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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Lake of The Woods'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 Lake of The Woods' financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 7 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
What these are, and what they are not. A question here means a number or practice is unusual, or harder to see than it should be. It does not mean anyone did anything wrong. Most unusual numbers turn out to have ordinary explanations, and every question lists some. The only way to know is to ask.
Worth asking
Worth asking
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
$1,292,932landfill clean-up liability at December 31, 2025, against a landfill closure reserve of $83,817
The Township owes a clean-up cost for its two landfills, which it books as a liability (a bill it will have to pay later). The statements print a liability of $1,292,932, more than twice the $564,500 of total future spending the notes say is expected (worked out by us from the two printed estimates), and the reserve saved for landfill closure is $83,817.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$2,337,419in the "Replacement of equipment" reserve at December 31, 2025
The reserve called "Replacement of equipment" holds $2,337,419 at the end of 2025, up from $2,139,817 a year earlier. We worked out that this is about 37 per cent more than the total cost of all the Township's equipment and vehicles combined ($1,700,069, worked out by us from the two cost lines).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
2025the newest budget posted on the Township's budget page on October 7, 2026
The June 2, 2026 minutes say the 2026 budget was presented and a 2026 tax levying by-law was passed. When we read the Township's budget page on October 7, 2026, the newest budget posted was the one for 2025.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$433,882paid to the District of Rainy River Services Board in 2025, up from $406,968
In 2025 the Township paid $451,040 to outside boards, about 27 per cent of its $1,667,014 in expenses (worked out by us). The largest is the District of Rainy River Services Board at $433,882, up from $406,968.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$110,117the Township's share of the housing partnership's accumulated surplus at December 31, 2025 (as printed: 110,117)
The statements say that if grants and donations fall short of the cost of the locum doctors' housing in Rainy River, the three partners agreed to provide the money as repayable loans. No amount is printed.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
Ontario municipalities are required to publish each year what each council member was paid and claimed. We did not find that statement on the Township's website. The budget shows only the whole council's pay as one line.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
The Township's notice of June 19, 2026 says nominations closed and all candidates have been acclaimed, so there will be no election. The same page also lists acclaimed candidates from 2022.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$1,292,932landfill clean-up liability at December 31, 2025, against a landfill closure reserve of $83,817
The Township owes a clean-up cost for its two landfills, which it books as a liability (a bill it will have to pay later). The statements print a liability of $1,292,932, more than twice the $564,500 of total future spending the notes say is expected (worked out by us from the two printed estimates), and the reserve saved for landfill closure is $83,817.
Why it matters
A landfill has to be closed and watched after it stops taking waste. Residents of a small township pay for that, so it matters that the amount, the timing and the money set aside are clear.
It could be because…
The note may have printed the wrong label for "undiscounted future expenditures", for example an amount per year instead of a total.
Accounting rules can make the liability grow in a way that looks odd to a reader; the auditor signed off with a clean opinion.
Closing the landfills may be many years away, so the Township may plan to pay over time and from other reserves.
Questions you could ask
Are the "undiscounted future expenditures" and "years" figures in Note 6 correct as printed? If not, will they be corrected?
When will the engineer's report on closure costs be public, and will the liability and reserve be reviewed once it is?
What is the plan for paying the closure costs: the landfill reserve, other reserves or taxes?
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 Lake of The Woods?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 6: Bergland Landfill balance at the end of 2025 is 688,927 and Morson Landfill 604,005. The "estimated total undiscounted future expenditures are $304,500" for Bergland and "$260,000" for Morson. The notes also say the liability "is expected to be settled in 216 years" (Bergland) and "62 years" (Morson).
Council's own response: on March 10, 2026 it carried a motion to engage TBT Engineering "to conduct a report on closure costs and life expectancy for Bergland and Morson landfill sites".
$2,337,419in the "Replacement of equipment" reserve at December 31, 2025
The reserve called "Replacement of equipment" holds $2,337,419 at the end of 2025, up from $2,139,817 a year earlier. We worked out that this is about 37 per cent more than the total cost of all the Township's equipment and vehicles combined ($1,700,069, worked out by us from the two cost lines).
Why it matters
A reserve is savings set aside by council for a purpose. A very large one next to a small tax base raises a fair question: is it for equipment alone, or for roads and other work too, and is the rest of the plan written down?
It could be because…
The reserve may also be meant to pay for roads and bridges, which are the largest assets (cost $3,383,025) and wear out the fastest.
Replacement costs are higher than original costs, so the reserve may be sized to today's prices.
The Township gets about half its income from the province, and may be saving because grants such as the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund can end.
Questions you could ask
Is there a written plan that lists what the equipment reserve will pay for, and when?
Does the 2024 asset management plan (posted on the Township's reports page) set a target size for the reserve?
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 Lake of The Woods?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 8 lists "Replacement of equipment" at 2,337,419 for 2025 and 2,139,817 for 2024, within total reserve funds of 2,505,050.
The 2025 budget shows "Allocation to TCA/Reserves" of 130000 budgeted for 2025 and 180000 as the 2024 actual, and "Reserve Interest Equip Fund" of 74894 in 2025 budget.
2025the newest budget posted on the Township's budget page on October 7, 2026
The June 2, 2026 minutes say the 2026 budget was presented and a 2026 tax levying by-law was passed. When we read the Township's budget page on October 7, 2026, the newest budget posted was the one for 2025.
Why it matters
The budget is how residents see what the tax levy pays for. Past budgets were posted each year, so a missing one stands out.
It could be because…
The budget may simply be posted late.
The 2026 budget may have been shared as part of the tax bill mailing rather than on the website.
Staff time is limited in a township this small.
Questions you could ask
Will the 2026 budget be posted, and by when?
Will council post the budget document before the next budget meeting each 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 Lake of The Woods?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Minutes of June 2, 2026: "By-law 413, being the 2026 Tax Levying By-law, be enacted" and, in the reports, "the 2026 budget was presented."
Lake of The Woods spent $92,624 on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $160K in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Why did the cost of water, sewers and garbage grow 72% in 6 years?
Water, sewers and garbage
Prices (inflation)
−40%−20%+0%+20%+40%+60%+80%
+72%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Water, sewers and garbage
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
−10%
+1%
2021
−32%
+4%
2022
−0%
+11%
2023
+61%
+16%
2024
+65%
+18%
2025
+72%
+21%
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Why it matters
When one area grows much faster than prices, it is either doing more (which may be great) or paying more for the same thing. Residents deserve to know which.
It could be because…
The town added a service, a building or staff that residents asked for.
Costs were moved from another area, so the total did not really change.
Accounting rules changed how costs are sorted.
Large one-time costs, like a study, lawsuit or repair, landed in one year.
Questions you could ask
What did the extra $66,894 a year pay for?
Why did the dump (landfill) go from $43,668 to $93,123?
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 Lake of The Woods?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
$433,882paid to the District of Rainy River Services Board in 2025, up from $406,968
In 2025 the Township paid $451,040 to outside boards, about 27 per cent of its $1,667,014 in expenses (worked out by us). The largest is the District of Rainy River Services Board at $433,882, up from $406,968.
Why it matters
Money paid to boards for ambulance, social housing and child care is set by those boards, not by the Township's council, so a small township has little say over a quarter of its costs.
It could be because…
These are shared costs that every township in the district pays and that the Province requires.
The 2024 social and family figure was low because the Township's budget booked a surplus rebate of 7351 that did not repeat in 2025.
Costs such as ambulance and social housing have grown across Ontario.
Questions you could ask
Does the Township get a yearly forecast from the Services Board so council can plan for increases?
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 Lake of The Woods?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 18 lists contributions of 17,158 to the Northwestern Health Unit and 433,882 to the District of Rainy River Services Board (406,968 in 2024), total 451,040.
$110,117the Township's share of the housing partnership's accumulated surplus at December 31, 2025 (as printed: 110,117)
The statements say that if grants and donations fall short of the cost of the locum doctors' housing in Rainy River, the three partners agreed to provide the money as repayable loans. No amount is printed.
Why it matters
A promise with no dollar figure is hard for residents to weigh, even if it is small.
It could be because…
The housing was built long ago (the agreement is dated 2011) and the clause may be left over from the building stage.
The Township's share of the partnership's debts is shown as 25,110 of liabilities against 10,057 of financial assets, so the exposure may already be small.
Questions you could ask
Is the construction commitment still open, and if so what is the most the Township could be asked to provide?
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 Lake of The Woods?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 15 (Commitments) says the Municipality "has entered into an agreement with two other organizations to construct housing for locum doctors" and that funds would be provided "by way of repayable loans, bearing interest at prime". No amount is shown.
Ontario municipalities are required to publish each year what each council member was paid and claimed. We did not find that statement on the Township's website. The budget shows only the whole council's pay as one line.
Why it matters
Residents can only check pay if the statement is posted. We have not filled in a pay table because there is no statement to read.
It could be because…
The statement may be posted under a page we did not look at, or sent only on request.
The statement may be filed with the minutes in a month we did not open.
Questions you could ask
Will the Township post its yearly statement of council remuneration and expenses?
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 Lake of The Woods?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The 2025 budget shows one line, "Council Remuneration", of 20000 budgeted for 2024, 20194 actual in 2024 and 20500 budgeted for 2025, for the whole council.
The Township's notice of June 19, 2026 says nominations closed and all candidates have been acclaimed, so there will be no election. The same page also lists acclaimed candidates from 2022.
Why it matters
When nobody runs against the sitting members, residents do not get a vote on who governs them for four years.
It could be because…
In very small communities few people may be willing to stand for council.
Residents may be satisfied with the current council.
Questions you could ask
Does the Township plan outreach to encourage residents to stand for council next time?
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 Lake of The Woods?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The notice reads: "all candidates have been acclaimed to office and therefore there will be no election." Its 2022 section reads "THERE WILL BE NO ELECTION THIS YEAR".
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