Questions · 12 so far
We read Manitouwadge's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 30 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
+14%town property tax, 2022 to 2023
In 2023, Manitouwadge collected $452K more in its own property tax than in 2022. That is a 14% jump, while prices went up about 3.9%. Only 1 of 30 similar towns raised theirs by more. Almost all of it came from a higher tax rate (up 3% for homes); the value of homes on the tax roll grew only 0.3%.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 4 sources
$1.2Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2023
At the end of 2023, $1.2M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 31% of everything billed. Only 1 of 30 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $798K.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
April 8, 2026the date the auditor signed the 2023 statements, for the year ended December 31, 2023
A municipality's audited financial statements tell residents what it earned, spent, owns and owes. The auditor signed the 2022 statements on July 30, 2025 and the 2023 statements on April 8, 2026. That is about two and a half years after each year ended. The Township's page lists nothing newer than 2023.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
August 20, 2026when the 2026 budget by-law passed, per the Township's page
The Township's budget page says the 2025 budget by-law passed on July 30, 2025 and the 2026 one on August 20, 2026. The 2023 and 2024 budgets were passed together on September 13, 2023. By those dates, most of the year's spending had already happened.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$980,553Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund balance, the same at the end of 2022 and 2023
The Township holds grant money it has not yet spent as "deferred revenue". The Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund balance was $980,553 at the end of both 2022 and 2023, while the total of all deferred revenue rose from $1,792,285 to $2,105,370.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$113allowance for property and business tax arrears in 2023, down from $162,971
Unpaid property taxes rose from $1,054,977 to $1,211,222 between 2022 and 2023. The allowance, a cushion for taxes unlikely to be collected, fell from $162,971 to $113.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
+56%roads and snow, 2019 to 2023
Manitouwadge spent $1.1M on roads and snow in 2019 and $1.7M in 2023. Prices only went up about 16% in that time.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
+48%water, sewers and garbage, 2019 to 2023
Manitouwadge spent $1.1M on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $1.6M in 2023. Prices only went up about 16% in that time.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
$1,212,591capital assets bought in 2023, against $1,598,836 of amortization (both as printed)
The 2023 statements show an annual deficit of $734,819. That is not overspending: the approved plan was balanced at $9,114,733, and the budget column's deficit is mostly amortization (the yearly wearing-out of assets, which budgets usually leave out). The question is a different one. In 2023 the Township bought $1,212,591 of capital assets against $1,598,836 of amortization, and in 2022 $565,072 against $1,632,004.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$728,568transferred out of reserve funds in 2023
Reserve funds are savings council sets aside for later needs. In 2023 nothing was added from the budget, $728,568 was taken out, and the balance fell from $8,781,871 to $8,421,989. Reserves (a separate pot) fell from $2,119,324 to $1,951,718.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$3,436,423asset retirement obligations at the end of 2023
Under new accounting rules, the Township now shows a liability of $3,436,423 for closing its landfill ($2,295,579) and removing asbestos from buildings ($1,140,844). Separately, council has designated $8,421,989 to support reserve funds. The statements do not say how much, if any, is earmarked for these obligations. The landfill note also says the remaining capacity is 105,703 cubic metres "representing 69%" of a 329,000 cubic metre site; by our working out, 105,703 is about 32% of 329,000, so the wording looks mixed up.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$798per home on garbage, dump and recycling, 2023
Manitouwadge spent about $798 per home on garbage, dump and recycling in 2023. The typical similar town spent $376. Only 1 of 30 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
+14%town property tax, 2022 to 2023
In 2023, Manitouwadge collected $452K more in its own property tax than in 2022. That is a 14% jump, while prices went up about 3.9%. Only 1 of 30 similar towns raised theirs by more. Almost all of it came from a higher tax rate (up 3% for homes); the value of homes on the tax roll grew only 0.3%.
| Year | Town property tax |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $4.0M |
| 2020 | $4.1M |
| 2021 | $3.5M |
| 2022 | $3.2M |
| 2023 | $3.7M |
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 $418 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 Manitouwadge? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Town property tax: $3,221,870 in 2022, $3,674,023 in 2023.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2023 · Schedule 10, line 9940 · archived copy
Typical increase among 30 similar Ontario towns: 5.3%. Manitouwadge ranks 2nd highest.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2023, 30 similar municipalities · Schedule 10, line 9940 · archived copy
Residential tax rate (town share): 6.498% in 2022, 6.695% in 2023. Residential assessment: $40.1M to $40.3M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2023 · Schedule 22, residential (RT) · archived copy
Prices (inflation) rose 3.9% over the same year.
$1.2Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2023
At the end of 2023, $1.2M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 31% of everything billed. Only 1 of 30 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $798K.
| Year | Unpaid property tax at year end |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $693K |
| 2020 | $971K |
| 2021 | $1.0M |
| 2022 | $798K |
| 2023 | $1.2M |
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.
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 Manitouwadge? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Taxes receivable: 2019 $693K, 2020 $971K, 2021 $1.0M, 2022 $798K, 2023 $1.2M. Of the 2023 total, $29,582 was from earlier years.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2023 · Schedule 70, lines 0610 to 0699 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: 10.8% of taxes billed.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2023, 30 similar municipalities · Schedules 26 and 70 · archived copy
April 8, 2026the date the auditor signed the 2023 statements, for the year ended December 31, 2023
A municipality's audited financial statements tell residents what it earned, spent, owns and owes. The auditor signed the 2022 statements on July 30, 2025 and the 2023 statements on April 8, 2026. That is about two and a half years after each year ended. The Township's page lists nothing newer than 2023.
Until the statements are signed, residents and council are working from budgets without a checked record of what happened. Every later year is also delayed.
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 Manitouwadge? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The auditor's report on the 2023 statements is signed "April 8, 2026" and covers the year ended December 31, 2023.
2023 Consolidated Financial Statements · Independent Auditor's Report, PDF page 5
The auditor's report on the 2022 statements is signed "July 30, 2025".
2022 Consolidated Financial Statements · Independent Auditor's Report, PDF page 5
The Financial Statements list on the Township's budget page runs from "2023 Annual Financial Statement" back to 2020. There is no 2024 or 2025 entry. Read October 7, 2026.
Budget and Financial Reports page · Financial Statements section
August 20, 2026when the 2026 budget by-law passed, per the Township's page
The Township's budget page says the 2025 budget by-law passed on July 30, 2025 and the 2026 one on August 20, 2026. The 2023 and 2024 budgets were passed together on September 13, 2023. By those dates, most of the year's spending had already happened.
A budget passed in August cannot guide spending from January. Residents also get little chance to comment before money is spent.
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 Manitouwadge? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The page lists: "2026 Bylaw 2026-30, passed August 20, 2026", "2025 Bylaw 2025-28, passed July 30, 2025" and "2023/2024 Bylaw 2023-47, passed September 13, 2023".
Budget and Financial Reports page · Annual Operating & Capital Budgets section
$980,553Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund balance, the same at the end of 2022 and 2023
The Township holds grant money it has not yet spent as "deferred revenue". The Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund balance was $980,553 at the end of both 2022 and 2023, while the total of all deferred revenue rose from $1,792,285 to $2,105,370.
Grant money is meant for specific projects. Unspent balances can mean projects are delayed.
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 Manitouwadge? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Deferred revenue lists "Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (obligatory reserve) $ 980,553 $ 980,553" and "Canada Community-Building Fund (obligatory reserve) $ 597,902 $ 445,374", with total "$ 2,105,370 $ 1,792,285".
2023 Consolidated Financial Statements · Note 7, Deferred revenue, PDF page 17
$113allowance for property and business tax arrears in 2023, down from $162,971
Unpaid property taxes rose from $1,054,977 to $1,211,222 between 2022 and 2023. The allowance, a cushion for taxes unlikely to be collected, fell from $162,971 to $113.
A tiny allowance against a million dollars of unpaid taxes means the statements assume nearly all will be paid. If not, a loss would show up later.
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 Manitouwadge? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
"Property and business taxes receivable $ 1,211,222 $ 1,054,977" and "Allowance for property and business tax arrears (113) (162,971)".
2023 Consolidated Financial Statements · Note 4, Taxes receivable, PDF page 16
+56%roads and snow, 2019 to 2023
Manitouwadge spent $1.1M on roads and snow in 2019 and $1.7M in 2023. Prices only went up about 16% in that time.
| Year | Roads and snow | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +25% | +1% |
| 2021 | +13% | +4% |
| 2022 | +36% | +11% |
| 2023 | +56% | +16% |
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 Manitouwadge? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Roads and snow: 2019 $1.1M, 2020 $1.3M, 2021 $1.2M, 2022 $1.4M, 2023 $1.7M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2023 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Airport, from $168K to $381K.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2023 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
+48%water, sewers and garbage, 2019 to 2023
Manitouwadge spent $1.1M on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $1.6M in 2023. Prices only went up about 16% in that time.
| Year | Water, sewers and garbage | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | −10% | +1% |
| 2021 | +26% | +4% |
| 2022 | +19% | +11% |
| 2023 | +48% | +16% |
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 Manitouwadge? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Water, sewers and garbage: 2019 $1.1M, 2020 $985K, 2021 $1.4M, 2022 $1.3M, 2023 $1.6M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2023 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Garbage pickup, from $38,438 to $448K.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2023 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
$1,212,591capital assets bought in 2023, against $1,598,836 of amortization (both as printed)
The 2023 statements show an annual deficit of $734,819. That is not overspending: the approved plan was balanced at $9,114,733, and the budget column's deficit is mostly amortization (the yearly wearing-out of assets, which budgets usually leave out). The question is a different one. In 2023 the Township bought $1,212,591 of capital assets against $1,598,836 of amortization, and in 2022 $565,072 against $1,632,004.
If assets wear out faster than they are replaced, the cost lands later, on future taxpayers and ratepayers.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Manitouwadge? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The approved fiscal plan shows Annual surplus "$ 0" and an adjusted result of "(1,659,211)". The reconciliation lists "Purchase of tangible capital assets (846,446)", "Amortization 1,598,836" and "Accretion 124,207", and expenses of "9,114,733" as approved.
2023 Consolidated Financial Statements · Note 15, Budget figures, PDF page 22
Annual deficit "$ (734,819)"; "Acquisition of tangible capital assets (1,212,591)" and "Amortization of tangible capital assets 1,598,836" for 2023, against "(565,072)" and "1,632,004" for 2022.
2023 Consolidated Financial Statements · Statement of Cash Flows, PDF page 9
$728,568transferred out of reserve funds in 2023
Reserve funds are savings council sets aside for later needs. In 2023 nothing was added from the budget, $728,568 was taken out, and the balance fell from $8,781,871 to $8,421,989. Reserves (a separate pot) fell from $2,119,324 to $1,951,718.
Reserves cushion the Township against surprises and pay for big repairs. Residents can only judge a drawdown if they know what it funded.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Manitouwadge? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Reserve funds: "Transfer from reserve funds (728,568)", "Interfund allocation of interest 368,686", balance end of year "$ 8,421,989" (beginning "$ 8,781,871"). Reserves: "Transfer from reserves (167,606)", balance end of year "$ 1,951,718".
2023 Consolidated Financial Statements · Note 14, Reserves and reserve funds, PDF page 21
$3,436,423asset retirement obligations at the end of 2023
Under new accounting rules, the Township now shows a liability of $3,436,423 for closing its landfill ($2,295,579) and removing asbestos from buildings ($1,140,844). Separately, council has designated $8,421,989 to support reserve funds. The statements do not say how much, if any, is earmarked for these obligations. The landfill note also says the remaining capacity is 105,703 cubic metres "representing 69%" of a 329,000 cubic metre site; by our working out, 105,703 is about 32% of 329,000, so the wording looks mixed up.
The money has to come from somewhere when the landfill closes or buildings come down, either from savings or from future taxes and fees.
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 Manitouwadge? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
"An asset retirement obligation of $2,295,579 has been recorded for the landfill" and "An asset retirement obligation of $1,140,844 has been recorded for the buildings". The landfill "was opened in 1987 with a capacity of 329,000 cubic metres", and the remaining capacity is "105,703 cubic metres representing 69% of the total capacity".
2023 Consolidated Financial Statements · Asset retirement obligations note, PDF page 18
Of the financial assets, "Council has designated $8,421,989" to support reserve funds; the asset retirement obligations are "$3,436,423" at the end of 2023.
2023 Consolidated Financial Statements · Note 12, Designated assets, PDF page 20
$798per home on garbage, dump and recycling, 2023
Manitouwadge spent about $798 per home on garbage, dump and recycling in 2023. The typical similar town spent $376. Only 1 of 30 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 Manitouwadge? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Garbage, dump and recycling per home: Manitouwadge $798; typical similar town $376; ranked 2nd highest of 31.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2023, 30 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy