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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Dorion'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 · 9 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Dorion's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 32 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.
Worth asking
Worth asking
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
4 yearsin a row (2021 to 2024) that the auditor's opinion was qualified, worked out by us from the three reports
A qualified opinion means the auditor said the statements are fair except for one problem they could not check. Each year's report points to the landfill: the cost of closing it was not worked out with up-to-date information. The 2024 report adds a second problem: no cost was set for removing asbestos from Township buildings when the new rule began.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
February 20, 2025the date the auditor signed the 2023 statements, about 14 months after year end (worked out by us)
The auditor signed the 2022 statements on December 5, 2023 and the 2023 statements on February 20, 2025. The 2024 statements were signed September 16, 2025. We did not find 2025 statements on the Township's website.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$(21,161)general fund balance at the end of 2024, down from $51,922 a year earlier
The general fund (the account for everyday running costs) went from a balance of $74,635 at the end of 2022 to $51,922 at the end of 2023 and a deficit of $(21,161) at the end of 2024. Cash fell each year and net financial assets (cash and money owed to the Township, less what it owes) went from $467,696 to $3,134. The statements say a large part of that last drop was a new accounting rule for the landfill, not spending.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 6 sources
$312,647in the landfill site reserve fund at the end of 2024, against a total obligation of $611,377
The Township's landfill opened in 1976 and management estimates 31% of its space is left. It is expected to fill up in 2034, followed by 20 years of care. The Township counts $611,377 as its total obligation for closing the landfill and removing asbestos from buildings. The landfill reserve fund holds $312,647, which is about half of that total, worked out by us.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$1,256,473undiscounted asbestos removal spending listed in the notes, none of it before 2029
The notes say Township buildings have asbestos that must legally be removed. The cost is listed as $1,256,473, all in the "Thereafter" row (after 2028). The amount recorded on the books for it, after discounting, is $53,118.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$182 thousandyearly capital funding gap in the Township's 2025 Asset Management Plan
The Township's 2025 Asset Management Plan says keeping its assets going needs an average of $338 thousand a year for capital. The Township puts about $156 thousand a year toward it, leaving a yearly gap of $182 thousand. The plan says 54% of assets are in poor or worse condition and shows an average yearly tax change of 2.1% over 10 years for tax-funded assets.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
0budget documents we found on the Township's website
The Finance page has a "Budgets" heading with nothing under it. A July 22, 2025 agenda lists "2025 Budget" and a by-law to adopt the 2025 estimates. A March 4, 2025 agenda lists a report on council pay and expenses paid in 2024. We did not find any of those documents posted. The page of minutes shows 2021, 2022, 2025 and 2026 but not 2023 or 2024.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
In 2024, Dorion collected $82,548 more in its own property tax than in 2023. That is a 11% jump, while prices went up about 2.4%. Only 5 of 32 similar towns raised theirs by more. Almost all of it came from a higher tax rate (up 8% for homes); the value of homes on the tax roll grew only 0.2%.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 4 sources
2028year the plan says the first paved road would be converted to gravel
The Asset Management Plan says the paved roads are in very poor condition, replacing them with new pavement is "not financially viable", and the Township aims to start converting the first road to gravel in 2028. The plan describes a resident questionnaire and the April 22, 2025 agenda lists its results.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
4 yearsin a row (2021 to 2024) that the auditor's opinion was qualified, worked out by us from the three reports
A qualified opinion means the auditor said the statements are fair except for one problem they could not check. Each year's report points to the landfill: the cost of closing it was not worked out with up-to-date information. The 2024 report adds a second problem: no cost was set for removing asbestos from Township buildings when the new rule began.
Why it matters
The landfill and the buildings are real future bills. If the numbers are old, nobody can say how big those bills are, and the Township's reported savings may look better or worse than they are.
It could be because…
A new study of the landfill costs money, and a township with a few hundred people may be waiting for grant funding.
The Township may be waiting for a provincial decision about the landfill's future before paying for a study.
The new asbestos rule was hard for small municipalities to apply in its first year.
Questions you could ask
Has Council asked for an up-to-date landfill cost and capacity study, and when will it be done?
Has the Township set a cost for removing asbestos from its buildings, and when will the auditor's concern be cleared?
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 Dorion?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The auditor's report on the 2024 statements is dated September 16, 2025. It gives a "Qualified opinion" because "the liability related to the Township's landfill site was not estimated using up to date cost and capacity information". It adds that the Township "did not determine a liability for asset retirement obligations associated with township-owned buildings on adoption of PS 3280 on January 1, 2023".
The auditor's report on the 2023 statements is dated February 20, 2025 and is also a "Qualified opinion". It says the Township "did not use up to date information in their estimate of the asset retirement cost at December 31, 2023" for the landfill.
The auditor's report on the 2022 statements is dated December 5, 2023 and is a "Qualified opinion". It says the landfill liability "is based on outdated information relating to closure and post-closure costs since management has not obtained updated costing information", and that the opinion for the year ended December 31, 2021 was modified for the same reason.
February 20, 2025the date the auditor signed the 2023 statements, about 14 months after year end (worked out by us)
The auditor signed the 2022 statements on December 5, 2023 and the 2023 statements on February 20, 2025. The 2024 statements were signed September 16, 2025. We did not find 2025 statements on the Township's website.
Why it matters
Residents and council rely on the audited statements to see how the Township really did. Statements signed more than a year after year end are old news by the time they are public.
It could be because…
A very small office has few people to prepare records for the audit.
The move to the new asset retirement rule in 2023 may have taken extra time.
The auditor may have been changed or been short of staff.
Questions you could ask
When will the 2025 audited statements be signed and posted?
What is the Township doing to keep each year's audit closer to year end?
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 Dorion?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The 2023 statements: the auditor's report is dated February 20, 2025.
The Finance page lists "Financial Statements" from "2016 Financial Statements" to "2024 Financial Statements". We read it on October 7, 2026 and did not find 2025 statements.
$(21,161)general fund balance at the end of 2024, down from $51,922 a year earlier
The general fund (the account for everyday running costs) went from a balance of $74,635 at the end of 2022 to $51,922 at the end of 2023 and a deficit of $(21,161) at the end of 2024. Cash fell each year and net financial assets (cash and money owed to the Township, less what it owes) went from $467,696 to $3,134. The statements say a large part of that last drop was a new accounting rule for the landfill, not spending.
Why it matters
A small township with little cushion can be forced to borrow or raise taxes quickly if a road or a roof fails.
It could be because…
The Township keeps savings in separate reserve funds, which grew to $625,015 in 2024.
The 2023 drop in net financial assets came from recording a $507,189 landfill obligation under the new accounting rule, not from spending.
A positive total surplus of $52,743 in 2024 shows the Township did not overspend overall.
Questions you could ask
Why did the general fund fall below zero in 2024, and how does Council plan to bring it back?
Does Council set a minimum balance for the general fund and for the working capital reserve?
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 Dorion?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Schedule 1 shows the general fund at "(21,161)" for 2024 and "51,922" for 2023. Total reserve funds are "625,015" and the reserve "For working capital" is "114,217" in both years.
Net financial assets were "467,696" at the start of 2023 and "43,039" at the end of 2023. The statement shows "Revaluation of tangible capital assets - ARO" of "(507,189)" in 2023.
For 2024 the Township planned net financial assets (net debt) of "(23,527)" at year end and the actual figure is "3,134". The annual surplus was "52,743", against a planned "(4,827)".
$312,647in the landfill site reserve fund at the end of 2024, against a total obligation of $611,377
The Township's landfill opened in 1976 and management estimates 31% of its space is left. It is expected to fill up in 2034, followed by 20 years of care. The Township counts $611,377 as its total obligation for closing the landfill and removing asbestos from buildings. The landfill reserve fund holds $312,647, which is about half of that total, worked out by us.
Why it matters
Whatever is not saved by 2034 would have to come from taxes, grants or borrowing, in a township of a few hundred people. The auditor has said the landfill cost estimate is out of date.
It could be because…
The $611,377 also includes $53,118 for buildings, so the landfill share is smaller than the total.
The reserve is only one source: grants and yearly budget lines can also pay for closure.
A new study could show a lower or a higher cost.
Questions you could ask
What is the current best estimate of closing the landfill and caring for it for 20 years?
What is the plan to cover the gap between the landfill reserve fund and that estimate by 2034?
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 Dorion?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 10: the closing balance of the asset retirement obligation is "611,377" for 2024 (the landfill amount reported for 2023 was "530,925"; "53,118" was added for township-owned buildings and "27,334" is accretion). The landfill "was opened in 1976 with a capacity of 36,300 cubic meters", the remaining capacity "as assessed by management without an up to date site assessment" is "11,115 cubic meters representing 31%", and the open site "is expected to close when it reaches capacity in 2034". Post-closure care is "estimated to be required for 20 years".
$1,256,473undiscounted asbestos removal spending listed in the notes, none of it before 2029
The notes say Township buildings have asbestos that must legally be removed. The cost is listed as $1,256,473, all in the "Thereafter" row (after 2028). The amount recorded on the books for it, after discounting, is $53,118.
Why it matters
If the removal comes sooner than assumed, or costs more, the recorded obligation would jump. The auditor has already said no obligation was set up for buildings when the rule began.
It could be because…
Discounting to today's money can shrink a far-off cost a great deal.
The work may only be due when a building is torn down, which could be decades away.
The estimate may be rough because no dates are set.
Questions you could ask
Which buildings have asbestos, and when does the Township expect to remove it?
Is the $1,256,473 figure based on a professional survey, and has it been updated?
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 Dorion?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The Township recognized an obligation for removing asbestos "as estimated at January 1, 2024". The discount rate used was "4.68%" and the inflation rate "2%". Undiscounted expenditures are "-" for each year 2024 to 2028 and "1,256,473" for "Thereafter".
$182 thousandyearly capital funding gap in the Township's 2025 Asset Management Plan
The Township's 2025 Asset Management Plan says keeping its assets going needs an average of $338 thousand a year for capital. The Township puts about $156 thousand a year toward it, leaving a yearly gap of $182 thousand. The plan says 54% of assets are in poor or worse condition and shows an average yearly tax change of 2.1% over 10 years for tax-funded assets.
Why it matters
Roads and bridges are what a rural township mostly pays for. Either taxes rise, grants cover more, or the assets keep getting worse.
It could be because…
Grants such as the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund or the federal gas tax could cover part of the gap.
The plan is a long-range guide and Council may choose a lower or slower level of service.
Part of the gap closes if paved roads become gravel, which the plan says is cheaper.
Questions you could ask
Did Council adopt the plan's tax change of 2.1% a year, or a different plan?
How much of the yearly gap does the Township expect grants to cover?
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 Dorion?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The plan's Key Statistics show "$18.5 M" replacement cost of the asset portfolio, "46%" of assets in fair or better condition and "$182 K" annual capital infrastructure deficit.
"To meet the proposed LOS, the Township 's average annual capital requirement totals $338 thousand" and the Township "is committing approximately $156 thousand towards capital projects or reserves per year. As a result, there is currently an annual funding gap of $182 thousand." The average annual tax change shown for tax-funded assets is "2.1%".
The July 22, 2025 agenda lists "By-law to adopt the 2025 Asset Management Plan for The Corporation of the Township of Dorion". We did not read the minutes, so we do not know whether it passed or what Council decided about the gap.
0budget documents we found on the Township's website
The Finance page has a "Budgets" heading with nothing under it. A July 22, 2025 agenda lists "2025 Budget" and a by-law to adopt the 2025 estimates. A March 4, 2025 agenda lists a report on council pay and expenses paid in 2024. We did not find any of those documents posted. The page of minutes shows 2021, 2022, 2025 and 2026 but not 2023 or 2024.
Why it matters
The budget is how residents see what their taxes are meant to buy. Without it, the audited statements can only be compared with a plan that is not public.
It could be because…
Documents may be available at the office or on request, as the agendas page says for unposted items.
A very small office may not have the staff to post everything.
The files may be posted somewhere we did not look.
Questions you could ask
Will the Township post the 2025 and 2026 budgets and the yearly council pay statement?
Are minutes for 2023 and 2024 available, and will they be posted as readable text?
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 Dorion?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The Finance page has headings "Budgets" and "Financial Statements". Under "Financial Statements" it lists 2016 to 2024. Under "Budgets" we found only the words "Where do your tax dollars go?" and no document.
Finance page · Budgets and Financial Statements headings
The July 22, 2025 agenda lists "2025 Budget" under Finances and Accounts, and "By-law to adopt estimates of all sums required for the year 2025" under By-laws.
The March 4, 2025 agenda lists "Report to Council - 2025-03 ~ Statement of Remuneration and Expenses Paid in 2024" under Reports of Municipal Officers.
The agendas and minutes page says "If you require any Agendas or Minutes that are not posted you can contact [the Township] for a copy." The lists under it hold minutes for 2021, 2022, 2025 and 2026. We found no list for 2023 or 2024.
In 2024, Dorion collected $82,548 more in its own property tax than in 2023. That is a 11% jump, while prices went up about 2.4%. Only 5 of 32 similar towns raised theirs by more. Almost all of it came from a higher tax rate (up 8% for homes); the value of homes on the tax roll grew only 0.2%.
Why did Dorion's property tax go up 11% in 2024?
$0$200K$400K$600K$800K$1.0M
$825K
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Town property tax
2019
$651K
2020
$640K
2021
$678K
2022
$697K
2023
$742K
2024
$825K
Why it matters
A big one-year jump usually means something changed: a new cost, a service that grew, savings being rebuilt, or a problem from earlier years being paid for now. Residents should be able to see exactly which. Spread across every home, it is about $466 more each year.
It could be because…
Costs the town cannot control went up, such as policing, insurance or county charges.
The town kept taxes too low in earlier years and is catching up.
The town is rebuilding savings or paying for a big project like a bridge or equipment.
Questions you could ask
What were the three biggest reasons for the 2024 increase, in dollars?
Is a similar increase planned for next 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 Dorion?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Town property tax: $742,394 in 2023, $824,942 in 2024.
2028year the plan says the first paved road would be converted to gravel
The Asset Management Plan says the paved roads are in very poor condition, replacing them with new pavement is "not financially viable", and the Township aims to start converting the first road to gravel in 2028. The plan describes a resident questionnaire and the April 22, 2025 agenda lists its results.
Why it matters
Road surface is something every resident feels, and the plan is built on the change.
It could be because…
The plan came out of a resident questionnaire and public agenda items, so it may already be well known locally.
Gravel costs less to keep up, which the plan says suits the small amount of traffic.
Questions you could ask
Which roads would be converted first, and how will residents be told before 2028?
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 Dorion?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
"The condition of paved roads is very poor, requiring full replacement (including the base) which is not financially viable. Conversion to gravel roads is suitable considering the traffic types and volumes", with "an initial goal to begin construction of the first road in 2028".
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