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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Faraday'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 · 10 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Faraday's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 7 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.
$3,281,300the Township's share of landfill closure and care, at December 31, 2024
Faraday and the Town of Bancroft share a landfill. When a landfill closes, the owner must cap it and watch it for years. The 2024 statements record the Township's half of that future bill as $3,281,300, up from $3,156,900 the year before, after adding $124,400 for the passing of time. The Township keeps two savings accounts (reserves) for the landfill: "Landfill closure costs" at $575,400 and "Landfill reclamation" at $350,000. Together that is $925,400, or about $2,355,900 less than the bill (worked out by us).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$106,000.002026 budget for engineer services, against $17,790.11 spent in 2025
In the 2026 budget's environmental services section (waste, landfill and recycling), the line "Engineer Services" is $106,000.00. The same line shows $17,790.11 spent in 2025 against a 2025 estimate of $45,000.00. The section's total is also higher: $413,400.00 for 2026, against $294,034.64 spent in 2025.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$123,883.28increase in the amount to be raised by 2026 taxes, over 2025
The 2026 budget says $3,111,490.07 is to be raised by taxes, against $2,987,606.79 in 2025, an increase of $123,883.28 (printed as a percent increase of 4.146572448). The Township had no balance on its credit facility at the end of 2024 and held $7,359,286 in unrestricted cash and $8,735,969 in reserves (savings set aside for a purpose). The 2025 budget estimated total spending of $4,928,587.00 and the budget page shows $4,273,322.29 actually spent, about $655,265 less (worked out by us). The 2026 estimate is $4,940,917.00.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$521,454health services expense in 2023, against $19,990 in 2024
The statements show a "Health services" expense of $521,454 in 2023, against $19,990 in 2024 (budget $20,600). The statements say this function "consists of external transfers for physician recruitment costs". The "External transfers" line of the expense table fell from $617,284 in 2023 to $112,955 in 2024.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$2,922,3042023 annual surplus, against $205,983 in 2024
The 2024 statements show an annual surplus of $2,922,304 for 2023 and $205,983 for 2024. The 2023 figure includes a one-time credit of $(2,803,000) under "Change in landfill closure and post-closure liability", the year the Township adopted a new accounting rule for retirement of assets. The same statements show an adjustment of $(2,927,100) for that rule in the 2023 column, which is not cash.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$128,430"Rents and financial" in 2024, against a budget of $4,000
In the expense table of the 2024 statements, "Rents and financial" was budgeted at 4,000 and came to 128,430 (233,630 in 2023). The cash flow statement lists "Accretion expense" (the yearly growth of the landfill bill as it comes closer in time) of 124,400 in 2024 and 229,800 in 2023. The gaps left over are about 4,030 and 3,830 (worked out by us), close to the budget of 4,000. The statements do not say which line carries the accretion, so we cannot be sure.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
0council pay statements found on the Township's site
Ontario law (Municipal Act, section 284) asks a municipality to publish what it paid each council member each year. We did not find that statement on the Township's website, on its Taxation and Finance page, or in its list of posted documents. The 2025 financial statements are posted (June 2026) as a scanned picture with no readable text, so we did not use them. The Township says council minutes and agendas are now on a separate portal run by an outside company, and that portal tells automated readers to stay out, so we did not read any minutes.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
2council seats filled by acclamation on August 24, 2026
The Township's declaration of acclamation, dated August 24, 2026, names one certified candidate each for mayor and deputy mayor, so those two seats will not go to a vote. Its official list of certified candidates also names seven people for councillor. The Township's council page lists a mayor, a deputy mayor and three councillors. We do not name candidates here.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$3,281,300the Township's share of landfill closure and care, at December 31, 2024
Faraday and the Town of Bancroft share a landfill. When a landfill closes, the owner must cap it and watch it for years. The 2024 statements record the Township's half of that future bill as $3,281,300, up from $3,156,900 the year before, after adding $124,400 for the passing of time. The Township keeps two savings accounts (reserves) for the landfill: "Landfill closure costs" at $575,400 and "Landfill reclamation" at $350,000. Together that is $925,400, or about $2,355,900 less than the bill (worked out by us).
Why it matters
A landfill bill does not go away. If the money is not set aside, a later council and later taxpayers pay it, and it can arrive at the same time as other large costs such as roads.
It could be because…
The bill is not due all at once. The statements say it covers the years until closure and then 25 years of care, so it is paid out slowly.
The $3,281,300 is a present-day value worked out with a discount rate of 4.5% and an inflation rate of 3.0%, so it is an estimate, not a cheque.
Bancroft pays the other half under the agreement, and other reserves (such as the $5,515,593 "Capital" reserve) could also be used.
The Township added $50,000 to each landfill reserve in 2024 (worked out by us from the 2023 and 2024 balances), so it is saving each year.
Questions you could ask
When does the Township expect the landfill to close?
What yearly amount does Council plan to put into the closure and reclamation reserves so the bill is covered, and where is that plan written down?
Could the $5,515,593 "Capital" reserve be counted toward this bill, and has Council said so?
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 Faraday?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 10(a), Landfill obligation: "In accordance with an agreement between the Township and Town of Bancroft, the Township is responsible for 50% of the liability for closure and post-closure costs." The costs run to the estimated year of closure "and for 25 years after the closure date using a discount rate of 4.5% and an inflation rate of 3.0%". Opening balance 3,156,900; accretion expense 124,400; closing balance 3,281,300 (2023: 3,156,900).
$106,000.002026 budget for engineer services, against $17,790.11 spent in 2025
In the 2026 budget's environmental services section (waste, landfill and recycling), the line "Engineer Services" is $106,000.00. The same line shows $17,790.11 spent in 2025 against a 2025 estimate of $45,000.00. The section's total is also higher: $413,400.00 for 2026, against $294,034.64 spent in 2025.
Why it matters
Engineering advice on a landfill can be required by the province and can be large when a site is changing. A line that is more than twice the old estimate, and about six times what was spent, deserves a plain reason.
It could be because…
Work the Township planned for 2025 may have slipped into 2026, which would explain low spending in 2025.
The budget page lists "Two new wells per MECP" in this section, which suggests provincially required monitoring work that may need engineering.
A budget line can be set high to cover a study whose price is not known yet.
Questions you could ask
What engineering work is the $106,000 for, and has Council approved a scope or a quote?
Was part of the 2025 estimate of $45,000 left unspent because the work was delayed?
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 Faraday?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
$123,883.28increase in the amount to be raised by 2026 taxes, over 2025
The 2026 budget says $3,111,490.07 is to be raised by taxes, against $2,987,606.79 in 2025, an increase of $123,883.28 (printed as a percent increase of 4.146572448). The Township had no balance on its credit facility at the end of 2024 and held $7,359,286 in unrestricted cash and $8,735,969 in reserves (savings set aside for a purpose). The 2025 budget estimated total spending of $4,928,587.00 and the budget page shows $4,273,322.29 actually spent, about $655,265 less (worked out by us). The 2026 estimate is $4,940,917.00.
Why it matters
Property tax is the main way a small township pays for roads, fire and waste. When a municipality has large savings, residents can fairly ask how much of a tax increase is needed now and how much is for future plans.
It could be because…
Most of the savings are set aside for named jobs. Reserves of $8,735,969 include $5,515,593 for capital (roads, buildings, equipment) and landfill reserves, and the Township's roads need regular large spending.
A lot of the 2025 gap between plan and actual is probably road work that was planned but not finished in the year, which moves spending into the next year without cancelling it.
Costs rise every year (wages, fuel, insurance) and the province's funding for small townships may not keep up.
The cash is a year-end figure for 2024. The 2025 statements are posted only as scanned pictures, so we could not read the 2025 balance.
Questions you could ask
How much of the $123,883.28 increase is for ongoing costs, and how much is for putting money into reserves?
Does Council have a target size for its reserves and its cash balance, and what is it?
How much of the 2025 gap between the estimate and what was spent was road or other capital work carried into 2026?
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 Faraday?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
2026 budget summary, "TO BE RAISED BY TAXES": "DIFFERENCE TO BE RAISED BY TAXES" 3,111,490.07. "Compare to previous Year": To Be Raised in 2026: 3,111,490.07; To Be Raised in 2025: 2,987,606.79; Increase (decrease) in 2026 from 2025 123,883.28; "Percent Increase over last year of:" 4.146572448. "GRAND TOTALS" of expenditures 4,940,917.00; estimated revenues 1,829,426.93.
Note 3, Cash: "Unrestricted" 7,359,286 (2023: 7,151,625); total cash 7,646,056. Note 5: a credit facility limited to $500,000, with no balance outstanding at December 31, 2024.
$521,454health services expense in 2023, against $19,990 in 2024
The statements show a "Health services" expense of $521,454 in 2023, against $19,990 in 2024 (budget $20,600). The statements say this function "consists of external transfers for physician recruitment costs". The "External transfers" line of the expense table fell from $617,284 in 2023 to $112,955 in 2024.
Why it matters
Attracting doctors matters to a rural community, and a payment of this size is large for a township this small. Residents can fairly ask who received it and whether more is coming.
It could be because…
It may have been a one-time contribution to a regional program to recruit doctors, shared with neighbouring municipalities.
It may have been paid over several years' worth of promised money in one go.
Part of the amount could be unrelated to doctors; the statements give one description for the whole function.
Questions you could ask
Who received the 2023 health services payments, and under what agreement?
Did Council approve it in a public vote, and does it owe more in 2026 or later?
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 Faraday?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Statement of operations: "Health services" budget 2024 20,600; actual 2024 19,990; actual 2023 521,454.
Faraday spent $531K on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $810K in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Why did the cost of water, sewers and garbage grow 52% in 6 years?
Water, sewers and garbage
Prices (inflation)
−500%−300%−100%+100%
+52%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Water, sewers and garbage
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
+14%
+1%
2021
+40%
+4%
2022
+5%
+11%
2023
−476%
+16%
2024
+28%
+18%
2025
+52%
+21%
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Why it matters
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.
It could be because…
The town added a service, a building or staff that residents asked for.
Costs were moved from another area, so the total did not really change.
Accounting rules changed how costs are sorted.
Large one-time costs, like a study, lawsuit or repair, landed in one year.
Questions you could ask
What did the extra $279K a year pay for?
Why did the dump (landfill) go from $487K to $810K?
Was each increase approved by council as a separate decision, or did it happen through the yearly budget?
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 Faraday?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
$2,922,3042023 annual surplus, against $205,983 in 2024
The 2024 statements show an annual surplus of $2,922,304 for 2023 and $205,983 for 2024. The 2023 figure includes a one-time credit of $(2,803,000) under "Change in landfill closure and post-closure liability", the year the Township adopted a new accounting rule for retirement of assets. The same statements show an adjustment of $(2,927,100) for that rule in the 2023 column, which is not cash.
Why it matters
A reader who sees the two surpluses side by side could think the Township's finances changed sharply. The statements say the swing is an accounting change, which is why we list it as context.
It could be because…
New accounting rules for landfill and building cleanup costs began in 2023 and changed the figures in many municipalities' statements in the same way.
The 2023 credit is a change in an estimate, not money received.
Questions you could ask
Does the Township publish a plain-language note to residents explaining how the 2023 accounting change moved the surplus?
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 Faraday?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Statement of operations: "Change in landfill closure and post-closure liability" 2024 -; 2023 (2,803,000). "ANNUAL SURPLUS" budget 2024 144,487; actual 2024 205,983; actual 2023 2,922,304.
Statement of change in net financial assets: "ADJUSTMENT ON ADOPTION OF THE ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION STANDARD" 2023 (2,927,100). Note 10: "Adjustment on adoption of the asset retirement obligation standard" 2,927,100.
$128,430"Rents and financial" in 2024, against a budget of $4,000
In the expense table of the 2024 statements, "Rents and financial" was budgeted at 4,000 and came to 128,430 (233,630 in 2023). The cash flow statement lists "Accretion expense" (the yearly growth of the landfill bill as it comes closer in time) of 124,400 in 2024 and 229,800 in 2023. The gaps left over are about 4,030 and 3,830 (worked out by us), close to the budget of 4,000. The statements do not say which line carries the accretion, so we cannot be sure.
Why it matters
A line at thirty times its budget looks like overspending until the reason is known. This looks like an accounting entry that the budget did not include, not a spending problem.
It could be because…
The accretion expense is probably recorded in this line, and the budget did not plan for it, as the budget is set on a different basis.
The remainder is about the size of normal rent, bank and financial charges.
Questions you could ask
Is the accretion expense part of "Rents and financial"?
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 Faraday?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 13, Expenses by object: "Rents and financial" budget 2024 4,000; actual 2024 128,430; actual 2023 233,630.
0council pay statements found on the Township's site
Ontario law (Municipal Act, section 284) asks a municipality to publish what it paid each council member each year. We did not find that statement on the Township's website, on its Taxation and Finance page, or in its list of posted documents. The 2025 financial statements are posted (June 2026) as a scanned picture with no readable text, so we did not use them. The Township says council minutes and agendas are now on a separate portal run by an outside company, and that portal tells automated readers to stay out, so we did not read any minutes.
Why it matters
Pay statements, audited statements and minutes are how residents check their council. Before an election, they are most useful when they can be found, searched and read.
It could be because…
The statement may be posted somewhere we did not look, or given on request, or in the minutes.
A scan is how many small offices post a signed document, and a person can still read it.
The Township's own page says residents can call the office about older minutes and agendas.
Questions you could ask
Where is the council pay and expenses statement for 2025, 2024 and 2023 posted?
Can the 2025 audited statements be posted as a searchable file?
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 Faraday?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The Taxation and Finance page lists financial statements for 2018 to 2025, final levy by-laws for 2018, 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026, a property tax relief notice, an asset management report and the 2026 budget. We did not find a statement of council pay and expenses in the list.
2council seats filled by acclamation on August 24, 2026
The Township's declaration of acclamation, dated August 24, 2026, names one certified candidate each for mayor and deputy mayor, so those two seats will not go to a vote. Its official list of certified candidates also names seven people for councillor. The Township's council page lists a mayor, a deputy mayor and three councillors. We do not name candidates here.
Why it matters
When a seat is acclaimed, residents do not get a ballot, a debate or a platform to read for that seat. Questions put to council in the next term then matter more.
It could be because…
Acclamation is a normal result in a small township when no one else files papers by nomination day.
The three councillor seats will still be decided on the ballot.
Questions you could ask
Will the Township post candidate information for the councillor race where residents can find 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 Faraday?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
"DECLARATION OF ACCLAMATION TO OFFICE": one named candidate acclaimed to Mayor and one to Deputy Mayor, "Dated this 24th day of August, 2026".
"OFFICIAL LIST OF CERTIFIED CANDIDATES": nomination period completed on "Nomination Day, August 21st 2026"; one candidate certified for Mayor, one for Deputy Mayor and seven for Councillor.
Faraday spent about $628 per home on garbage, dump and recycling in 2025. The typical similar town spent $258. None of the 7 similar towns spent more.
Why it matters
Spending more than neighbours is not wrong by itself. It might buy better service. But it is the first place to look for costs that could be lower, such as contracts that were not competitively bid.
It could be because…
Geography: more roads, more snow, a bigger area or a landfill of its own.
Accounting: some towns record the same cost in a different category.
A one-time cost in this year.
Questions you could ask
What makes this cost higher here than in similar towns?
When were the main contracts in this area last put out to competitive tender?
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 Faraday?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Garbage, dump and recycling per home: Faraday $628; typical similar town $258; ranked 1st highest of 8.
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