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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Hilliard'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 · 12 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Hilliard's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 13 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.
2022newest budget posted on the Township's website
On October 13, 2026 the Taxes and Finance page linked budgets for 2020, 2021 and 2022 only, and no audited financial statements. The minutes show that the Township has kept doing the work: an auditor presented the 2024 statements and Council approved them on April 16, 2025, the same meeting that adopted the 2025 budget by-law. The 2025 statements were presented and approved on July 21, 2026, and the 2026 budget by-law was adopted on April 15, 2026. We did not find any of these documents posted.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$326,734.16bills Council approved for May 2025, against $40,619.06 for April
A grader is the heavy machine that grades gravel roads. Council voted on May 13, 2025 to buy a 2020 John Deere grader and have staff arrange the financing. On July 16, 2025 it approved By-Law 2025-16, a bank loan agreement for that grader. On May 21, 2025 it declared the Township's 1991 grader surplus. The minutes do not give the price, the size of the loan, its term or its rate. They do record the monthly bills Council approved: $56,313.19 for March 2025, $40,619.06 for April, $326,734.16 for May, $129,189.46 for June and $199,587.32 for July. May is about eight times April (worked out by us). The minutes do not say what was in those totals.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 6 sources
$50,000listing price for the land at 144010 Hilliardton Road
On April 16, 2025 Council declared "the land owned by the Hilliardton Recreation Committee located at 144010 Hilliardton Road" surplus, which means the Township no longer needs it. The staff reports then show three steps: staff were to obtain 3 appraisals, the appraisals were received, and a real estate agent was selected to list the property at $50,000. The July 2026 report adds that a survey is needed and has been ordered. On July 16, 2025 Council also approved an option to purchase clause for an Agreement of Purchase and Sale, without saying which property. The appraisals and the basis for the $50,000 are not in the papers we read.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
Hilliard spent $312K on roads and snow in 2019 and $2.6M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 0 of 13 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. Hilliard had $111K saved at the end of 2024, up from $53,335 in 2019. That is 4% of one year's spending. None of the 13 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
At the end of 2024, $104K of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 27% of everything billed. Only 3 of 13 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $36,678.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
May 20, 2026date Council accepted two Integrity Commissioner reports and suspended the pay of two members
An Integrity Commissioner is an independent officer who checks whether council members followed the code of conduct. The April 15, 2026 minutes record the Integrity Commissioner giving a summary of a report about Councillor Lane and Councillor Veley. On May 20, 2026 Council received an inquiry report on each, accepted the findings in both, and suspended pay: 30 days for Councillor Lane and 2.5 months for Councillor Veley, from May 20, 2026. The minutes do not say what the findings were, and we did not find the reports posted.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
7%increase "approved in principle" on March 25, 2026
A special budget meeting was set for March 25, 2026. Its minutes say only "Budget with an increase of 7% approved in principle." Three weeks later, on April 15, 2026, Council adopted the 2026 budget by-law, 2026-13, and then the tax ratios and tax rates. The minutes do not say what the 7% applies to (the tax levy, or total spending), what the dollar amounts are, or whether the adopted budget kept the 7%. The 2026 budget is not posted.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$300 / $250pay per council meeting from January 1, 2026: Mayor / each councillor
On October 15, 2025 Council approved pay from January 1, 2026: $300 per council meeting for the Mayor, $250 per council meeting for councillors, and $100 per meeting outside council. The pay by-law, 2025-25, passed on November 19, 2025 (its predecessor, By-Law 2024-33, passed on December 18, 2024). The Municipal Act (s. 284) has the treasurer give Council a yearly statement of what each member was paid. We did not find one on the Township's site. The only dollar figure we could read is old: the posted 2022 budget has a single line, "Council Remuneration & Travel", of $8,500.00, against $7,200.00 spent in 2021 and $5,500.00 in 2020.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$1,914,521.55total income in the 2022 budget, against $916,930.12 received in 2021
The posted 2022 budget shows total income of $1,914,521.55 against $916,930.12 actually received in 2021, and total spending of $1,876,489.95 against $695,355.75. The budget itself shows why: it includes one-off projects, each matched by money coming in. A road landslide project of $447,844.84 sits beside a "Disaster Relief Fund" income line of $447,844.84. A "Blind Line Drain Construction" project of $400,000.00 sits beside a loan income line of $400,000.00. Other grants account for more: $100,000.00 of "ICIP COVID" funding and expense, and a $75,000.00 outdoor rink. The budget planned for a profit of $38,031.60, against $221,521.22 in 2021.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
In 2019, Hilliard had $97,695 more in cash and money owed to it than it owed to others. By 2024 it was −$577K. About 56% of that change ($375K) 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 1 of 13 similar towns are in a weaker position.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
2022newest budget posted on the Township's website
On October 13, 2026 the Taxes and Finance page linked budgets for 2020, 2021 and 2022 only, and no audited financial statements. The minutes show that the Township has kept doing the work: an auditor presented the 2024 statements and Council approved them on April 16, 2025, the same meeting that adopted the 2025 budget by-law. The 2025 statements were presented and approved on July 21, 2026, and the 2026 budget by-law was adopted on April 15, 2026. We did not find any of these documents posted.
Why it matters
Audited statements and budgets are how a resident checks what the Township promised and what it spent. The newest budget residents can read is for 2022.
It could be because…
The documents may exist and simply not have been uploaded, in a small township with one office.
Residents may be able to get them on request at the office. We did not test that.
The Township's yearly return to the Province (the Financial Information Return) may carry the same figures, and is published there.
Questions you could ask
Will the 2024 and 2025 audited statements and the 2025 and 2026 budgets be posted, and by when?
Does Council see the auditor's management letter each year, and is it public?
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 Hilliard?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Council minutes, April 16, 2025, item 5, Guests: an auditor from the firm Kemp Elliott & Blair LLP "Presented 2024 Audited Financial Statements". Motion 2025-35: "receive and approve the Audited Financial Statements for 2024", carried. Item 8.2, motion 2025-40: approve "By-Law 2025-08 being a By-Law to adopt the 2025 Municipal Budget", carried.
Council minutes, July 21, 2026, Guests: "Presented 2025 Audited Financial Statements". Motion 2026-76: "receive and approve the Audited Financial Statements for 2025", carried.
Council minutes, April 15, 2026, item 8.2, motion 2026-47: approve "By-Law 2026-13 being a by-law to adopt the 2026 Municipal Budget for the Township of Hilliard", carried. Items 8.3 and 8.4, motions 2026-48 and 2026-49: tax ratios and tax rates for 2026, carried.
Taxes and Finance page: links "2022 Hilliard Township Budget", "2021 Hilliard Township Budget" and "2020 Hilliard Township Budget". No audited financial statements and no budget after 2022 are linked.
$326,734.16bills Council approved for May 2025, against $40,619.06 for April
A grader is the heavy machine that grades gravel roads. Council voted on May 13, 2025 to buy a 2020 John Deere grader and have staff arrange the financing. On July 16, 2025 it approved By-Law 2025-16, a bank loan agreement for that grader. On May 21, 2025 it declared the Township's 1991 grader surplus. The minutes do not give the price, the size of the loan, its term or its rate. They do record the monthly bills Council approved: $56,313.19 for March 2025, $40,619.06 for April, $326,734.16 for May, $129,189.46 for June and $199,587.32 for July. May is about eight times April (worked out by us). The minutes do not say what was in those totals.
Why it matters
A grader is one of the largest single purchases a small township makes, and a loan is a promise that residents' taxes will keep paying for years. The price, loan terms and the old grader's sale are the facts needed to judge it.
It could be because…
Part of the May and July totals may be yearly payments that fall in those months (for example to the district social services board, school boards, or insurance), and not the grader.
The Township has bought equipment on loan before. Its 2022 budget shows plow truck payments and income from selling a used plow truck, so a trade of old for new is normal for it.
The loan may be in the 2025 budget, which Council adopted on April 16, 2025, a month before the vote to buy. We could not read that budget because it is not posted.
Questions you could ask
What did the 2020 John Deere grader cost, and what are the size, term and rate of the bank loan under By-Law 2025-16?
Was the grader in the 2025 budget adopted on April 16, 2025, or added afterwards?
What did the 1991 grader sell for, and what made up the $326,734.16 of bills for May 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 Hilliard?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Motion 2025-47 directs staff to purchase the "2020 John Deere 772GP" and to arrange the financing. Carried. No price is stated.
Motion 2025-56, item 6.4: "declare the 1991 Champion Grader, to be surplus", carried. Item 8.1: "approve payment of accounts in the amount of $40,619.06 for April 2025."
Item 7.2, motion 2025-84: "approve By-Law 2025-16 Bank Loan Agreement for the 2020 John Deere Grader." Carried. Item 8.1: "approve payment of accounts in the amount of $129,189.46 for June 2025."
Item 8.1: "approve payment of accounts in the amount of $56,313.19 for March 2025." Item 8.2, motion 2025-40: adopt the 2025 Municipal Budget (By-Law 2025-08).
$50,000listing price for the land at 144010 Hilliardton Road
On April 16, 2025 Council declared "the land owned by the Hilliardton Recreation Committee located at 144010 Hilliardton Road" surplus, which means the Township no longer needs it. The staff reports then show three steps: staff were to obtain 3 appraisals, the appraisals were received, and a real estate agent was selected to list the property at $50,000. The July 2026 report adds that a survey is needed and has been ordered. On July 16, 2025 Council also approved an option to purchase clause for an Agreement of Purchase and Sale, without saying which property. The appraisals and the basis for the $50,000 are not in the papers we read.
Why it matters
Public land belongs to residents. When it is sold, residents reasonably expect to see what it was worth, how the price was set, and where the money goes.
It could be because…
The three appraisals may support the $50,000 price, and the papers simply do not repeat them.
The option to purchase clause may be about a different property, since the minutes do not name the property.
The land is described as owned by the Hilliardton Recreation Committee, so the money from a sale may belong to that committee and not to the Township.
Questions you could ask
What did the three appraisals of 144010 Hilliardton Road say, and how was the $50,000 listing price set?
Which property is the option to purchase clause of July 16, 2025 about, and has anything been sold?
Where will the money go if the land is sold, to the Township or to the Hilliardton Recreation Committee?
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 Hilliard?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Item 7.2, Declare Municipal Land at 144010 Hilliardton Rd. Surplus, motion 2025-38: "declare the land owned by the Hilliardton Recreation Committee located at 144010 Hilliardton Road, Lot 6 Concession 4, PCL 15206SST, to be surplus." Carried.
Item 1, Township Property (the row also covers moving Canada Post mailboxes): "Obtain 3 appraisals for the property located at 144010 Hilliardton Rd."; "Appraisals have been received"; "Century 21 has been selected to list the property at $50,000." Row read from the rendered page, where each cell sits in the row for item 1.
Item 1, Township Property: "Century 21 has been selected to list the property at $50,000." "Survey of property is required and will be done in 2026." A survey firm "has been hired to do the survey."
Item 7.3, motion 2025-85: "approve the Option to Purchase Clause to be included with the Agreement of Purchase and Sale." Carried. The motion does not name a property.
Hilliard spent $312K on roads and snow in 2019 and $2.6M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 0 of 13 similar towns had faster growth here.
Why did the cost of roads and snow grow 727% in 5 years?
Roads and snow
Prices (inflation)
−100%+100%+300%+500%+700%+900%
+727%
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Roads and snow
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
−22%
+1%
2021
+0%
+4%
2022
+66%
+11%
2023
+36%
+16%
2024
+727%
+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 $2.3M a year pay for?
Why did gravel roads go from $310K to $409K?
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 Hilliard?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. Hilliard had $111K saved at the end of 2024, up from $53,335 in 2019. That is 4% of one year's spending. None of the 13 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Does Hilliard have enough saved for repairs and emergencies?
$0$20,000$40,000$60,000$80,000$100K$120K
$111K
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Savings (reserves)
2019
$53,335
2020
$78,335
2021
$106K
2022
$111K
2023
$111K
2024
$111K
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 Hilliard?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
At the end of 2024, $104K of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 27% of everything billed. Only 3 of 13 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $36,678.
Why are so many property taxes unpaid?
$0$20,000$40,000$60,000$80,000$100K$120K
$104K
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Unpaid property tax at year end
2019
$89,283
2020
$74,094
2021
$51,746
2022
$61,283
2023
$36,678
2024
$104K
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. How to reach council.
Speak for Hilliard?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Taxes receivable: 2019 $89,283, 2020 $74,094, 2021 $51,746, 2022 $61,283, 2023 $36,678, 2024 $104K. Of the 2024 total, $28,693 was from earlier years.
Hilliard spent about $2,905 per home on long-term debt in 2024. The typical similar town spent $627. Only 1 of 13 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 Hilliard?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Long-term debt per home: Hilliard $2,905; typical similar town $627; ranked 2nd highest of 14.
May 20, 2026date Council accepted two Integrity Commissioner reports and suspended the pay of two members
An Integrity Commissioner is an independent officer who checks whether council members followed the code of conduct. The April 15, 2026 minutes record the Integrity Commissioner giving a summary of a report about Councillor Lane and Councillor Veley. On May 20, 2026 Council received an inquiry report on each, accepted the findings in both, and suspended pay: 30 days for Councillor Lane and 2.5 months for Councillor Veley, from May 20, 2026. The minutes do not say what the findings were, and we did not find the reports posted.
Why it matters
Residents elect council members and pay them, so they can fairly ask what the findings were.
It could be because…
The reports may be published in a place we did not look.
The Integrity Commissioner's summary at the open meeting of April 15, 2026 may already have told the public what was found. The minutes record only that a summary was given.
The code of conduct may limit what is released from a report.
Questions you could ask
Will the two Integrity Commissioner reports be posted?
Which part of the code of conduct did each report find was not followed?
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 Hilliard?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Guests: the Township's Integrity Commissioner (an outside firm) gave a summary of a report regarding Councillor Lane and Councillor Veley.
Item 7.2, motion 2026-58: Council "have received IC Inquiry Report/Decision - Councillor Lane April 2026", "accepts the findings contained within the report" and "imposes a suspension of remuneration paid to Councillor Lane for a period of 30 days, effective May 20, 2026." Item 7.3, motion 2026-59: the same for Councillor Veley, "for a period of 2.5 months, effective May 20, 2026." Both carried.
7%increase "approved in principle" on March 25, 2026
A special budget meeting was set for March 25, 2026. Its minutes say only "Budget with an increase of 7% approved in principle." Three weeks later, on April 15, 2026, Council adopted the 2026 budget by-law, 2026-13, and then the tax ratios and tax rates. The minutes do not say what the 7% applies to (the tax levy, or total spending), what the dollar amounts are, or whether the adopted budget kept the 7%. The 2026 budget is not posted.
Why it matters
A 7% rise on a small township's levy is real money for each household. Residents cannot judge it without the base amount and what the extra money pays for.
It could be because…
The 7% may apply to the Township's own levy and be offset by growth in the tax base or higher grants.
The final budget may differ from the draft, as often happens between the draft and the by-law.
Questions you could ask
What is the 7% a rise in, and what is the dollar amount of the 2026 levy?
Did the adopted 2026 budget keep the 7% increase?
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 Hilliard?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Special meeting, item 4.1, Draft 2026 Budget Discussion: "Budget with an increase of 7% approved in principle."
Item 8.2, motion 2026-47: "approve By-Law 2026-13 being a by-law to adopt the 2026 Municipal Budget for the Township of Hilliard." Carried. No amounts are in the minutes.
$300 / $250pay per council meeting from January 1, 2026: Mayor / each councillor
On October 15, 2025 Council approved pay from January 1, 2026: $300 per council meeting for the Mayor, $250 per council meeting for councillors, and $100 per meeting outside council. The pay by-law, 2025-25, passed on November 19, 2025 (its predecessor, By-Law 2024-33, passed on December 18, 2024). The Municipal Act (s. 284) has the treasurer give Council a yearly statement of what each member was paid. We did not find one on the Township's site. The only dollar figure we could read is old: the posted 2022 budget has a single line, "Council Remuneration & Travel", of $8,500.00, against $7,200.00 spent in 2021 and $5,500.00 in 2020.
Why it matters
Councils set their own pay, so residents expect to see what was actually paid each year. A per-meeting rate depends on how many meetings are held, so the rate alone does not show the cost.
It could be because…
The statement may be given to Council each year and not posted online.
The new rates may replace a different system (a yearly amount), so a rate cannot be compared with the old pay from these papers.
The line in the 2022 budget may include travel and so is not all pay.
Questions you could ask
Can the Township post the yearly statement of council pay and expenses under the Municipal Act, for 2023 to 2025?
How many meetings a year does Council expect to pay for at the 2026 rates, and what is the expected yearly cost?
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 Hilliard?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Item 7.3, Council Remuneration 2026, motion 2025-110: "approve the remuneration for the Mayor at $300 per council meeting, for the Councillors at $250 per council meeting and for meetings outside of council at $100 per meeting, effective January 1, 2026." Carried.
Item 7.5, motion 2025-127: "approve By-Law 2025-25 being a by-law to provide remuneration, allowance and regulate expenses for Mayor and Council." Carried.
Budget 2022, General Government: "5005 Council Remuneration & Travel" 2022 budget $8,500.00; January to December 2021 $7,200.00; January to December 2020 $5,500.00. Second render at 220 dpi, turned upright, agrees. Page also shows Total Income $1,914,521.55 against $916,930.12 for 2021.
$1,914,521.55total income in the 2022 budget, against $916,930.12 received in 2021
The posted 2022 budget shows total income of $1,914,521.55 against $916,930.12 actually received in 2021, and total spending of $1,876,489.95 against $695,355.75. The budget itself shows why: it includes one-off projects, each matched by money coming in. A road landslide project of $447,844.84 sits beside a "Disaster Relief Fund" income line of $447,844.84. A "Blind Line Drain Construction" project of $400,000.00 sits beside a loan income line of $400,000.00. Other grants account for more: $100,000.00 of "ICIP COVID" funding and expense, and a $75,000.00 outdoor rink. The budget planned for a profit of $38,031.60, against $221,521.22 in 2021.
Why it matters
A reader who only sees the total could think the Township planned to spend twice as much of its own money. Here the budget explains most of it, but the same pattern can hide large projects in later years, which is why the 2025 and 2026 budgets should be posted.
It could be because…
Most of the extra is one-time project money that passes through the Township and is matched by grants or loans, as the matching lines show.
A drain construction loan is normally repaid by the landowners who benefit from the drain, so it may not raise the general levy.
A budget is a plan, and the actual 2022 results may be quite different. We could not find the 2022 audited statements.
Questions you could ask
Were the landslide and drain projects carried out in 2022 as budgeted, and how were they paid for in the end?
Can the Township post its 2023 to 2026 budgets in the same form?
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 Hilliard?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Income, Provincial Grants: "4200 Disaster Relief Fund" 447,844.84; "4116 ICIP COVID Funding" 100,000.00; "Total 4004 Provincial Grants" 1,074,651.10. Other Revenue: "4410 Blind Line Drain Construction - Loan" 400,000.00. Checked on the same page: the twelve grant lines add to 1,074,651.10. Second render at 220 dpi, turned upright, agrees.
"Total 4000 Operating Revenues" $1,914,521.55 (January to December 2021 $916,930.12; 2020 $693,118.59), the same figure as "Total Income" and "GROSS PROFIT" on the same page. Second render at 220 dpi, turned upright, agrees.
Capital Expenditures: "5832 ICIP COVID" 100,000.00; "5835 Hall Addition" 20,000.00; "5840 Blind Line Drain Construction" 400,000.00; "Total 20000 Capital Expenditures" $543,051.83; "Total Other Expenses" $1,876,489.95 (2021 $695,355.75); "PROFIT" $38,031.60 (2021 $221,521.22). Checked: the three lines on this page (520,000.00) plus the equipment and Covid recovery lines on page 6 (15,000.00 and 8,051.83) give 543,051.83, and 1,333,438.12 from page 6 plus 543,051.83 gives 1,876,489.95. Second render at 220 dpi, turned upright, agrees.
In 2019, Hilliard had $97,695 more in cash and money owed to it than it owed to others. By 2024 it was −$577K. About 56% of that change ($375K) 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 1 of 13 similar towns are in a weaker position.
Hilliard went from having money in the bank to owing more than it has. What changed?
−$600K−$400K−$200K$0$200K
−$577K
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Net financial position
2019
$97,695
2020
$122K
2021
$190K
2022
−$122K
2023
−$328K
2024
−$577K
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. How to reach council.
Speak for Hilliard?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Can we count your visit? With your OK, we use Google Analytics to see which pages help people. It sets cookies and sends visit data to Google. Nothing loads unless you say yes. Privacy