Township's website. We did not find a later report or an updated procedure.
Clear complaint rules are how residents know what to do if they think a council member broke the rules.
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 Chisholm? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The letter dated August 30, 2024 says: "I continue to recommend a review and update of the Township's Code of Conduct" and procedures for posting on the Township's website, and that none of the inquiries it received resulted in an investigation.