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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Madawaska Valley'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.
A clear, checkable guide to Madawaska Valley's budget, taxes and council decisions. A township in Renfrew County, in eastern Ontario, with a mayor and four councillors. Every figure links back to the public record.
$916,1052025 OPP billing amount reapplied as a separate tax rate in 2026
In March 2025 council set the general tax levy at $3,947,872 and charged the cost of Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) policing as a flat "area rate" of $211.91 on every tax bill (every property roll), instead of spreading it by property value. In March 2026 council passed a by-law to reverse that $211.91 as a credit and to reapply the 2025 OPP amount of $916,105 as a separate tax rate. The Township's 2026 budget presentation calls this a one-time step and points residents to a staff report and the February 18, 2026 council meeting video. We did not read that report or watch the video.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$1,387,958landfill estimate adjustment recorded as 2025 revenue (not cash)
The 2025 budget planned a deficit of $1,366,339. The audited result is a surplus of $145,641. The statements include a line "Asset retirement obligation adjustment" of $1,387,958 in revenue. This is a bookkeeping entry, not cash: the Township reduced its estimate of the future cost of closing and looking after its landfill sites (the "asset retirement obligation") from $2,884,664 to $1,496,705. Without that entry the 2025 result would have been a deficit of $1,242,317 (worked out by us). The Township's own note calls it a "change of estimate", and says it holds $1,134,336 in reserves for landfill closure.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$2,047,939moved from reserves to operations in 2025 (2024: $342,542)
Reserves are savings set aside for later costs. The schedule of reserves shows $2,047,939 moved "To operations" in 2025 (2024: $342,542), and total reserves fell by $1,188,511 to $7,243,615. The "Working funds" reserve alone fell from $2,167,393 to $964,897. The general operations schedule shows the 2025 budget planned a transfer from reserves of $407,040, and the actual was $1,102,946. The Township's note says it does not budget activity in reserves except for transactions that affect operations or capital.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$2,203,601owed to suppliers and others at the end of 2025 (2024: $755,420)
"Accounts payable and accrued liabilities" (bills owed but not yet paid) rose from $755,420 at the end of 2024 to $2,203,601 at the end of 2025. The cash flow statement shows the rise as a $1,448,181 increase. The statements say that at year end cash in bank was $(58,901), a negative balance, with investments of $7,416,306. We did not find a note explaining the rise.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$240,850planning and development spending in 2025, against a budget of $147,544
The schedule of general operations shows planning and development expenses of $240,850 in 2025 against a budget of $147,544, and $257,463 in 2024. The Township's 2026 budget presentation shows the 2025 actual for the same department as $174,505, with the same $147,544 budget. The consolidated statement shows $262,437. We did not find a note that explains why the three totals differ. This department owns no capital assets in the schedule of tangible capital assets, so amortization (the yearly write-down of buildings and equipment, which budgets often leave out) does not explain the gap.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$749,724less taxation revenue in 2025 than in 2024 (worked out by us)
The audited statements show "Taxation revenue" of $4,414,983 for 2025, against $5,164,707 for 2024. Within that, property taxes fell from $4,713,357 to $3,965,617. The Township's 2026 budget presentation, in a different table, shows "Taxation Required" for 2025 of $4,985,982 as the actual figure. The two documents use different labels and we could not match them to each other. The gap between them is $570,999 (worked out by us), and the fall from 2024 is $749,724 (worked out by us).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
The same audit firm signed the Township's consolidated statements on three different dates: August 7, 2024 for 2023, September 29, 2025 for 2024, and June 16, 2026 for 2025. The Library Board's statements were signed earlier in the 2023 and 2024 cycles (May 27, 2024 and March 31, 2025) and on the same day as the Township's in 2025. All three opinions on the consolidated statements say the statements present fairly. We did not find the Township saying why the 2024 audit finished later than the others.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
The auditor gives a "qualified opinion" on the Public Library Board's statements, meaning the statements are fair except for one stated matter. The Library Board spends its book and equipment purchases in the year it buys them instead of listing them as assets that are written down over time, which the accounting standards for governments do not allow. The auditor says expenses would be $20,326 lower in 2025 if they were listed as assets (2024: $19,774, 2023: $17,365). The amount is small. The Township's own consolidated statements, which include the Library Board, carry a clean opinion.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
Where your tax bill goes
A property tax bill in Madawaska Valley pays for three governments. Only part of it goes to the town, and that part is what Madawaska Valley council controls.
Tax bill split: Madawaska Valley 46%, County or region 39%, Schools 16%
$9.5Mraised in 2025
Madawaska Valley46%
County or region39%
Schools16%
How Madawaska Valley's share of the bill compares with similar towns
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