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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Havelock-Belmont-Methuen'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 · 8 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Havelock-Belmont-Methuen's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 65 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.
$215,209increase in the OPP bill from 2024 to 2025 (17.5%)
The Township does not run its own police force. It pays the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), and the province sends a yearly bill. The Township's budget book says the 2025 bill was $1,443,614, up from $1,228,405 in 2024, an increase of $215,209. It also says the OPP's email did not explain the increase. The book adds that, for 2026, the OPP told municipalities increases would be capped at 11%.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$23,942,969in proposed 2026 capital projects, with $15.6M from the province and $8.4M from reserves
Capital spending means building or replacing things that last, such as roads, water pipes and buildings. The 2026 budget book proposes $23,942,969 in capital projects. It says $15.6 million of that is provincial funding and $8.4 million is from the Township's own savings (reserves). The largest piece is the second phase of George Street reconstruction. The Township says it was approved for a provincial water-systems grant of $8,050,016.60 for it. The book also marks the wastewater plant upgrade as depending on a grant: "IF FUNDING IS APPROVED".
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$1,002,662projected Roads Reserve, against roads in poor condition worth $9,609,000 to replace
A reserve is money set aside for later. The 2026 budget book says the Roads Reserve may have a projected balance of $1,002,662. It also says roads worth $9,609,000 to replace are in poor condition, and roads worth $6,154,000 are in fair condition, according to the Township's asset management plan. The Township is open about this gap, and says it has no debt, with room to borrow of about $2.7M a year in repayments. It has not said how it plans to close the gap.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$17,758,536estimated capital cost of Council's priorities not in the 2026 budget
In October 2025 Council named priorities for the 2026 budget. The budget book's appendix lists an estimated cost, not included in the 2026 budget, that totals $17,758,536 for capital items and $1,113,087 for operating items. The items include repairs to the Old Town Hall (estimated total $2,462,440), a possible medical centre in Havelock, a baseball diamond, a larger sewage plant and a new water well. The appendix is headed "2026 DRAFT", so the final list may differ.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
March 20, 2025date of the auditor's report on the 2023 statements
An audit is a check of the Township's books by an outside accountant. The audit report on the 2023 statements is dated March 20, 2025, which is more than 14 months after the year ended on December 31, 2023 (worked out by us). The Township's financial statements page lists nothing newer than 2023, and we did not find 2024 or 2025 statements. The Township's 2026 budget book says "Each year's audited financial statements are available for download on HBM's website."
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$35,000added to the 2026 audit, legal and consulting budget
The 2023 audited statements say the Township "has been named in several lawsuits and a liability related to a past event", and that no amounts for these are in the statements because the outcomes cannot be known. The 2026 budget raises its audit, legal and consulting line by $35,000 to cover expected yearly costs and "anticipated legal costs". We did not find any description of the cases.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$80,0002026 budget for Community Doctor Initiatives
The Township says it is working to reduce the number of residents without a family doctor. The 2026 budget has $80,000 for Community Doctor Initiatives, which is $28,150 less than the 2025 approved budget. The Township also holds a Medical Centre Reserve of $535,391 from the sale of its former medical centre property. It lists establishing a new medical centre as a Council priority, with an estimated $2,014,000 not in the 2026 budget.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$573,292more spent in 2023 than budgeted (worked out by us)
The 2023 audited statements show total expenses of $10,455,020 against a budget of $9,881,728, which is $573,292 more (worked out by us). Revenue was $12,603,744 against a budget of $12,503,334. The annual surplus was $2,148,724, against a budgeted $2,621,606. The statements do not explain the gap.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$215,209increase in the OPP bill from 2024 to 2025 (17.5%)
The Township does not run its own police force. It pays the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), and the province sends a yearly bill. The Township's budget book says the 2025 bill was $1,443,614, up from $1,228,405 in 2024, an increase of $215,209. It also says the OPP's email did not explain the increase. The book adds that, for 2026, the OPP told municipalities increases would be capped at 11%.
Why it matters
Policing is one of the Township's biggest single bills, and it is set by the province, not by Council. A jump this size is paid by property taxpayers unless something else is cut.
It could be because…
The OPP bill is made up of a base charge by household count, calls for service, overtime and other items, and each can change from year to year.
The Township has said it cannot see the reasons: the OPP statement came without highlights or a rationale. The reasons may sit with the province, not the Township.
The 2026 cap of 11% suggests the province expected large increases across many municipalities.
Questions you could ask
Has the Township asked the OPP or the Peterborough OPP Detachment Board to break the 2025 increase into base service, calls for service, overtime and other parts, and can it publish the answer?
What is the 2026 bill, and how does it compare with the 11% cap?
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 Havelock-Belmont-Methuen?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The 2025 highlights say the OPP's statement means "2025's yearly total billing, for our municipality, will be $1,443,614 compared to $1,228,405 in 2024 (a $215,209 increase, or 17.5%)", and that the accompanying email "did not include any highlights from their budget, or rationale for increases to any components of their operations".
The 2026 highlights say: "On September 29, 2025, municipalities received a communication from the OPP GHQ Municipal Policing unit which indicated that increases to municipal policing budgets would be capped at 11% for 2026."
$23,942,969in proposed 2026 capital projects, with $15.6M from the province and $8.4M from reserves
Capital spending means building or replacing things that last, such as roads, water pipes and buildings. The 2026 budget book proposes $23,942,969 in capital projects. It says $15.6 million of that is provincial funding and $8.4 million is from the Township's own savings (reserves). The largest piece is the second phase of George Street reconstruction. The Township says it was approved for a provincial water-systems grant of $8,050,016.60 for it. The book also marks the wastewater plant upgrade as depending on a grant: "IF FUNDING IS APPROVED".
Why it matters
If a grant does not arrive, the Township must either pay with reserves, borrow, raise taxes or delay the work. Residents should know which projects are already funded and which are hoped for.
It could be because…
Projects often start only when funding is confirmed, so the headline total may include work that waits for a grant.
The Township's end-of-term report lists provincial grants already approved for five projects in 2023 to 2025, so some of the money may already be secured.
The Township has no debt at all, so it has room to borrow if it had to.
Questions you could ask
Which projects in the $23,942,969 already have a signed grant agreement, and which are waiting for a decision?
If the wastewater plant grant is not approved, what will Council do with that project?
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 Havelock-Belmont-Methuen?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The first page of the budget book lists "$23,942,969 in proposed capital projects, including $15.6M in provincial funding and $8.4M in funding from HBM reserves".
The George Street project form says the "Estimated cost of reconstruction is $11,027,420.00" and that "County and Township were successful in the HEWSF grant application receiving total funding of $8,050,016.60", with the remaining $2,977,403.40 shared between the County and the Township.
The end-of-term report says "HBM had five projects that were approved for funding from grants" between 2023 and 2025, and that "The total amount of funding for these five projects was $12,740,247.60."
$1,002,662projected Roads Reserve, against roads in poor condition worth $9,609,000 to replace
A reserve is money set aside for later. The 2026 budget book says the Roads Reserve may have a projected balance of $1,002,662. It also says roads worth $9,609,000 to replace are in poor condition, and roads worth $6,154,000 are in fair condition, according to the Township's asset management plan. The Township is open about this gap, and says it has no debt, with room to borrow of about $2.7M a year in repayments. It has not said how it plans to close the gap.
Why it matters
Roads that are not fixed in time cost more later. Whether the Township pays by saving, by grants, by borrowing or by higher taxes decides who pays and when.
It could be because…
Roads are replaced over many years, not all at once, and "poor condition" does not mean every road must be rebuilt now.
Provincial and federal grants, such as the Canada Community-Building Fund, may pay for part of the work.
The Township has said it is not using any debt, which could be a deliberate choice to keep costs down.
Questions you could ask
What yearly amount does the asset management plan say is needed for roads, and how much of it is in the 2026 budget?
Does Council plan to borrow for roads, or to wait for grants?
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 Havelock-Belmont-Methuen?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
"...while the Roads Reserve may have a projected balance of $1,002,662 there are roads with a current replacement value (CRV) of $9,609,000 that are in poor condition (per HBM's latest Asset Management Plan) as well as roads with a CRV of $6,154,000 that are in fair condition."
"Reserve balances, if the 2026 Operating and Capital budgets are approved as presented, would have an estimated balance of $12,582,275 at the end of 2026."
"HBM's annual debt repayment limit is approximately $2.7M... Our municipality is not utilizing any debt currently, leaving the entire limit as 'available.'"
$17,758,536estimated capital cost of Council's priorities not in the 2026 budget
In October 2025 Council named priorities for the 2026 budget. The budget book's appendix lists an estimated cost, not included in the 2026 budget, that totals $17,758,536 for capital items and $1,113,087 for operating items. The items include repairs to the Old Town Hall (estimated total $2,462,440), a possible medical centre in Havelock, a baseball diamond, a larger sewage plant and a new water well. The appendix is headed "2026 DRAFT", so the final list may differ.
Why it matters
A priority list shows what Council hopes to do. Residents are about to vote, and the list adds up to more than the Township's whole estimated reserve balance of $12,582,275 at the end of 2026.
It could be because…
A priority list is a wish list, not a promise. Items may be dropped, phased in over many years or paid for with grants.
The Township's own estimates for some items rest on assumptions, such as a price per square foot, and may change.
The Old Town Hall plan sets aside money in four equal yearly transfers, so the cost is spread out.
Questions you could ask
Which of the priorities does Council expect to fund from grants, which from reserves and which from borrowing?
Will the next Council get a published plan that puts the priorities in order and shows the cost of each for taxpayers?
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 Havelock-Belmont-Methuen?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Appendix I, Council Budget Priorities, "At the October 21, 2025 Council meeting, several priorities, for the 2026 Operating and Capital Budgets were identified". The table has a column headed "Estimated Additional Cost Not Included in 2026 Budget" and ends "Total - Capital $17,758,536" and "Total - Operating $1,113,087".
On the Old Town Hall: "$615,000 included in draft 2026 budget would be first of four equal transfers to the Facilities Reserve for an estimated total project cost of $2,462,440".
Reserves section: "Reserve balances, if the 2026 Operating and Capital budgets are approved as presented, would have an estimated balance of $12,582,275 at the end of 2026."
March 20, 2025date of the auditor's report on the 2023 statements
An audit is a check of the Township's books by an outside accountant. The audit report on the 2023 statements is dated March 20, 2025, which is more than 14 months after the year ended on December 31, 2023 (worked out by us). The Township's financial statements page lists nothing newer than 2023, and we did not find 2024 or 2025 statements. The Township's 2026 budget book says "Each year's audited financial statements are available for download on HBM's website."
Why it matters
Audited statements are the independent check on how the Township spent public money. Residents voting in October 2026 cannot see audited results for the two most recent years.
It could be because…
The Township adopted several new accounting standards on January 1, 2023, including asset retirement obligations and financial instruments, which can slow an audit.
The 2024 and 2025 statements may be finished and posted somewhere we did not look, or may be waiting for Council to receive them.
The Township changed auditors at some point, which can delay work.
Questions you could ask
When were the 2024 and 2025 audited statements, or the auditor's reports on them, received by Council, and where can residents read them?
What caused the 2023 audit to finish in March 2025?
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 Havelock-Belmont-Methuen?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The Independent Auditor's Report, Baker Tilly KDN LLP, Peterborough, Ontario, is dated "March 20, 2025" and says the statements "present fairly, in all material respects" the Township's position as at December 31, 2023.
Note 19 says several new standards "were adopted prospectively on January 1, 2023", including PS 3450 Financial Instruments and PS 3280 Asset Retirement Obligations.
$35,000added to the 2026 audit, legal and consulting budget
The 2023 audited statements say the Township "has been named in several lawsuits and a liability related to a past event", and that no amounts for these are in the statements because the outcomes cannot be known. The 2026 budget raises its audit, legal and consulting line by $35,000 to cover expected yearly costs and "anticipated legal costs". We did not find any description of the cases.
Why it matters
A municipality can be sued for many ordinary reasons. Residents have a right to know, in general terms, what is at stake, because any cost would be paid from taxes or reserves.
It could be because…
Most municipalities are named in claims, such as slip-and-fall or road claims, that their insurer handles.
Auditors write this note whenever any claims exist, even small ones.
Council may discuss cases in closed session because the law allows it for litigation.
Questions you could ask
Can the Township say how many claims are open, in general terms, and whether its insurer covers them?
How much did the Township spend on legal fees in each of the last three years?
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 Havelock-Belmont-Methuen?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 13, Contingent liabilities: "The Township, in the course of its operations, has been named in several lawsuits and a liability related to a past event, the outcomes of which are indeterminable at this time. No amounts in connection with these items have been reflected in these financial statements."
Administration highlights: "The Administration budget for audit, legal and consulting services was increased by $35,000 to more accurately reflect expected yearly expenses related to producing our financial statements and anticipated legal costs."
$80,0002026 budget for Community Doctor Initiatives
The Township says it is working to reduce the number of residents without a family doctor. The 2026 budget has $80,000 for Community Doctor Initiatives, which is $28,150 less than the 2025 approved budget. The Township also holds a Medical Centre Reserve of $535,391 from the sale of its former medical centre property. It lists establishing a new medical centre as a Council priority, with an estimated $2,014,000 not in the 2026 budget.
Why it matters
Finding doctors is a worry in many small towns, and this is a real use of public money. Residents may want to know what the spending has produced.
It could be because…
The 2025 amount may have included one-time payments that do not repeat.
Primary care now comes through an agreement with a medical centre in another community, so less may be needed.
A new medical centre depends on a site and on services still to be decided.
Questions you could ask
What did the Community Doctor Initiatives money pay for in 2024 and 2025, and how many new patients has it helped place?
What would the Township need to decide, and by when, before the Medical Centre Reserve can be used?
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 Havelock-Belmont-Methuen?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The budget lists "Community Doctor Initiatives" at "$80,000" in its chart of discretionary items.
The Council page says the activity includes "a proposed amount to support Community Doctor Initiatives" with "a decrease of $28,150 from the 2025 approved budget".
"HBM has a Medical Centre Reserve, with a balance of $535,391 (from the sale of the former Medical Centre property) to support the development of a medical centre/facility in HBM." The Township "entered into an agreement with the Norwood Medical Centre to provide primary care for our Residents."
Council Budget Priorities, priority 4 "Establishment of a Medical Centre in Havelock": budget amount "None", "Estimated Additional Cost Not Included in 2026 Budget" $2,014,000. "Cost based on assumptions of 4028 square feet and $500 per square foot construction cost."
$573,292more spent in 2023 than budgeted (worked out by us)
The 2023 audited statements show total expenses of $10,455,020 against a budget of $9,881,728, which is $573,292 more (worked out by us). Revenue was $12,603,744 against a budget of $12,503,334. The annual surplus was $2,148,724, against a budgeted $2,621,606. The statements do not explain the gap.
Why it matters
A budget is the plan Council tells taxpayers about. When actual spending runs this far above it, residents may want to know which services cost more than planned.
It could be because…
The statements say budget figures were reclassified to match accounting rules and that capital budgets run over several years, so budget and actual may not compare cleanly.
Amortization, which spreads the cost of assets over their life, is a non-cash charge and can differ from what was planned.
A storm or other event in the year may have added costs.
Questions you could ask
Which departments or kinds of cost came in over budget in 2023, and by how much?
Did Council receive a budget-to-actual report for 2023, and is it posted?
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 Havelock-Belmont-Methuen?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Statement of operations, columns Budget 2023, Actual 2023, Actual 2022: "TOTAL REVENUES 12,503,334 12,603,744 12,285,789"; "TOTAL EXPENSES 9,881,728 10,455,020 9,826,783"; "ANNUAL SURPLUS 2,621,606 2,148,724 2,459,006".
Note 16: "Budget figures have been reclassified for the purposes of these financial statements to comply with PSA reporting requirements. Budget figures are not subject to audit."
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