Questions · 9 so far
We read East Zorra - Tavistock's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 85 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
+61%roads and snow, 2019 to 2024
East Zorra - Tavistock spent $1.6M on roads and snow in 2019 and $2.5M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 3 of 85 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.
$4,234,807spent on transportation services in 2025, against a budget of $2,404,688
The audited statements show what the Township spent on transportation services (roads, bridges, winter plowing and the equipment that goes with them). For 2025 the budget column says $2,404,688 and the actual column says $4,234,807. For 2024 the budget was $2,452,962 and the actual was $3,502,711. Part of the gap is accounting: the budget column shows nothing for amortization (the yearly write-down of the value of roads, bridges and equipment as they wear out), while the actual column includes it. The transportation share of amortization was $867,643 in 2025. Taking that out leaves $3,367,164, still $962,476 above the budget (worked out by us). The Township's 2026 draft budget says it has raised its winter plowing and salting budget because of what it spent in 2025.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$1,332,419loss on disposal of capital assets in 2024 (2025: $225,554)
When the Township replaces or scraps something it owns (a road section, a bridge, a truck), the statements record the difference between what it was still worth on the books and what the Township received. In 2024 that loss was $1,332,419 and in 2025 it was $225,554. The budget shows nothing for either year. In 2024, almost all of it sits in the transportation column ($1,348,739, with a small gain elsewhere). Assets with an original cost of $2,128,113 were taken off the books in 2024, of which $761,270 had already been written down.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$1,615,450fall in total reserves during 2025, to $7,145,535 (worked out by us)
Reserves are money set aside for later costs, like replacing a bridge or arena equipment. Total reserves rose from $8,136,773 at the end of 2023 to $8,760,985 at the end of 2024, then fell to $7,145,535 at the end of 2025, a drop of $1,615,450 (worked out by us). The reserve for capital replacement fell from $7,777,176 to $5,982,475. Cash fell from $10,692,661 to $9,246,136. The adopted 2026 budget plans to take $3,591,457 from reserves for capital projects in 2026, then $2,330,624, $1,283,912, $891,053 and $2,467,213 in the next four years.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$7,750,000borrowing planned for 2030 in the adopted capital summary
Net long-term liabilities (what the Township owes lenders) were $247,303 at the end of 2025. The capital plan in the adopted 2026 by-law shows no borrowing from 2023 to 2029 and then "Debt Financing" of $7,750,000 in 2030. The Township's draft budget shows where it comes from: a $10,000,000 line for a "Multi-Use Recreational Facility", described as "as per Recreation Advisory Committee - new indoor facility", paid for by debentures (long-term loans) of $7,750,000, developers' contributions of $1,000,000 and $1,100,000 from the community centres reserve. A plan is not a promise, and a later Council would decide.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
+79%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2024
East Zorra - Tavistock spent $670K on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $1.2M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 10 of 85 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
$1,906,346surplus in 2025, against a budgeted $3,956,332
A surplus is what is left when a year's revenue is more than its spending. The 2025 budget column planned an excess of revenue over expenditures of $3,956,332. The audited result was $1,906,346, which is $2,049,986 less (worked out by us). Most of the gap is explained by amortization: the budget column has none, and the actual 2025 figure is $1,726,904. That leaves $323,082 (worked out by us).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$8,945,280the 2026 levy for municipal purposes, up from $8,409,167
The levy is the amount the Township collects from property taxes for its own services (not the County's or the schools'). It was $8,409,167 in 2025 and is $8,945,280 in 2026, a rise of $536,113, or about 6.4% (worked out by us). The residential tax rate went from 0.00589194 to 0.00607867, about 3.2% (worked out by us), so roughly half of the rise comes from more or higher-valued properties and half from a higher rate. The Township's draft budget gives winter control and arena spending as pressures.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$2,933,746the Township's investment in ERTH Corporation at December 31, 2025
ERTH Corporation is a company in which the Township holds a share. The Township owns 5.04% of it and shows it in the statements at $2,933,746: its share of the company's equity ($2,173,746) plus a $760,000 promissory note (a loan with no end date). The note earns 7.25%, and the Township received $55,100 of interest in 2025. ERTH declared a dividend of $1,030,000 in 2025, of which the Township's share is $51,954. The statements say the note is unsecured, and that no principal repayment is expected in the next twelve months.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
+61%roads and snow, 2019 to 2024
East Zorra - Tavistock spent $1.6M on roads and snow in 2019 and $2.5M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 3 of 85 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Roads and snow | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +3% | +1% |
| 2021 | +22% | +4% |
| 2022 | +68% | +11% |
| 2023 | +38% | +16% |
| 2024 | +61% | +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 East Zorra - Tavistock? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Roads and snow: 2019 $1.6M, 2020 $1.6M, 2021 $1.9M, 2022 $2.7M, 2023 $2.2M, 2024 $2.5M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Gravel roads, from $418K to $1.1M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 24%. East Zorra - Tavistock ranks 4th of 86.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 85 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
$4,234,807spent on transportation services in 2025, against a budget of $2,404,688
The audited statements show what the Township spent on transportation services (roads, bridges, winter plowing and the equipment that goes with them). For 2025 the budget column says $2,404,688 and the actual column says $4,234,807. For 2024 the budget was $2,452,962 and the actual was $3,502,711. Part of the gap is accounting: the budget column shows nothing for amortization (the yearly write-down of the value of roads, bridges and equipment as they wear out), while the actual column includes it. The transportation share of amortization was $867,643 in 2025. Taking that out leaves $3,367,164, still $962,476 above the budget (worked out by us). The Township's 2026 draft budget says it has raised its winter plowing and salting budget because of what it spent in 2025.
A budget is what Council tells residents a service will cost. If roads regularly cost much more than planned, the tax levy may be set too low and the difference has to come out of savings (reserves) or later years. The Township has begun to correct it for winter work, which suggests it saw the gap.
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 East Zorra - Tavistock? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: 2025 roads and winter control spending against budget, by account, with wording you can copy.
Statement of operations, 2025: "Transportation services" budget 2025 2,404,688, actual 2025 4,234,807, actual 2024 3,502,711.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus (printed page 4), PDF page 6
Schedule 2, segmented information, 2025: under the Transportation column, "Amortization" 867,643; "Materials, goods and services" 2,139,984; total expenditures 4,234,807.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Schedule 2, Consolidated Schedule of Segmented Information (printed page 17), PDF page 19
Statement of change in net financial assets: the budget 2025 column for "Amortization of tangible capital assets" shows "-" (nothing); the actual 2025 column shows 1,726,904.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Consolidated Statement of Change in Net Financial Assets (printed page 6), PDF page 8
Statement of operations, 2024: "Transportation services" budget 2024 2,452,962, actual 2024 3,502,711, actual 2023 3,265,453.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus (printed page 4), PDF page 6
The Township's own explanation in its 2026 draft budget: "Based on experience-related expenses for 2025 as well as the first two months of 2026, the Winter Control budget areas for Plowing, Salting and Sanding have been increased by a net amount." (We did not use that line's dollar amount, because it is a draft figure.)
2026 Draft Budget (updated March 11, 2026) · Summary of Departmental Initiatives, Infrastructure and Community Services, PDF page 6
$1,332,419loss on disposal of capital assets in 2024 (2025: $225,554)
When the Township replaces or scraps something it owns (a road section, a bridge, a truck), the statements record the difference between what it was still worth on the books and what the Township received. In 2024 that loss was $1,332,419 and in 2025 it was $225,554. The budget shows nothing for either year. In 2024, almost all of it sits in the transportation column ($1,348,739, with a small gain elsewhere). Assets with an original cost of $2,128,113 were taken off the books in 2024, of which $761,270 had already been written down.
A loss of this size is not cash leaving that year, but it shows that money spent years ago on infrastructure was written off earlier than planned. It matters for whether the Township's estimates of how long its roads and bridges last are right, because those estimates set how much it must put aside for replacement.
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 East Zorra - Tavistock? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Statement of operations, 2024: "Gain (loss) on disposal of capital assets" budget "-", actual 2024 (1,332,419), actual 2023 35,887.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus (printed page 4), PDF page 6
Schedule 1, 2024: "Disposals during the year" cost, Infrastructure (1,904,336), total (2,128,113); accumulated amortization on disposals, total (761,270).
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Schedule 1, Tangible Capital Assets (printed page 16), PDF page 18
Schedule 2, 2024: "Gain ( loss) on disposal" Protective Services 16,320, Transportation (1,348,739), total (1,332,419).
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Schedule 2, Segmented Information (printed page 17), PDF page 19
Statement of operations, 2025: "Gain (loss) on disposal of capital assets" budget "-", actual 2025 ( 225,554), actual 2024 ( 1,332,419). Schedule 2, 2025: total ( 225,554).
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Statement of Operations (PDF page 6) and Schedule 2 (printed page 17), PDF page 19
$1,615,450fall in total reserves during 2025, to $7,145,535 (worked out by us)
Reserves are money set aside for later costs, like replacing a bridge or arena equipment. Total reserves rose from $8,136,773 at the end of 2023 to $8,760,985 at the end of 2024, then fell to $7,145,535 at the end of 2025, a drop of $1,615,450 (worked out by us). The reserve for capital replacement fell from $7,777,176 to $5,982,475. Cash fell from $10,692,661 to $9,246,136. The adopted 2026 budget plans to take $3,591,457 from reserves for capital projects in 2026, then $2,330,624, $1,283,912, $891,053 and $2,467,213 in the next four years.
Savings are what let a township pay for big repairs without borrowing or sharp tax rises. Using them for planned projects is what reserves are for. The question is whether the plan also puts money back, so that the next big job is not paid for by debt or a larger levy.
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 East Zorra - Tavistock? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Reserve balances and contributions forecast, 2026 to 2030, with wording you can copy.
Note 9, accumulated surplus: "Total reserves" 2025 7,145,535, 2024 8,760,985; "for capital replacement" 2025 5,982,475, 2024 7,777,176.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Note 9, Accumulated Surplus (printed page 13), PDF page 15
Statement of financial position: "Cash" 2025 9,246,136, 2024 10,692,661.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Consolidated Statement of Financial Position (printed page 3), PDF page 5
Note 8, accumulated surplus, 2024 and 2023: "Total reserves" 2024 8,760,985, 2023 8,136,773.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Note 8, Accumulated Surplus (printed page 13), PDF page 15
Schedule C, Summary of Net Departmental Capital Budgets, "Transfers from Reserves and Reserve Funds": 2025 Actual (4,261,202); 2026 Proposed (3,591,457); 2027 (2,330,624); 2028 (1,283,912); 2029 (891,053); 2030 (2,467,213).
By-law 2026-10 · Schedule 'C', Proposed 2026 - 2030 Capital Budgets Summary, PDF page 5
$7,750,000borrowing planned for 2030 in the adopted capital summary
Net long-term liabilities (what the Township owes lenders) were $247,303 at the end of 2025. The capital plan in the adopted 2026 by-law shows no borrowing from 2023 to 2029 and then "Debt Financing" of $7,750,000 in 2030. The Township's draft budget shows where it comes from: a $10,000,000 line for a "Multi-Use Recreational Facility", described as "as per Recreation Advisory Committee - new indoor facility", paid for by debentures (long-term loans) of $7,750,000, developers' contributions of $1,000,000 and $1,100,000 from the community centres reserve. A plan is not a promise, and a later Council would decide.
A new building paid for by a loan of that size would mean yearly payments for many years. We did not find a tax effect stated for it in the documents we read. It is four years away, so a future Council would make the decision.
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 East Zorra - Tavistock? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Schedule C, Summary of Net Departmental Capital Budgets, "Debt Financing": 2023 to 2029 "-", 2030 Proposed (7,750,000). "Infrastructure and Community Services" expenditures 2030 Proposed 11,116,334.
By-law 2026-10 · Schedule 'C', Proposed 2026 - 2030 Capital Budgets Summary, PDF page 5
Statement of financial position: "Net long-term liabilities (note 8)" 2025 247,303, 2024 420,330. Note 8(b), debt to be retired over the next five years: 2026 $147,611 (recovered from taxation) and $31,781 (recovered from user charges); 2027 $20,896 and $16,683; 2028 $21,752 and $8,580.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Statement of Financial Position (PDF page 5); Note 8(b), Long-term liabilities (printed page 12), PDF page 14
Draft capital summary, Infrastructure and Community Services: "12-6-633001-4005 Construction - Multi-Use Recreational Facility" 2030 Proposed 10,000,000, note "as per Recreation Advisory Committee - new indoor facility". Revenue lines for the same year: "Debentures" (7,750,000), "Contributions from Developers" (1,000,000), "Transfer from Community Centres Reserve" (1,100,000). The totals for this department in 2030 (11,116,334) and the debt line match the adopted by-law.
2026 Draft Budget (updated March 11, 2026) · Infrastructure and Community Services capital, PDF pages 96 and 99
+79%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2024
East Zorra - Tavistock spent $670K on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $1.2M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 10 of 85 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Parks, arena and library | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | −11% | +1% |
| 2021 | +11% | +4% |
| 2022 | +33% | +11% |
| 2023 | +59% | +16% |
| 2024 | +79% | +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 East Zorra - Tavistock? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Parks, arena and library: 2019 $670K, 2020 $594K, 2021 $747K, 2022 $889K, 2023 $1.1M, 2024 $1.2M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Arena and buildings, from $558K to $896K.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 39%. East Zorra - Tavistock ranks 11th of 86.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 85 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
$1,906,346surplus in 2025, against a budgeted $3,956,332
A surplus is what is left when a year's revenue is more than its spending. The 2025 budget column planned an excess of revenue over expenditures of $3,956,332. The audited result was $1,906,346, which is $2,049,986 less (worked out by us). Most of the gap is explained by amortization: the budget column has none, and the actual 2025 figure is $1,726,904. That leaves $323,082 (worked out by us).
The surplus shown in the statements is partly an accounting figure. What matters for taxes is the cash and savings the Township holds, which are covered in a separate question.
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 East Zorra - Tavistock? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Statement of operations: "EXCESS OF REVENUE OVER EXPENDITURES" budget 2025 3,956,332, actual 2025 1,906,346, actual 2024 741,181. "Gain (loss) on disposal of capital assets" 2025 actual ( 225,554).
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus (printed page 4), PDF page 6
Statement of change in net financial assets: "Amortization of tangible capital assets" budget 2025 "-" (nothing), actual 2025 1,726,904.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Consolidated Statement of Change in Net Financial Assets (printed page 6), PDF page 8
Note 11: "The approved operating budget for 2025 is reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus."
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Note 11, Budget figures (printed page 14), PDF page 16
$8,945,280the 2026 levy for municipal purposes, up from $8,409,167
The levy is the amount the Township collects from property taxes for its own services (not the County's or the schools'). It was $8,409,167 in 2025 and is $8,945,280 in 2026, a rise of $536,113, or about 6.4% (worked out by us). The residential tax rate went from 0.00589194 to 0.00607867, about 3.2% (worked out by us), so roughly half of the rise comes from more or higher-valued properties and half from a higher rate. The Township's draft budget gives winter control and arena spending as pressures.
The levy is what residents pay, so the reasons for the rise should be easy to see in one place. The Township's draft explains it in short remarks, but we could not see the minutes where Council discussed 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 East Zorra - Tavistock? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
By-law 2026-10, section 1: "That the 2026 levy for municipal purposes shall be $8,945,280." Schedule A: "Tax Levy" 2025 Approved (8,409,167), 2026 Proposed (8,945,280), difference (536,113). Schedule B: Residential rate 0.00607867.
By-law 2026-10 · Section 1 (PDF page 1); Schedule 'A' (PDF page 3); Schedule 'B' (PDF page 4)
By-law 2025-09, section 1: "That the 2025 levy for municipal purposes shall be $8,409,167." Residential (RT) rate 0.00589194.
By-law 2025-09 · Section 1 (PDF page 1); Schedule of tax rates (PDF page 4)
The Township's remarks in its 2026 draft budget summary say the Infrastructure and Community Services budget includes "increased capital funding for arena, excessive winter control effects".
2026 Draft Budget (updated March 11, 2026) · Schedule 'A', Remarks column, PDF page 3
$2,933,746the Township's investment in ERTH Corporation at December 31, 2025
ERTH Corporation is a company in which the Township holds a share. The Township owns 5.04% of it and shows it in the statements at $2,933,746: its share of the company's equity ($2,173,746) plus a $760,000 promissory note (a loan with no end date). The note earns 7.25%, and the Township received $55,100 of interest in 2025. ERTH declared a dividend of $1,030,000 in 2025, of which the Township's share is $51,954. The statements say the note is unsecured, and that no principal repayment is expected in the next twelve months.
This is nearly three million dollars of public money held in a company, not in roads or buildings. It earns a return, which helps, but residents may want to know how the loan was set up and who decides whether it is repaid.
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 East Zorra - Tavistock? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 10: "the Township owns 5.04% ( 2024 - 5.04%) of ERTH"; "Promissory note receivable" 760,000; "Equity" 2,173,746 (2024 2,016,088); total 2,933,746 (2024 2,776,088). "The promissory note receivable from ERTH is unsecured and bears interest at 7.25%"; "Interest received in the year ... is $55,100".
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Note 10, Investment in ERTH Corporation (printed page 14), PDF page 16
Note 10: "ERTH Corporation declared a dividend of $1,030,000 in 2025 (2024 - $ 720,000) of which the Township's share is $51,954 ( 2024 - $ 36,317)."
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Note 10, Investment in ERTH Corporation (printed page 14), PDF page 16