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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Limerick'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 · 9 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Limerick's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 2 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.
2023the newest year of audited statements on the Township's Financial Report pages
Audited financial statements are the yearly report card, checked by an outside accountant. The Township's Budgets & Reports page and its Finance & Treasury page stop at the 2023 statements. The 2024 statements, with a clean opinion dated June 16, 2025, are inside the agenda package for the June 16, 2025 meeting, under a file name that says draft. The minutes of that meeting record that Council received the audit presentation. We did not find a motion approving the statements. The 2025 statements are in the September 21, 2026 agenda package, marked draft. The only budget file on the Budgets & Reports page is the 2023 Operating Budget, and its first page is headed as a draft. The 2024, 2025 and 2026 budgets are slide presentations in the special budget meeting agendas.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$482,400the landfill's estimated closure and care cost in the audited 2024 statements, against a waste disposal reserve fund of $240,182
A reserve is money set aside for a future cost. The audited 2024 statements list the future cost of closing and looking after the Township's one landfill at $482,400, up from $367,600 after a re-estimate of $98,300. The waste disposal reserve fund held $240,182 at the end of both 2023 and 2024. The April 20, 2026 budget slides say the reserve stood at $240,183.27 at the end of 2025, then that staff were "directed to remove $30,000" from it for the Roads Reserve, leaving $210,183.27. The same slide says post closure costs for 2025 are "approximately $186,650, same as 2024", without saying what period that covers.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$480,702a year of road wear charged in the audited 2023 and 2024 statements, with no road additions in either year
Amortization is the yearly accounting charge for assets wearing out. The statements charge $480,702 a year against the Township's roads. The schedule of capital assets shows no road additions in 2023 or 2024, and the net book value of roads fell from $2,923,962 at the end of 2022 to $1,962,558 at the end of 2024. Total purchases of capital assets were $445,773 in 2023 and $66,633 in 2024, against a 2024 budget of $311,725. Meanwhile the roads reserve fund grew from $821,638 to $1,097,638 in 2024, and the budget slides plan to add $235,000 a year to the Roads Reserve in 2025 and 2026.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$168,000set aside for the dome across 2024, 2025 and 2026, in the Township's own budget slides
The March 17, 2025 budget slides list $56,000 for a Salt/Sand Dome in 2024 and $56,000 in 2025, a total of $112,000. They say the money would pay for an asphalt base and that "the remainder will be in a special reserve account until enough funds are accumulated, or a grant becomes available for the Dome itself". The reserves table in the same slides has no line for a dome, and "Misc. Reserves (all other accts)" is $238,837.71 at the end of 2024 and $238,837.71 after 2025. The 2026 slides add another $56,000 and total $168,000, and say the dome is meant to stop salt leaching into groundwater from the sand pile.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$196,320provincial revenue under budget in 2024, worked out by us from the audited statements
The audited statements budgeted $880,973 from the Province of Ontario for 2023 and received $675,113, a shortfall of $205,860 (worked out by us). For 2024 they budgeted $713,141 and received $516,821, a shortfall of $196,320 (worked out by us). The annual deficit for 2024 was $424,118 against a budgeted $188,744. A deficit in these statements is mostly the non-cash charge for assets wearing out, and the Township's cash rose in both years. The statements do not say which provincial amounts were expected and not received.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$1,441,536.12the 2026 general levy in By-Law 2026-10, 2.07% above 2025 (worked out by us)
The levy is the part of the property tax the Township keeps for itself (the rest goes to the County and school boards). The first draft budget, on March 24, 2026, asked for $1,477,932.04, which the slide called a 4.44% increase over the 2025 levy of $1,412,262.45. Council directed staff to bring it down to 2% or less. The final summary asks for $1,441,532.04 and shows 2.030450%. By-Law 2026-10 sets a general levy of $1,441,536.12. Worked out by us, the increase over 2025 is $29,273.67, or 2.07%. The percentages on the slides appear to divide by the new total instead of the 2025 total. The March slides also show 2026 expenses of $2,489,450.00 on one slide and $2,494,650.00 on another, $5,200 apart.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$60,065.85the Council department's actual cost in 2025, the only council cost figure we found
Ontario municipalities give their councils a yearly statement of what each member was paid and what expenses were claimed. We did not find that statement on the Township's Council, Budgets & Reports or Finance & Treasury pages, or in the agendas and minutes we searched. The only council pay figure we found is the Council department total in the budget slides: a 2025 budget of $62,000.00 and actual of $60,065.85.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$225,416capital lease taken on in 2023 at 6.2% a year
The 2023 statements show purchases of capital assets of $445,773 against a budget of $164,513. They also show a new long term capital lease of $225,416 at 6.2% a year, due April 20, 2028, the first debt shown in these statements (2022: nil). Additions that year were $337,420 of machinery and equipment and $92,845 of vehicles. The statements explain that capital budgets are project based and may not be comparable with the year's actual amounts.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
2023the newest year of audited statements on the Township's Financial Report pages
Audited financial statements are the yearly report card, checked by an outside accountant. The Township's Budgets & Reports page and its Finance & Treasury page stop at the 2023 statements. The 2024 statements, with a clean opinion dated June 16, 2025, are inside the agenda package for the June 16, 2025 meeting, under a file name that says draft. The minutes of that meeting record that Council received the audit presentation. We did not find a motion approving the statements. The 2025 statements are in the September 21, 2026 agenda package, marked draft. The only budget file on the Budgets & Reports page is the 2023 Operating Budget, and its first page is headed as a draft. The 2024, 2025 and 2026 budgets are slide presentations in the special budget meeting agendas.
Why it matters
A resident who wants to know how the Township spent money last year, or what it plans to spend this year, should not have to search meeting packages such as the June 16, 2025 agenda, which by our count runs to 188 pages. With an election on October 26, 2026, the numbers are most useful now.
It could be because…
A very small staff team may post statements only after Council has approved them, and the 2025 statements are not approved yet.
The Township may treat the agenda package as the public copy, since it is posted for every meeting.
The 2024 statements may have been approved at a later meeting we did not read, since the April 20, 2026 minutes could not be opened and not every month has posted minutes.
The budget slides may be all the budget document Council adopts in a township this size.
Questions you could ask
Will the Township post the approved 2024 and 2025 audited statements on its Financial Report page?
Is there an adopted 2026 budget document, apart from the slides, and where is it posted?
At which meeting did Council approve the 2024 statements?
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 Limerick?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The "Financial Report" section lists four sets of statements: "Township-of-Limerick-2023-Municipal-Financial-Statements", the 2022 "Draft Financial Statements", 2021 and 2020. The "Operating and Capital Budgets" section lists "2023 Operating Budget" and a 2023 tax rates by-law. We did not find 2024 or 2025 statements or a 2024, 2025 or 2026 budget on the page.
Budgets & Reports (web page) · Financial Report and Operating and Capital Budgets sections, read October 7, 2026
Agenda item 4.1 is "Baker Tilly - 2024 Audit" and attaches "Limerick - 2024 DRAFT Financial Statements_03". The statements inside carry an auditor's report dated June 16, 2025 whose opinion says they "present fairly, in all material respects" the financial position.
Item 4.1, Baker Tilly - 2024 Audit: Motion 067-2025, "That Council receive the 2024 Audit Presentation", carried. We did not find a motion in these minutes approving the statements.
Agenda item 4.1 is "Baker Tilly - 2025 Audit" and attaches "Limerick - 2025 DRAFT Financial Statements". The auditor's report in the package is dated September 21, 2026.
$482,400the landfill's estimated closure and care cost in the audited 2024 statements, against a waste disposal reserve fund of $240,182
A reserve is money set aside for a future cost. The audited 2024 statements list the future cost of closing and looking after the Township's one landfill at $482,400, up from $367,600 after a re-estimate of $98,300. The waste disposal reserve fund held $240,182 at the end of both 2023 and 2024. The April 20, 2026 budget slides say the reserve stood at $240,183.27 at the end of 2025, then that staff were "directed to remove $30,000" from it for the Roads Reserve, leaving $210,183.27. The same slide says post closure costs for 2025 are "approximately $186,650, same as 2024", without saying what period that covers.
Why it matters
Landfill closure is a bill that arrives whether or not the Township planned for it. If the reserve is the intended way to pay, moving money out of it means the levy or other reserves must cover more later.
It could be because…
The estimate covers closure and 25 years of care after closure, so the cost may be many years away, and the Township may plan to pay it through the yearly budget.
The Township may judge that road repairs are the more urgent need and that the remaining $210,183.27 is enough for now.
The $186,650 may be a total estimate rather than a yearly cost. Staff have not said which.
Council may have voted on the move at the April 20, 2026 meeting. We could not read those minutes.
Questions you could ask
What does the $186,650 post closure figure measure, and over what years?
Does Council have a plan for paying the landfill's closure and care costs, and does it count on the waste disposal reserve?
Did Council vote on moving $30,000 from the waste disposal reserve to the Roads Reserve, and 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 Limerick?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 13, Asset retirement obligation, landfill column: "Opening balance" 367,600, "Revaluation of estimate" 98,300, "Accretion expense" 16,500, "Closing balance" 482,400. Total closing balance 497,400 (2023: 382,600). Note 13(a) says the costs are estimated to the year of closure "and for 25 years after the closure date".
Disposal department slide: "Post Closure Costs for 2025 are approximately $186,650, same as 2024." "Disposal Reserves at 2025-year end: $240,183.27 - Staff directed to remove $30,000 from this reserve and add to Roads Reserves". Reserves slide: "Disposal Reserve" $240,183.27, -$30,000, $210,183.27.
$480,702a year of road wear charged in the audited 2023 and 2024 statements, with no road additions in either year
Amortization is the yearly accounting charge for assets wearing out. The statements charge $480,702 a year against the Township's roads. The schedule of capital assets shows no road additions in 2023 or 2024, and the net book value of roads fell from $2,923,962 at the end of 2022 to $1,962,558 at the end of 2024. Total purchases of capital assets were $445,773 in 2023 and $66,633 in 2024, against a 2024 budget of $311,725. Meanwhile the roads reserve fund grew from $821,638 to $1,097,638 in 2024, and the budget slides plan to add $235,000 a year to the Roads Reserve in 2025 and 2026.
Why it matters
Roads are the largest part of the Township's spending, and the statements show them wearing out much faster than they are replaced. Saving into a reserve is sensible only if there is a plan and a date for spending it.
It could be because…
Amortization is an accounting charge, not cash. Roads can last longer than the accounting life.
The Township may be saving for a few large road projects rather than patching, and may be waiting on provincial infrastructure grants (the statements show $100,000 of the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund received in each of 2023 and 2024).
Day-to-day road repairs are paid from the roads budget and do not show as capital additions.
The Township has posted an asset management plan, which may set out when each road will be rebuilt.
Questions you could ask
Which road projects does the Township plan to pay for from the Roads Reserve, and in what years?
How does the posted asset management plan line up with the $480,702 of yearly road wear in the statements?
What road work did the $235,000 a year added to the Roads Reserve pay for so far?
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 Limerick?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Schedule of tangible capital assets, 2024: Roads "Add: additions during the year" "-"; accumulated amortization added 480,702; net book value of roads 1,962,558. Note 7 lists Roads 1,962,558 (2023: 2,443,260).
Schedule of tangible capital assets, 2023: Roads additions "-", amortization added 480,702, net book value of roads 2,443,260. Note 10 lists Roads 2,443,260 (2022: 2,923,962).
Statement of change in net financial assets, 2024: "Purchase of tangible capital assets" budget (311,725), actual (66,633), 2023 actual (445,773). "Amortization of tangible capital assets" actual 672,836.
Limerick spent $474K on roads and snow in 2019 and $800K in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time.
Why did the cost of roads and snow grow 69% in 5 years?
Roads and snow
Prices (inflation)
+0%+20%+40%+60%+80%
+69%
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Roads and snow
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
+49%
+1%
2021
+35%
+4%
2022
+33%
+11%
2023
+48%
+16%
2024
+69%
+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 $327K a year pay for?
Why did paved roads go from $392K to $592K?
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 Limerick?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
$168,000set aside for the dome across 2024, 2025 and 2026, in the Township's own budget slides
The March 17, 2025 budget slides list $56,000 for a Salt/Sand Dome in 2024 and $56,000 in 2025, a total of $112,000. They say the money would pay for an asphalt base and that "the remainder will be in a special reserve account until enough funds are accumulated, or a grant becomes available for the Dome itself". The reserves table in the same slides has no line for a dome, and "Misc. Reserves (all other accts)" is $238,837.71 at the end of 2024 and $238,837.71 after 2025. The 2026 slides add another $56,000 and total $168,000, and say the dome is meant to stop salt leaching into groundwater from the sand pile.
Why it matters
The Township says the project protects groundwater and that its cost rises every year. Residents are being asked to fund it in instalments, so they should be able to see where the money sits and how much of the first $112,000 is left.
It could be because…
The money may sit inside the Roads Reserve. The audited roads reserve fund at the end of 2024 is $1,097,638, higher than the $1,038,238.21 shown in the budget slides (about $59,400 apart, worked out by us), and the two may be counted differently.
The asphalt base may have been paid for, with the remainder in a reserve line the slides do not break out.
Staff may have used the slides as a summary and kept a separate ledger for the project.
Questions you could ask
In which reserve or account is the salt and sand dome money held, and what is the balance?
Was the asphalt base built, and what did it cost?
Is the $56,000 a year still being set aside, and what is the total target cost of the dome?
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 Limerick?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
One Time Projects slide: "Salt/Sand Dome" "-$56,000.00 - 2024" "-$56,000.00 - 2025" "Total -$112,000.00". "The only large project this year will be the initial base for a Salt/Sand Dome. $56,000 was set aside in 2024 and another $56,000 for 2025 will give ample funds to place an asphalt base. The remainder will be in a special reserve account until enough funds are accumulated, or a grant becomes available for the Dome itself."
Reserves slide: "Roads Reserve" 2024 year end $1,038,238.21, 2025 addition $235,000, total $1,273,238.21. "Misc. Reserves (all other accts)" $238,837.71, $0, $238,837.71. Total $1,851,046.66, $252,500.00, $2,103,546.66. There is no line for the dome.
One Time Projects slide: "Salt/Sand Dome" "-$56,000.00 - 2024" "-$56,000.00 - 2025" "-$56,000.00 - 2026" "Total -$168,000.00". "We are continuing to save for the Salt/Sand Dome to stop the salt leeching in ground water from the Sand Pile." "No Grants have come available for this project to date".
Note 14, Reserve Funds: "Waste disposal" 240,182, "Fire capital" 301,287, "Roads" 1,097,638. Total Reserve Funds 1,639,107. Reserves: "Acquisition of capital assets" 363,630. None is labelled for a dome.
$196,320provincial revenue under budget in 2024, worked out by us from the audited statements
The audited statements budgeted $880,973 from the Province of Ontario for 2023 and received $675,113, a shortfall of $205,860 (worked out by us). For 2024 they budgeted $713,141 and received $516,821, a shortfall of $196,320 (worked out by us). The annual deficit for 2024 was $424,118 against a budgeted $188,744. A deficit in these statements is mostly the non-cash charge for assets wearing out, and the Township's cash rose in both years. The statements do not say which provincial amounts were expected and not received.
Why it matters
If the budget keeps counting on provincial money that does not arrive, the real picture on levy and reserves is different from the budgeted one.
It could be because…
Grants for capital projects are counted as revenue only when the work is done. Capital purchases were $66,633 in 2024 against a budget of $311,725, so the grants for projects that did not go ahead would not arrive.
The statements say the budget shown is Council's budget adjusted to the accounting rules, so some of the gap may be how the two are lined up.
Part of the provincial money received (the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund) is held as deferred revenue until it is spent.
Questions you could ask
Which provincial amounts were in the 2023 and 2024 budgets and did not arrive?
Does the 2026 budget count only the provincial money the Township has been told to expect?
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 Limerick?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Statement of operations, 2023: "Province of Ontario" budget 880,973, actual 675,113 (2022 actual 914,723).
Note 12, Budget figures: the approved budget "has been adjusted to comply with PSA reporting requirements". Reconciliation: tangible capital asset additions 311,725, amortization (664,217), principal repayment of long term debt 43,046, transfers to/from reserves 120,702, annual deficit reported (188,744).
$1,441,536.12the 2026 general levy in By-Law 2026-10, 2.07% above 2025 (worked out by us)
The levy is the part of the property tax the Township keeps for itself (the rest goes to the County and school boards). The first draft budget, on March 24, 2026, asked for $1,477,932.04, which the slide called a 4.44% increase over the 2025 levy of $1,412,262.45. Council directed staff to bring it down to 2% or less. The final summary asks for $1,441,532.04 and shows 2.030450%. By-Law 2026-10 sets a general levy of $1,441,536.12. Worked out by us, the increase over 2025 is $29,273.67, or 2.07%. The percentages on the slides appear to divide by the new total instead of the 2025 total. The March slides also show 2026 expenses of $2,489,450.00 on one slide and $2,494,650.00 on another, $5,200 apart.
Why it matters
A small difference, but residents may judge the budget against the 2% direction. The Township's own figures put it a little over that mark.
It could be because…
The first slide set was a draft, and the arithmetic was rough on purpose.
Council may regard 2.03% as meeting its direction, since that is the figure on the final summary.
The $4.08 gap between the summary and the by-law may be rounding of tax rates.
Questions you could ask
Does the Township count the 2026 levy increase as 2.03% or 2.07%, and which does Council use?
Which version of the 2026 budget slides is the adopted one?
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 Limerick?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Budget Increase slide: "2026 Expenses - $ 2,489,450.00", "2026 Revenues - $ 1,016,717.96", "2026 To be raised by tases - $ 1,477,932.04", "2025 To be raised by taxes - $ 1,412,262.45", "Increase over last year = 4.44%". The summary table on the last slide shows "GRAND TOTALS" 2,494,650.00.
Final summary: "DIFFERENCE TO BE RAISED BY TAXES 1,441,532.04", "To Be Raised in 2025: 1,412,262.45", "Increase (decrease) in 2026 from 2025 29,269.59", "Increase over last year of: 2.030450%". By-Law 2026-10: "General Levy: $ 1,441,536.12".
$60,065.85the Council department's actual cost in 2025, the only council cost figure we found
Ontario municipalities give their councils a yearly statement of what each member was paid and what expenses were claimed. We did not find that statement on the Township's Council, Budgets & Reports or Finance & Treasury pages, or in the agendas and minutes we searched. The only council pay figure we found is the Council department total in the budget slides: a 2025 budget of $62,000.00 and actual of $60,065.85.
Why it matters
Residents are about to elect a council, and the pay statement is the standard way to see what the job costs.
It could be because…
The statement may be published somewhere we did not look, or given to Council in a month whose agenda we did not search.
A township this size may be late with a statement, or may provide it on request.
Questions you could ask
Where is the Township's yearly statement of council pay and expenses 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 Limerick?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Department - Council slide: "2025 Budget - $62,000.00", "2025 Actual - $60,065.85", "Difference - $ 1,934.15".
$225,416capital lease taken on in 2023 at 6.2% a year
The 2023 statements show purchases of capital assets of $445,773 against a budget of $164,513. They also show a new long term capital lease of $225,416 at 6.2% a year, due April 20, 2028, the first debt shown in these statements (2022: nil). Additions that year were $337,420 of machinery and equipment and $92,845 of vehicles. The statements explain that capital budgets are project based and may not be comparable with the year's actual amounts.
Why it matters
A lease is a promise to pay about $59,405 a year until 2028. Residents may want to know what it bought and whether it was Council's plan.
It could be because…
The statements say capital projects can run over more than one year, so budget and actual are not directly comparable.
Equipment may have been replaced earlier than planned, with Council's approval, and a lease may have been the cheapest way to pay.
The 2023 budget slides we did not read may show the purchase.
Questions you could ask
What equipment does the 6.2% lease pay for, and when did Council approve it?
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 Limerick?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Statement of change in net financial assets, 2023: "Purchase of tangible capital assets" budget (164,513), actual (445,773).
Note 9: "Long term capital lease, repayable in blended monthly installments of $4,381, interest at 6.2% per annum, due April 20, 2028." 225,416 (2022: nil). Repayable 2024 to 2028 as 59,405, 59,405, 59,405, 59,405 and 14,852.
Schedule of tangible capital assets, 2023: additions during the year of 337,420 for machinery and equipment and 92,845 for vehicles, 445,773 in total. Note 7: "The budget established for capital investment in tangible capital assets are on a project-oriented basis, the costs of which may be carried out over one or more years and, therefore, may not be comparable with current year's actual amounts."
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