Questions · 10 so far
We read Lucan Biddulph's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 36 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
+10%town property tax, 2024 to 2025
In 2025, Lucan Biddulph collected $581K more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 10% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. Only 2 of 36 similar towns raised theirs by more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
+102%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2025
Lucan Biddulph spent $1.2M on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $2.5M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 3 of 36 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$3,443per home on long-term debt, 2025
Lucan Biddulph spent about $3,443 per home on long-term debt in 2025. The typical similar town spent $971. Only 3 of 36 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
$25,403,437approved estimated cost of the plant expansion, with a provincial grant of up to $18,544,509
The Lucan sewage (wastewater) treatment plant is being expanded. The audited statements give an approved cost of $25,403,437, with a provincial grant of up to $18,544,509 (73%). Council awarded the building tender for $21.56 million in March 2026 and was told the project was 73% funded, with a plan for the rest still to come. The 2026 budget shows $18,700,000.00 for plant work, a grant line of $13,744,500.00 and a new loan line of $4,200,000.00. These figures sit in different documents and may cover different years, so a resident cannot easily add them up.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
5.62%total tax rate increase Council adopted for 2026
The general tax line in the budget (the part the Township keeps for its own services) went from 5,563,424.00 to 5,929,398.00 for 2025 and to 6,507,892.00 for 2026. We worked out the increases by us: about 6.6% and about 9.8%. Council adopted a total tax rate increase of 5.62% for 2026. The 2026 budget also takes 289,765.00 from the tax rate stabilization reserve (a savings account to smooth tax increases), against 68,000.00 in 2025.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$11,708,666expenditures in 2025, against a budget of $8,357,513
In the audited statements the 2025 budget column shows expenditures of 8,357,513 and the actual column 11,708,666. The statements show the budget for amortization (the yearly cost of wearing out buildings, roads and pipes, which is a book entry and not a cheque) as a dash, while actual amortization was 2,507,674, so much of the gap is a difference in how the budget is written. We worked out that without amortization the actual spending was 9,200,992, still 843,479 above the budget figure. Revenue was also higher than budget: 12,046,443 against 11,399,490.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$1,125,717tax levy for parks and recreation in the 2026 budget, up from $943,205
The Parks and Recreation fund (arena, pool, parks and community centre) is paid for partly by ice, pool and hall rentals and partly by a levy from taxes. The 2026 budget shows the levy at 1,125,717.00, against 943,205.27 in 2025. We worked out that this is about 19% more. The fund's total budget rises from 1,831,971.52 to 2,152,972.25, with utilities and maintenance among the larger increases.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$109,439arena reserve at December 31, 2025, against a 2026 budgeted draw of $565,630.34
A reserve is money set aside for a future need. The audited statements show the arena reserve at 109,439 at the end of 2025, after it was a negative (20,138) at the end of 2024. The 2026 budget takes 565,630.34 out of the arena reserve for capital work and puts 450,000.00 in. We worked out that the net draw is 115,630.34, a little more than the 109,439 balance.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$137,812budgeted for council salaries and meetings in 2026, from $111,192 in 2024
The Council salaries and meetings line in the budget was 111,192.00 for 2024, 124,345.00 for 2025 and 137,812.00 for 2026. We worked out that each year is about 11% higher than the year before. The whole Council department budget goes from 153,170.00 in 2025 to 169,712.00 in 2026. The Township's summary of its March 3, 2026 meeting says Council received the annual council remuneration report, but we did not find that report posted, so we cannot show what each member was paid.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
June 2021last month in the archive of agendas and minutes on the Township's meetings page
The Township's meetings page links an archive of agendas and minutes for January 2019 to June 2021, and, for each 2026 meeting, a summary the Township describes as informal and not the official record. The full reports are on an eScribe portal that the Township links from its summaries. That portal refused a scripted download from us, so we could not read any agenda or minutes. This does not mean they are unavailable in a normal web browser.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
+10%town property tax, 2024 to 2025
In 2025, Lucan Biddulph collected $581K more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 10% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. Only 2 of 36 similar towns raised theirs by more.
| Year | Town property tax |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $4.2M |
| 2020 | $4.7M |
| 2021 | $4.8M |
| 2022 | $5.0M |
| 2023 | $5.3M |
| 2024 | $5.7M |
| 2025 | $6.2M |
A big one-year jump usually means something changed: a new cost, a service that grew, savings being rebuilt, or a problem from earlier years being paid for now. Residents should be able to see exactly which. Spread across every home, it is about $241 more 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 Lucan Biddulph? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Town property tax: $5,651,740 in 2024, $6,233,034 in 2025.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 10, line 9940 · archived copy
Typical increase among 36 similar Ontario towns: 6.9%. Lucan Biddulph ranks 3rd highest.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 36 similar municipalities · Schedule 10, line 9940 · archived copy
Prices (inflation) rose 2.1% over the same year.
+102%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2025
Lucan Biddulph spent $1.2M on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $2.5M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 3 of 36 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Parks, arena and library | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | −19% | +1% |
| 2021 | −9% | +4% |
| 2022 | +13% | +11% |
| 2023 | +50% | +16% |
| 2024 | +77% | +18% |
| 2025 | +102% | +21% |
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
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.
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 Lucan Biddulph? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Parks, arena and library: 2019 $1.2M, 2020 $991K, 2021 $1.1M, 2022 $1.4M, 2023 $1.8M, 2024 $2.2M, 2025 $2.5M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Arena and buildings, from $1.1M to $2.2M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 63%. Lucan Biddulph ranks 4th of 37.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 36 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
$3,443per home on long-term debt, 2025
Lucan Biddulph spent about $3,443 per home on long-term debt in 2025. The typical similar town spent $971. Only 3 of 36 similar towns spent more.
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.
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 Lucan Biddulph? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Long-term debt per home: Lucan Biddulph $3,443; typical similar town $971; ranked 4th highest of 37.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 36 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy
$25,403,437approved estimated cost of the plant expansion, with a provincial grant of up to $18,544,509
The Lucan sewage (wastewater) treatment plant is being expanded. The audited statements give an approved cost of $25,403,437, with a provincial grant of up to $18,544,509 (73%). Council awarded the building tender for $21.56 million in March 2026 and was told the project was 73% funded, with a plan for the rest still to come. The 2026 budget shows $18,700,000.00 for plant work, a grant line of $13,744,500.00 and a new loan line of $4,200,000.00. These figures sit in different documents and may cover different years, so a resident cannot easily add them up.
This is by far the biggest project in the budget, and the Township's own statements say its share will come from development charges (fees on new buildings), reserve funds and long-term borrowing. Borrowing is repaid by water and sewer users and taxpayers for many years, so the final split matters.
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 Lucan Biddulph? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 16, Commitment: the Township has been approved for funding from the Province's Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF) "to a maximum of $18,544,509 (73% of the cost) towards the Lucan Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion. The approved estimated cost is $25,403,437 and the target date for completion is 2028. The Township's share of the costs will be funded by development charges, reserve funds and long-term financing."
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Note 16, PDF page 16
The Township's summary of the March 3, 2026 meeting says Council awarded the Lucan Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion tender to Beaudoin Canada in the amount of $21.56 million, and that "The project is currently 73% funded, with a financing strategy to be brought forward for the remaining balance."
Council Meeting Highlights, March 3, 2026 (informal summary, not the official record) · Staff Reports, Public Works
Sewer fund, 2026 budget column: account 02-4010-9423 LUCAN WWTP UPGRADES/REPLA 18,700,000.00; account 02-0080-4681 GRANT - HEWSF II 13,744,500.00; account 02-0080-4690 LOAN - LWWTP EXPANSION 4,200,000.00. The 2025 column shows 0.00 for the grant and the loan.
2026 Budget (General Ledger report) · Fund 02 Sewer System: revenue PDF page 13, expense PDF page 14
Grants received or approved in 2025: "ONTARIO HOUSING ENABLING WATER SYSTEMS FUND (HEWSF) - INTAKE 2 - $17,661,437".
2025 Year in Review · Finance highlights, PDF page 6
The Township's summary of the February 17, 2026 meeting says Council earmarked $2,000,000.00 of the $2,625,313.80 Housing Accelerator Fund money for "Expansion of the Lucan Sewage Treatment Plant".
Council Meeting Highlights, February 17, 2026 (informal summary, not the official record) · Staff Reports and Key Decisions, Report CAO-01-2026
5.62%total tax rate increase Council adopted for 2026
The general tax line in the budget (the part the Township keeps for its own services) went from 5,563,424.00 to 5,929,398.00 for 2025 and to 6,507,892.00 for 2026. We worked out the increases by us: about 6.6% and about 9.8%. Council adopted a total tax rate increase of 5.62% for 2026. The 2026 budget also takes 289,765.00 from the tax rate stabilization reserve (a savings account to smooth tax increases), against 68,000.00 in 2025.
Tax rates and the money raised by taxes are different numbers: when new homes are built, the same rate raises more money. And drawing on a reserve to hold a tax increase down only works while the reserve lasts.
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 Lucan Biddulph? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Account 00-0005-4001 GENERAL-TWP: budget of 5,563,424.00 in the earlier column and 5,929,398.00 for 2025.
2025 Budget (General Ledger report) · Fund 00, Taxation, PDF page 1
Account 00-0005-4001 GENERAL-TWP: 5,929,398.00 in the earlier column and 6,507,892.00 for 2026. Account 00-0080-4546 TRANSFER FROM-TAX STAB. RES: 68,000.00 and 289,765.00.
2026 Budget (General Ledger report) · Fund 00, Taxation PDF page 1; Other revenue PDF page 3
The Township's summary of the January 13, 2026 meeting says Council "adopted the 2026 operating budget based on the changes presented (Option B) with a total tax rate increase of 5.62%" and that a new reserve called Fire Vehicle Replacement will be created.
Council Meeting Highlights, January 13, 2026 (informal summary, not the official record) · Staff reports, FIN-01-2026 (the full report is on the eScribe portal, which we could not open)
Note 10, Accumulated surplus: reserve "for tax rate stabilization" of 869,344 at the end of 2025 and 525,886 at the end of 2024.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Note 10, PDF page 15
The overall increase for a residential property tax bill for 2025, including County and education taxes, was 3.7959%. For an average home assessed at $280,000 this was an increase of $135.66. Of every $100 collected, $52.53 supports Township services.
2025 Year in Review · Finance highlights, PDF page 7
$11,708,666expenditures in 2025, against a budget of $8,357,513
In the audited statements the 2025 budget column shows expenditures of 8,357,513 and the actual column 11,708,666. The statements show the budget for amortization (the yearly cost of wearing out buildings, roads and pipes, which is a book entry and not a cheque) as a dash, while actual amortization was 2,507,674, so much of the gap is a difference in how the budget is written. We worked out that without amortization the actual spending was 9,200,992, still 843,479 above the budget figure. Revenue was also higher than budget: 12,046,443 against 11,399,490.
A budget is the promise to taxpayers about the year. When the budget leaves out a large cost, a reader cannot tell whether the year went well. The amortization part is ordinary accounting, but the rest of the gap deserves an explanation.
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 Lucan Biddulph? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Statement of Operations: Budget 2025 expenditures 8,357,513; Actual 2025 expenditures 11,708,666. Revenue 11,399,490 budget and 12,046,443 actual. Excess of revenue over expenditures before other: 3,041,977 budget and 337,777 actual.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Statement of Operations, PDF page 6
Statement of Change in Net Financial Assets: "Amortization of tangible capital assets" shows a dash in the budget column and 2,507,674 in the 2025 actual column.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Statement of Change in Net Financial Assets, PDF page 8
Note 12, Budget figures: "The approved operating budget for 2025 is reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus."
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Note 12, PDF page 16
Schedule 2, Segmented information: actual 2025 amortization of 510,620 for environmental and 761,012 for recreation and culture, and total expenditures of 2,639,159 and 3,248,495 for the same segments. The budget column on the Statement of Operations for those segments is 1,841,994 and 2,141,066.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Schedule 2, PDF page 18; Statement of Operations, PDF page 6
$1,125,717tax levy for parks and recreation in the 2026 budget, up from $943,205
The Parks and Recreation fund (arena, pool, parks and community centre) is paid for partly by ice, pool and hall rentals and partly by a levy from taxes. The 2026 budget shows the levy at 1,125,717.00, against 943,205.27 in 2025. We worked out that this is about 19% more. The fund's total budget rises from 1,831,971.52 to 2,152,972.25, with utilities and maintenance among the larger increases.
Recreation is one of the biggest things a small township pays for beyond roads and sewers, and it is where the tax money from every household goes whether or not they use the arena.
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 Lucan Biddulph? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Fund 09 Parks & Recreation, REPORT SUMMARY: 09-0110 LEVIES 943,205.27 and 1,125,717.00; Fund 09 total revenue 1,831,971.52 and 2,152,972.25; 09-0100 ICE RENTALS 500,000.00 and 550,000.00; 09-0121 PROGRAMMING REVENUE 142,600.00 and 187,100.00.
2026 Budget (General Ledger report) · Report summary, Fund 09, PDF page 30
Account 09-7110-5050 HYDRO-ARENA: 200,000.00 and 225,000.00.
2026 Budget (General Ledger report) · Fund 09, Utilities, PDF page 21
Statement of Operations: Recreation and cultural development budget 2,141,066, actual 2025 3,248,495, actual 2024 2,883,275.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Statement of Operations, PDF page 6
$109,439arena reserve at December 31, 2025, against a 2026 budgeted draw of $565,630.34
A reserve is money set aside for a future need. The audited statements show the arena reserve at 109,439 at the end of 2025, after it was a negative (20,138) at the end of 2024. The 2026 budget takes 565,630.34 out of the arena reserve for capital work and puts 450,000.00 in. We worked out that the net draw is 115,630.34, a little more than the 109,439 balance.
A reserve that is spent below zero has to be topped up from taxes or fees later. The arena also already needs high yearly running costs.
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 Lucan Biddulph? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 10, Accumulated surplus: reserve "for arena needs" 109,439 in 2025 and (20,138) in 2024.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2025 · Note 10, PDF page 15
Account 10-0080-4559 TRANSFER FROM ARENA RESERV: 315,933.48 and 565,630.34 (2026). Account 10-3020-6224 ARENA EXPANSION-2nd ICE PAD: 0.00 and 55,000.00 (2026).
2026 Budget (General Ledger report) · Fund 10 General capital, PDF pages 24 and 25
Account 00-9000-7455 TRANSFER TO ARENA RESERVE: 286,000.00 and 450,000.00 (2026).
2026 Budget (General Ledger report) · Fund 00 Reserves, PDF page 9
$137,812budgeted for council salaries and meetings in 2026, from $111,192 in 2024
The Council salaries and meetings line in the budget was 111,192.00 for 2024, 124,345.00 for 2025 and 137,812.00 for 2026. We worked out that each year is about 11% higher than the year before. The whole Council department budget goes from 153,170.00 in 2025 to 169,712.00 in 2026. The Township's summary of its March 3, 2026 meeting says Council received the annual council remuneration report, but we did not find that report posted, so we cannot show what each member was paid.
Council sets its own pay in a small township. It is normal to review it, but residents should be able to see the report and the reasons for each rise, especially in an election 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 Lucan Biddulph? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Account 00-1010-4910 COUNCIL SALARIES/MEETINGS: 111,192.00 in the earlier column and 124,345.00 for 2025. Account 00-1010-4930 COUNCIL EXPENSES: 18,000.00 and 18,000.00.
2025 Budget (General Ledger report) · Fund 00, Council, PDF page 3
Account 00-1010-4910 COUNCIL SALARIES/MEETINGS: 124,345.00 and 137,812.00 for 2026. Account 00-1010-4930 COUNCIL EXPENSES: 18,000.00 and 20,000.00. Department 1010 COUNCIL total: 153,170.00 and 169,712.00.
2026 Budget (General Ledger report) · Fund 00, Council, PDF page 3
The March 3, 2026 summary says: "Council received the annual Council Remuneration Report as required prior to March 31."
Council Meeting Highlights, March 3, 2026 (informal summary, not the official record) · Staff Reports, Finance
June 2021last month in the archive of agendas and minutes on the Township's meetings page
The Township's meetings page links an archive of agendas and minutes for January 2019 to June 2021, and, for each 2026 meeting, a summary the Township describes as informal and not the official record. The full reports are on an eScribe portal that the Township links from its summaries. That portal refused a scripted download from us, so we could not read any agenda or minutes. This does not mean they are unavailable in a normal web browser.
Minutes are the official record of how every vote went. Summaries are useful, but only the minutes show who voted which way and who declared an interest.
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 Lucan Biddulph? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The meetings page lists "2026 Council Meeting Summaries" from January to June 16 2026, and links the "Lucan Biddulph Agenda and Minutes Archive (January 2019 - June 2021)".
Council Meetings page · Whole page, summaries list and archive link
Each summary says: "The following is an informal summary of selected actions from the Council meeting and is not the official record."
Council Meeting Highlights, June 16, 2026 · Opening paragraph