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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Gauthier'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 · 7 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Gauthier's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 5 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.
On October 14, 2026 we read the Township's home page and tried the pages its menu links to. The home page links to two documents, an asset management plan and an accessibility plan, but no audited financial statements, budget or council pay statement. The menu pages for Meetings & Minutes and Documents did not open for us (the other menu pages we tried did not either). The site says it is a work in progress.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
In 2024, Gauthier collected $38,337 more in its own property tax than in 2023. That is a 15% jump, while prices went up about 2.4%. None of the 5 similar towns raised theirs by more. Almost all of it came from a higher tax rate (up 5% for homes); the value of homes on the tax roll grew only 0.5%.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 4 sources
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Gauthier had $76,152 saved at the end of 2024, down from $213K in 2019. That is 13% of one year's spending. Only 1 of 5 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
At the end of 2024, $159K of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 48% of everything billed. None of the 5 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $137K.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
In 2019, Gauthier had $162K more in cash and money owed to it than it owed to others. By 2024 it was −$141K. About 34% of that change ($103K) is a new accounting rule from 2023: towns must now record the future cost of closing things like a landfill. That is not new spending or borrowing. Even leaving that out, only 3 of 5 similar towns are in a weaker position.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
On October 14, 2026 we read the Township's home page and tried the pages its menu links to. The home page links to two documents, an asset management plan and an accessibility plan, but no audited financial statements, budget or council pay statement. The menu pages for Meetings & Minutes and Documents did not open for us (the other menu pages we tried did not either). The site says it is a work in progress.
Why it matters
Residents can only judge spending they can see. Without the statements and the budget posted, residents have no easy way to check how the Township's money was spent or what council decided.
It could be because…
Copies are available at the Township office or on request, and residents may simply ask for them.
The Documents page, which did not open for us, may already hold them.
The Township is small and has a small staff, so posting documents online may not have been done yet. The website says it is a work in progress.
The documents may have been shared another way, such as a notice, a mailing with the tax bill or a social media page.
The menu pages may be built and filled in once the website is finished.
Questions you could ask
Where can residents read the latest audited financial statements and the budget?
Will council post the statements, the budget and the agendas and minutes on the Township's website?
When was the yearly statement of council pay and expenses for 2025 presented to council, and where can residents read it?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. Your town office can tell you how to reach council.
Speak for Gauthier?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The menu lists Mayor & Council, Meetings & Minutes, By-Laws & Policies and Documents. Under "Frequently Accessed" the page links to two documents only: "Asset Management Plan" and "Accessibility Plan". At the bottom it says "This website is a work in progress. Please check back soon for more information." No financial statement, budget or council pay statement is linked.
We asked for the Meetings & Minutes page at this address, which the home page's menu links to, and the server answered "404 Not Found". The page was not there when we tried.
We asked for the Documents page at this address, which the home page's menu links to, and the server answered "403 Forbidden". We did not try to get around it, so we could not read a list of documents there.
The cover reads "Interim Report (Revision 1)" and is dated "January 16, 2024". It is by an outside firm. Section 1.1 says the Township "continues to work" with that firm on the next version, and that the work under way includes "developing a financial strategy". This is an infrastructure plan, not financial statements.
In 2024, Gauthier collected $38,337 more in its own property tax than in 2023. That is a 15% jump, while prices went up about 2.4%. None of the 5 similar towns raised theirs by more. Almost all of it came from a higher tax rate (up 5% for homes); the value of homes on the tax roll grew only 0.5%.
Why did Gauthier's property tax go up 15% in 2024?
$0$100K$200K$300K$400K
$301K
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Town property tax
2019
$219K
2020
$245K
2021
$252K
2022
$253K
2023
$263K
2024
$301K
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 $548 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. Your town office can tell you how to reach council.
Speak for Gauthier?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Town property tax: $262,668 in 2023, $301,005 in 2024.
Gauthier spent $50,452 on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $157K in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time.
Why did the cost of water, sewers and garbage grow 211% in 5 years?
Water, sewers and garbage
Prices (inflation)
−100%+0%+100%+200%+300%
+211%
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Water, sewers and garbage
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
−19%
+1%
2021
−13%
+4%
2022
−2%
+11%
2023
+28%
+16%
2024
+211%
+18%
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 $106K a year pay for?
Why did sewer pipes go from $27,120 to $129K?
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. Your town office can tell you how to reach council.
Speak for Gauthier?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Gauthier had $76,152 saved at the end of 2024, down from $213K in 2019. That is 13% of one year's spending. Only 1 of 5 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Does Gauthier have enough saved for repairs and emergencies?
$0$50,000$100K$150K$200K$250K
$76,152
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Savings (reserves)
2019
$213K
2020
$158K
2021
$228K
2022
$176K
2023
$112K
2024
$76,152
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. Your town office can tell you how to reach council.
Speak for Gauthier?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
At the end of 2024, $159K of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 48% of everything billed. None of the 5 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $137K.
Why are so many property taxes unpaid?
$0$50,000$100K$150K$200K
$159K
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Unpaid property tax at year end
2019
$124K
2020
$108K
2021
$79,304
2022
$93,120
2023
$137K
2024
$159K
Why it matters
When taxes go unpaid, everyone else carries the cost, and the town may borrow to cover the gap. The Province's financial indicators treat 10% to 15% as a moderate risk and more than 15% as a high risk. Collection is the town's job, so a rising number is worth asking about.
It could be because…
The final tax bill was due late in the year, so some payments simply arrived in January.
A few large properties are in dispute or being sold for back taxes.
Hard times for residents, which the town may be handling with payment plans.
Questions you could ask
How much is more than one year overdue, and from how many properties?
Are the rules for chasing unpaid taxes applied the same way to everyone?
Has the town registered tax arrears certificates on properties about two years behind? If still unpaid a year after that, Ontario law lets the town sell the property.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. Your town office can tell you how to reach council.
Speak for Gauthier?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Taxes receivable: 2019 $124K, 2020 $108K, 2021 $79,304, 2022 $93,120, 2023 $137K, 2024 $159K. Of the 2024 total, $63,379 was from earlier years.
In 2019, Gauthier had $162K more in cash and money owed to it than it owed to others. By 2024 it was −$141K. About 34% of that change ($103K) is a new accounting rule from 2023: towns must now record the future cost of closing things like a landfill. That is not new spending or borrowing. Even leaving that out, only 3 of 5 similar towns are in a weaker position.
Gauthier went from having money in the bank to owing more than it has. What changed?
−$200K−$100K$0$100K$200K
−$141K
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Net financial position
2019
$162K
2020
$101K
2021
$165K
2022
$104K
2023
−$83,578
2024
−$141K
Why it matters
This number is one of the clearest signs of whether a town is living within its means. The accounting-rule part is a bill that will come due when the landfill closes, not money already spent. The rest is real borrowing and spending of savings.
It could be because…
A new accounting rule (asset retirement obligations, from 2023) added a large future cost to the books all at once.
Borrowing for a planned project, such as sewage lagoons, which is paid back over many years.
Questions you could ask
What is the plan and timeline for paying the landfill closing cost?
Without the accounting change, is the town's position getting better or worse?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. Your town office can tell you how to reach council.
Speak for Gauthier?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Gauthier spent about $534 per home on snow ploughing in 2024. The typical similar town spent $47. None of the 5 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. Your town office can tell you how to reach council.
Speak for Gauthier?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Snow ploughing per home: Gauthier $534; typical similar town $47; ranked 1st highest of 6.
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