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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Fauquier-Strickland'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 · 13 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Fauquier-Strickland's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 42 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.
Needs an answer
Needs an answer
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
In 2024, Fauquier-Strickland collected $250K more in its own property tax than in 2023. That is a 19% jump, while prices went up about 2.4%. None of the 42 similar towns raised theirs by more. Almost all of it came from a higher tax rate (up 26% for homes); the value of homes on the tax roll grew only 2.7%.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 4 sources
Fauquier-Strickland spent $237K on running the town office in 2019 and $621K in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 0 of 42 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Fauquier-Strickland had $451K saved at the end of 2024, down from $1.2M in 2019. That is 20% of one year's spending. Only 4 of 42 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$1,735,169of reserves listed at December 31, 2023; the provincial audit reports total reserves of $571K in 2024
A reserve is money a council sets aside for a later purpose, like replacing a road or a truck. The Township's audited 2023 statements list reserves of $1,735,169. The Province's audit says that, before 2024, some reserves were reported in the statements without enough cash behind them, and that total reserves fell to $571K in 2024 as reported balances were lined up with the cash actually available.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$319,471drawn on a $350,000 line of credit at December 31, 2023
The 2023 audited statements show "Bank indebtedness" of 466,813, and a $350,000 line of credit with $319,471 drawn. The provincial audit lists the Township's bank balance below zero at the end of 2022, 2023 and 2024, and back above zero at the end of 2025.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$175,329unfunded gap on a $2,175,329 building, paid from reserves and deferred funds
The Township built a new municipal office and medical centre. After the tenders came in, Council added floor space for municipal offices, approved a total construction cost of $1.97M and borrowed $2M from the province's lending agency. The audit puts the final cost at $2,175,329, which left $175,329 unfunded, and says Council did not look at the effect on cash.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$785,428unfunded gap on a $1,148,508 project (the Township's latest records put it at $685K)
The audit reviews the Community Centre work at $1,148,508 in total. Grants and an insurance claim covered some of it, leaving an unfunded gap of $785,428 in the audit's table, or $685K in the Township's latest records. The audit says plans changed several times for the library and municipal office, and the library moved to the newer sports building in 2025.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$744,014spent on environmental services in 2023, against a budget of $523,958 (user charges: $176,813)
The audit says water and wastewater ran an annual shortfall of about $180K in 2024, or about $390K when the Township's own building water bills are left out, and that property taxes cover the difference. In 2023 the audited statements show environmental services (water, sewer and waste) costing 744,014 against a budget of 523,958, while user charges were 176,813. The $220,056 by which spending passed the budget is worked out by us.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
42%of the Township's assets had condition assessments behind its 2024 asset plan, per the provincial audit
The audit lists, as of June 2026, no investment policy, no debt policy and no long-term financial plan. It says capital budgets listed projects without saying how each would be paid for until the 2026 capital budget, and that the asset plan had condition data for only 42% of assets.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
At the end of 2024, Fauquier-Strickland owed $2.5M on temporary loans. That is like putting 94% of a year's income on a line of credit. This is short-term borrowing for building projects, which is normal while waiting for a grant or a long-term loan. But it was already $2.5M a year earlier, so it has lasted more than a year. Only 3 of 42 similar towns had any temporary loans at the end of 2024.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
27.7%rise in the municipal levy in 2024, after rises of 3.2% to 4.6% a year from 2020 to 2023
From 2020 to 2023 the audit shows the municipal levy rising 3.2% to 4.6% a year. In 2024 it rose 27.7%. The audit also says the pipeline property class paid nearly $800K of property tax in 2024, more than all other classes combined, and that pipeline accounts make up 55.3% of the levy.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$357,281budgeted surplus in the 2023 statements, from a Council budget approved at nothing
The 2023 statement of operations shows a budgeted annual surplus of 357,281 and an actual result of (6,865). Note 15 explains that Council approved a budget with a surplus of nothing, and that the statements restate it: loan proceeds and reserve moves come out and capital purchases and loan repayments go in. It also says Council approved the 2023 budget on October 10, 2023.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
Each question in full
Needs an answerFound automatically from financial reports
In 2024, Fauquier-Strickland collected $250K more in its own property tax than in 2023. That is a 19% jump, while prices went up about 2.4%. None of the 42 similar towns raised theirs by more. Almost all of it came from a higher tax rate (up 26% for homes); the value of homes on the tax roll grew only 2.7%.
Why did Fauquier-Strickland's property tax go up 19% in 2024?
$0$500K$1.0M$1.5M$2.0M
$1.6M
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Town property tax
2019
$1.2M
2020
$1.2M
2021
$1.2M
2022
$1.3M
2023
$1.3M
2024
$1.6M
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 $645 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 Fauquier-Strickland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Town property tax: $1,304,469 in 2023, $1,554,163 in 2024.
Fauquier-Strickland spent $237K on running the town office in 2019 and $621K in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 0 of 42 similar towns had faster growth here.
Why did the cost of running the town office grow 162% in 5 years?
Running the town office
Prices (inflation)
+0%+50%+100%+150%+200%
+162%
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Running the town office
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
+4%
+1%
2021
+19%
+4%
2022
+69%
+11%
2023
+88%
+16%
2024
+162%
+18%
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Why it matters
Money spent running the office is money not spent on roads, water or safety. When office costs grow much faster than the services people see, it is fair to ask what the extra money is buying.
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 $384K a year pay for?
Why did senior management go from $187K to $574K?
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 Fauquier-Strickland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Running the town office: 2019 $237K, 2020 $248K, 2021 $283K, 2022 $401K, 2023 $446K, 2024 $621K.
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Fauquier-Strickland had $451K saved at the end of 2024, down from $1.2M in 2019. That is 20% of one year's spending. Only 4 of 42 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Does Fauquier-Strickland have enough saved for repairs and emergencies?
$0$500K$1.0M$1.5M$2.0M
$451K
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Savings (reserves)
2019
$1.2M
2020
$1.3M
2021
$1.3M
2022
$1.7M
2023
$1.7M
2024
$451K
Why it matters
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.
It could be because…
The town spent savings on purpose, on projects that were planned and saved up for.
Some savings were used to match grant money, which brings in more than it costs.
The town has a plan to rebuild its savings.
Questions you could ask
Does the town have a written reserve policy with a target amount?
What were the savings spent on between 2019 and 2024?
What is the plan to rebuild them, and by when?
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 Fauquier-Strickland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Fauquier-Strickland spent about $2,852 per home on long-term debt in 2024. The typical similar town spent $547. Only 3 of 42 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 Fauquier-Strickland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Long-term debt per home: Fauquier-Strickland $2,852; typical similar town $547; ranked 4th highest of 43.
$1,735,169of reserves listed at December 31, 2023; the provincial audit reports total reserves of $571K in 2024
A reserve is money a council sets aside for a later purpose, like replacing a road or a truck. The Township's audited 2023 statements list reserves of $1,735,169. The Province's audit says that, before 2024, some reserves were reported in the statements without enough cash behind them, and that total reserves fell to $571K in 2024 as reported balances were lined up with the cash actually available.
Why it matters
Residents reading the 2023 statements would have seen a savings cushion. The audit says part of it was a bookkeeping balance, not cash that could be spent.
It could be because…
A reserve can be a bookkeeping promise to set money aside, and small towns often spend the cash on day-to-day bills or projects without moving it.
The audit itself says the 2024 drop was not a one-year cash loss but a correction of balances that were not backed by cash.
The audit says the reserve adjustment was split between $971K for buying capital assets and $431K for current operations, so some of it paid for real projects.
Questions you could ask
When did the Township first see that some reserve balances were not matched by cash, and how was this explained to residents?
Will the 2024 and 2025 audited statements show the 2023 reserve balances as restated?
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 Fauquier-Strickland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 14 of the 2023 audited statements lists reserves set aside by Council. "Capital reserve" is 803,060 and "Total reserves" is 1,735,169 at December 31, 2023.
The provincial audit says: "Prior to 2024, certain reserves were reported in the financial statements but were not fully supported by available cash." It says total reserves dropped by 74% to just $571K in 2024.
The audit says the Township "downward adjusted $1.4M of reserves", from about $1.9M to less than $600K, split between $971K for tangible capital assets and $431K for current operations, and that the Working Funds reserve "went from over $800K to $0".
$319,471drawn on a $350,000 line of credit at December 31, 2023
The 2023 audited statements show "Bank indebtedness" of 466,813, and a $350,000 line of credit with $319,471 drawn. The provincial audit lists the Township's bank balance below zero at the end of 2022, 2023 and 2024, and back above zero at the end of 2025.
Why it matters
A town running below zero at the bank is paying its bills with borrowed money. The audit calls the Township's liquidity risk very high.
It could be because…
Big capital projects were paid before grants and loans arrived, so the bank balance dipped while the money was still coming.
The statements and the bank statements measure slightly different things (for example, cheques not yet cashed), so the numbers need not match.
The audit shows the balance was back above zero, at $277,237, by December 31, 2025.
Questions you could ask
How much interest did the Township pay on its line of credit and overdraft in 2022 to 2025?
What is the plan to keep the bank balance above zero through each year, including the months before grants arrive?
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 Fauquier-Strickland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The 2023 statement of financial position lists Bank indebtedness of 466,813 (2022: 436,875). Note 8 says the Township has an authorized line of credit of $350,000 and that $319,471 (2022 - $293,217) had been drawn.
The audit's bank balance list shows ($166,600) at December 31, 2022, ($319,471) at December 31, 2023, ($424,909) at June 30, 2024, ($358,084) at December 31, 2024, ($134,479) at June 30, 2025 and $277,237 at December 31, 2025.
The audit says the Township has "reported $0 in cash and cash equivalents since 2022", and its current ratio is 0.34, meaning less than $0.35 of liquid assets for every $1.00 of short-term obligations.
$175,329unfunded gap on a $2,175,329 building, paid from reserves and deferred funds
The Township built a new municipal office and medical centre. After the tenders came in, Council added floor space for municipal offices, approved a total construction cost of $1.97M and borrowed $2M from the province's lending agency. The audit puts the final cost at $2,175,329, which left $175,329 unfunded, and says Council did not look at the effect on cash.
Why it matters
A building financed 100 per cent with a loan leaves nothing for cost overruns. The Township paid the gap from reserves and set-aside funds.
It could be because…
The Township's own reason: the old medical building did not meet healthcare standards and Council judged local healthcare essential for an ageing population.
Adding the municipal office to the same building could have cost less than two separate projects.
Costs rose during construction, as they did on many projects in 2022 and 2023.
Questions you could ask
Did Council see a cash-flow and total-cost estimate for the expanded building before it voted to borrow $2M?
What rent does the Township receive from the healthcare tenant, and how much of the building's yearly debt payment of about $59K does it 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 Fauquier-Strickland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The audit says five tenders came in from $1.68M to $2.34M. Council passed resolution 22-163 to award the contract for $1.68M and to add square footage for municipal offices and council chambers, for a total approved construction cost of $1.97M, and approved borrowing of $2M.
The audit's table shows total capital expenses of $2,175,329 against an OILC loan of ($2,000,000), an unfunded gap of $175,329. It says Council approved 100% financing with no "down payment" and that a scope change after the design was approved and tendered "weakened overall cost control".
Note 11 of the 2023 audited statements says the lending agency agreed to finance up to $2,000,000 for the Medical Centre, interest only until substantially complete, and that $2,000,000 had been drawn at December 31, 2023.
$785,428unfunded gap on a $1,148,508 project (the Township's latest records put it at $685K)
The audit reviews the Community Centre work at $1,148,508 in total. Grants and an insurance claim covered some of it, leaving an unfunded gap of $785,428 in the audit's table, or $685K in the Township's latest records. The audit says plans changed several times for the library and municipal office, and the library moved to the newer sports building in 2025.
Why it matters
Money spent on space that changes purpose is money not spent on roads or water. This one was paid mostly from reserves.
It could be because…
The audit says the work began as an urgent repair after repeated flooding, so the first spending was not planned.
Grant money (accessibility funding and provincial funding) was available only for certain uses, which can steer how a project is split up.
Moving the library to the newer building may save running costs, since the audit says the Community Centre was underused.
Questions you could ask
What is the Community Centre now used for, and what does it cost to run each year?
Which reserves paid for the unfunded part, and will they be refilled?
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 Fauquier-Strickland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The audit's table shows total capital expenses of $1,148,508, total funding sources of ($363,080) and an unfunded gap of $785,428. It adds that the gap is updated to $685K in the Township's latest 2026 funding reconciliation records.
The audit says the scope of the project was unclear and changing, "which led to fragmented decision-making and weakened cost control", and that the Township had no consensus on the library or municipal office location.
$744,014spent on environmental services in 2023, against a budget of $523,958 (user charges: $176,813)
The audit says water and wastewater ran an annual shortfall of about $180K in 2024, or about $390K when the Township's own building water bills are left out, and that property taxes cover the difference. In 2023 the audited statements show environmental services (water, sewer and waste) costing 744,014 against a budget of 523,958, while user charges were 176,813. The $220,056 by which spending passed the budget is worked out by us.
Why it matters
When the tax levy covers a utility's gap, taxpayers pay for it whether or not they use the service, and the gap grows when the plant costs more to run.
It could be because…
The Township's own explanation, quoted in the audit from a June 2025 council report: higher chemical costs, debt payments on the new water plant, and hydro and heating costs.
Part of the 2023 spending is non-cash (amortization of $177,742) and interest of $51,526, which the budget may have shown elsewhere.
A new plant brings higher costs before rates are raised to match.
Questions you could ask
Were the planned water rate increases of 17% in 2025 and 7% a year after that adopted, and did they take effect?
What share of the water and sewer gap is still paid from the general tax 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 Fauquier-Strickland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The 2023 statement of operations shows Environmental services expenses of 523,958 budgeted and 744,014 actual, and user charges of 182,646 budgeted and 176,813 actual.
Note 22 (2023 segments) shows environmental services with amortization of 177,742, interest on long-term debt of 51,526, total expenses of 744,014 and an excess (deficiency) of revenues over expenses of (558,826).
The audit says that in 2024 water and wastewater operations had an annual shortfall of approximately $180K, increasing to approximately $390K when internal municipal facility billings are excluded.
The audit says that to reach cost neutrality in the next five years the Township anticipated increasing water rates by 17% in 2025 followed by 7% annual increases for the following four years, citing a council agenda of June 3, 2025.
42%of the Township's assets had condition assessments behind its 2024 asset plan, per the provincial audit
The audit lists, as of June 2026, no investment policy, no debt policy and no long-term financial plan. It says capital budgets listed projects without saying how each would be paid for until the 2026 capital budget, and that the asset plan had condition data for only 42% of assets.
Why it matters
Plans and policies are how a council checks that it can afford a project before it starts. Without them, three large projects were started within a few years of each other.
It could be because…
A township with a handful of staff may find it hard to produce every plan the Province expects.
The audit says the Township was working on updating its asset plan and would then complete a 10-year financial plan.
Some of these were recommended by an earlier Ministry review in February 2024, so the Township may have been working on them in 2026.
Questions you could ask
When will Council adopt an investment policy, a debt policy and a 10-year financial plan?
Will the Minister's orders under section 14 require these steps, and will Council publish its reply to the audit?
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 Fauquier-Strickland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The audit's policy table says "Council has not adopted an investment policy".
The audit says the Township "has not formally adopted a debt management policy or a long-term borrowing policy" and that it "does not have a long-term financial plan".
The audit says annual capital budgets "would list the upcoming projects for the next fiscal year and the estimated costs without identification of funding sources", and that the Township started to identify funding sources in the 2026 capital budget.
At the end of 2024, Fauquier-Strickland owed $2.5M on temporary loans. That is like putting 94% of a year's income on a line of credit. This is short-term borrowing for building projects, which is normal while waiting for a grant or a long-term loan. But it was already $2.5M a year earlier, so it has lasted more than a year. Only 3 of 42 similar towns had any temporary loans at the end of 2024.
What is the $2.5M short-term loan for, and when will it be paid off?
$0$500K$1.0M$1.5M$2.0M$2.5M
$2.5M
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Temporary loans
2019
$0
2020
$0
2021
$0
2022
$1.7M
2023
$2.5M
2024
$2.5M
Why it matters
Short-term loans usually cost more interest and can be called in. If they roll over year after year, the town is really carrying debt that does not show up as long-term debt.
It could be because…
The town is waiting for a promised grant to arrive for a finished project.
A long-term loan (debenture) for the project has been approved but not yet issued.
Questions you could ask
Which project is the loan for, and what is the interest rate?
When will it be repaid or turned into a long-term loan, and where does that money come from?
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 Fauquier-Strickland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
27.7%rise in the municipal levy in 2024, after rises of 3.2% to 4.6% a year from 2020 to 2023
From 2020 to 2023 the audit shows the municipal levy rising 3.2% to 4.6% a year. In 2024 it rose 27.7%. The audit also says the pipeline property class paid nearly $800K of property tax in 2024, more than all other classes combined, and that pipeline accounts make up 55.3% of the levy.
Why it matters
A small town that depends on one property class for over half of its levy is exposed if that class is reassessed or appealed. It also means residential taxpayers carried a smaller share than the headline increase suggests.
It could be because…
The Township's own reason, in the audit: Council limited increases from 2020 to 2023 and the 2024 increase was a one-time catch up.
The audit gives 26% as the approved 2024 increase and 27.7% as the change in the levy; the two measure slightly different things.
Concentration in one class is common in towns with a pipeline or a mine.
Questions you could ask
Has the Township planned for a loss or appeal on its largest property class?
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 Fauquier-Strickland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The audit says Council limited property taxation increases between 2020 to 2023 and that in 2024 significant residential property tax rate increases were implemented as "a one-time catch up of revenue".
The audit lists "Pipeline Taxation Concentration" at 55.3% and says the pipeline tax class "generated nearly $800K" in 2024, larger than all other property classes combined, with residential second at $615K.
$357,281budgeted surplus in the 2023 statements, from a Council budget approved at nothing
The 2023 statement of operations shows a budgeted annual surplus of 357,281 and an actual result of (6,865). Note 15 explains that Council approved a budget with a surplus of nothing, and that the statements restate it: loan proceeds and reserve moves come out and capital purchases and loan repayments go in. It also says Council approved the 2023 budget on October 10, 2023.
Why it matters
Readers comparing the two numbers might think the Township missed its target by $364,146 (worked out by us). The note says most of that gap comes from how the budget is restated for the statements, not from overspending.
It could be because…
The statements use a different accounting basis from Council's cash-style budget, so the two numbers are not meant to match.
The budget was approved on October 10, 2023, near the end of the year, so spending was already well under way.
Questions you could ask
When were the 2024, 2025 and 2026 budgets approved, and are they posted for residents to read?
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 Fauquier-Strickland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The 2023 statement of operations shows an annual (deficit) surplus of 357,281 budgeted and (6,865) actual.
Note 15 says the budget is based on the 2023 budgets approved by Council on October 10th, 2023, and reconciles "Budgeted surplus approved by Council" of $ - to "Budgeted surplus per financial statements" of $357,281 by removing proceeds of long-term debt of (934,000), net reserve transfers of 50,204, and adding capital acquisitions of 1,198,986 and principal payments of 42,091.
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