Questions · 11 so far
We read Moonbeam's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 48 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
+90%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2024
Moonbeam spent $400K on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $761K in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 4 of 48 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$524Kowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2024
At the end of 2024, $524K of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 17% of everything billed. Only 9 of 48 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $416K.
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.
nilcarrying value of asset retirement obligations at December 31, 2024, and the auditor could not confirm it
Some things a town owns must be cleaned up or safely taken apart one day, such as landfill sites, buildings with asbestos and monitoring wells. Accounting rules call these asset retirement obligations. The town's books show the cost as nil. The auditor says it could not get enough evidence to say whether nil is right, so it gave a "qualified" opinion on the 2024 statements. It gave the same kind of opinion on the 2023 statements. A qualified opinion means the statements are fair except for one named problem.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$176,392Moonbeam's 6% share of the landfill board's closure obligation at December 31, 2024, not counted in the statements
Moonbeam and the Town of Kapuskasing run one landfill through a shared board. At December 31, 2024 the board owed $2,939,872 for closing the site and looking after it afterwards. The statements say Moonbeam's share at 6% is $176,392 and that this is not in Moonbeam's own statements. The board expects the site to be full around 2035. The town has set aside $132,558 in a landfill reserve.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$2,268,654cash at December 31, 2024, down from $5,279,695 a year earlier
Cash fell from $5,279,695 at the end of 2023 to $2,268,654 at the end of 2024. The town spent $3,749,873 on buying and building assets, and most of it ($2,866,454) went to projects not yet finished. The reserve set aside for the community hub project fell from $1,630,295 to $148,925. At the same time the town was owed $1,167,260 by the Province and $591,050 by the federal government. The town has an unused line of credit of $400,000.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$39,000budgeted for Municipal Council "operations" in 2026, against $6,000 in the 2025 column
The 2026 budget book shows the Municipal Council line at $128,683, up from $87,346 for 2025. Of that, $89,683 is listed as elected officials' compensation (2025: $81,346) and $39,000 as "operations" (2025: $6,000). The book does not say what the operations line pays for. This is a total for the whole council, not for any one member.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$197,000planning "operations" budgeted for 2026
The 2026 budget has $197,000 on the "operations" line for planning (2025: $207,500), more than half (worked out by us) of the planning budget of $325,822. The book says the planning and development increase is "mainly due to higher legal and professional fees". In the 2024 statements the town listed commitments to an outside planning firm: $141,760 for an official plan and zoning review, with $86,719 left to pay, and $27,570 for a commercial improvement plan with $8,704 left.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$74,673allowance for doubtful accounts at December 31, 2023, shown as nil at December 31, 2024
An allowance for doubtful accounts is money a town sets aside because some bills will not be paid. At December 31, 2023 the town had an allowance of $74,673 against taxes receivable. At December 31, 2024 it shows "-". Taxes from prior years, with penalties and interest, were $330,864 (2023: $317,628). The notes do not explain the change.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
+61%running the town office, 2019 to 2024
Moonbeam spent $509K on running the town office in 2019 and $817K in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 9 of 48 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
$4,712,340total 2025 expenses as adopted, against $4,745,884 and $4,788,804 shown for 2025 in the 2026 book
The 2025 budget Council adopted on May 8, 2025 shows total expenses of $4,712,340. The 2026 budget book, in its overview table, shows the 2025 column as $4,745,884. In its detailed schedule, the same book shows the 2025 budget as $4,788,804. The 2026 book explains some of the differences by moving costs between departments, but a move between departments should not change the total.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
November 6, 2025date of the auditor's report on the 2024 statements
The 2023 statements are dated October 23, 2024 and the auditor's report on the 2024 statements is dated November 6, 2025, about ten months after the year ended. Budgets are adopted well into the year they cover: the 2024 budget on June 6, 2024, the 2025 budget on May 8, 2025 and the 2026 budget on May 7, 2026. When we read the town's finance page on October 7, 2026 the 2024 statements were the newest posted.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
+90%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2024
Moonbeam spent $400K on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $761K in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 4 of 48 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Parks, arena and library | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | −33% | +1% |
| 2021 | −18% | +4% |
| 2022 | −7% | +11% |
| 2023 | +43% | +16% |
| 2024 | +90% | +18% |
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 Moonbeam? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Parks, arena and library: 2019 $400K, 2020 $268K, 2021 $329K, 2022 $372K, 2023 $572K, 2024 $761K.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Programs, from $140K to $296K.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 22%. Moonbeam ranks 5th of 49.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 48 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
$524Kowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2024
At the end of 2024, $524K of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 17% of everything billed. Only 9 of 48 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $416K.
| Year | Unpaid property tax at year end |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $332K |
| 2020 | $338K |
| 2021 | $321K |
| 2022 | $313K |
| 2023 | $416K |
| 2024 | $524K |
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 Moonbeam? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Taxes receivable: 2019 $332K, 2020 $338K, 2021 $321K, 2022 $313K, 2023 $416K, 2024 $524K. Of the 2024 total, $250K was from earlier years.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 70, lines 0610 to 0699 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: 10.7% of taxes billed.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 48 similar municipalities · Schedules 26 and 70 · archived copy
nilcarrying value of asset retirement obligations at December 31, 2024, and the auditor could not confirm it
Some things a town owns must be cleaned up or safely taken apart one day, such as landfill sites, buildings with asbestos and monitoring wells. Accounting rules call these asset retirement obligations. The town's books show the cost as nil. The auditor says it could not get enough evidence to say whether nil is right, so it gave a "qualified" opinion on the 2024 statements. It gave the same kind of opinion on the 2023 statements. A qualified opinion means the statements are fair except for one named problem.
If the real cost is more than nil, the town's savings are overstated by that amount. Today's taxpayers would be leaving the bill to later ones. The town's own notes say the obligations exist (landfill, asbestos, wells) but that the timing cannot yet be estimated.
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 Moonbeam? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The auditor's Basis for Qualified Opinion says: "As at December 31, 2024, the carrying value of the asset retirement obligations is nil." It adds that it was "unable to obtain sufficient audit evidence" about the amount and that the opinion on the 2023 statements "was also modified for this qualification."
Consolidated financial statements, December 31, 2024 · Independent Auditor's Report, PDF page 3
The 2023 statements carry the same qualification: "As at December 31, 2023, the carrying value of the asset retirement obligations is nil."
Financial statements, December 31, 2023 · Independent Auditor's Report, PDF page 3
Note 12 describes obligations for a landfill, for asbestos in town buildings, and for "Septic systems, drinking water wells and monitoring wells". For asbestos and wells it says "The timing of post-closure care cannot yet be reasonably estimated."
Consolidated financial statements, December 31, 2024 · Note 12, Asset Retirement Obligations, PDF pages 19 and 20
$176,392Moonbeam's 6% share of the landfill board's closure obligation at December 31, 2024, not counted in the statements
Moonbeam and the Town of Kapuskasing run one landfill through a shared board. At December 31, 2024 the board owed $2,939,872 for closing the site and looking after it afterwards. The statements say Moonbeam's share at 6% is $176,392 and that this is not in Moonbeam's own statements. The board expects the site to be full around 2035. The town has set aside $132,558 in a landfill reserve.
This is a real bill that is coming, and today it appears only in a note. A 6% share is small next to the board total, but it is large next to a reserve of $132,558.
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 Moonbeam? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 17 says the board's asset retirement obligation is $2,939,872, "Moonbeam's share at 6%" is $176,392, and "Neither the provision for the future costs or the net debt have been reflected in these financial statements."
Consolidated financial statements, December 31, 2024 · Note 17, Contingency, PDF pages 24 and 25
The same note says the board's cash and investments were $2,930,087 at December 31, 2024, and that the expected remaining life of the landfill is 10.9 years (year 2035).
Consolidated financial statements, December 31, 2024 · Note 17, Contingency, PDF pages 24 and 25
The reserve list in note 14 shows "Kapuskasing Moonbeam Landfill Site" at 132,558 at December 31, 2024, with nothing the year before.
Consolidated financial statements, December 31, 2024 · Note 14, Accumulated Surplus, PDF page 22
$2,268,654cash at December 31, 2024, down from $5,279,695 a year earlier
Cash fell from $5,279,695 at the end of 2023 to $2,268,654 at the end of 2024. The town spent $3,749,873 on buying and building assets, and most of it ($2,866,454) went to projects not yet finished. The reserve set aside for the community hub project fell from $1,630,295 to $148,925. At the same time the town was owed $1,167,260 by the Province and $591,050 by the federal government. The town has an unused line of credit of $400,000.
A town spends reserves on a big project when it has saved for it. The questions are how much of the cost grants will repay, and whether the town has enough cash left for ordinary bills in the months before grants arrive.
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 Moonbeam? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The statement of financial position shows "Cash $ 2,268,654 $ 5,279,695" for 2024 and 2023.
Consolidated financial statements, December 31, 2024 · Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, PDF page 7
The cash flow statement shows "Acquisition of tangible capital assets (3,749,873)" for 2024 and "DECREASE IN CASH POSITION (3,011,041)".
Consolidated financial statements, December 31, 2024 · Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, PDF page 10
Assets under construction rose from 356,374 to 3,222,828, with additions of 2,866,454.
Consolidated financial statements, December 31, 2024 · Note 13, Tangible Capital Assets, PDF pages 20 and 21
Reserve "Community hub project" is 148,925 for 2024 and 1,630,295 for 2023.
Consolidated financial statements, December 31, 2024 · Note 14, Accumulated Surplus, PDF page 22
Accounts receivable include "Province of Ontario 1,167,260" (2023: 373,847) and "Government of Canada 591,050" (2023: 207,517). Note 9 says the $400,000 line of credit had no amounts drawn. Note 10 lists "Holdbacks 269,484".
Consolidated financial statements, December 31, 2024 · Notes 7, 9 and 10, PDF page 18
$39,000budgeted for Municipal Council "operations" in 2026, against $6,000 in the 2025 column
The 2026 budget book shows the Municipal Council line at $128,683, up from $87,346 for 2025. Of that, $89,683 is listed as elected officials' compensation (2025: $81,346) and $39,000 as "operations" (2025: $6,000). The book does not say what the operations line pays for. This is a total for the whole council, not for any one member.
A rise of $33,000 is small in dollars, but it is more than six times the old line, in a town whose whole budget is about $5.2 million. The book explains other increases in words and leaves this one without a note.
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 Moonbeam? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Breakdown of the 2026 Municipal Council operations line, with wording you can copy.
The schedule shows "Municipal Council 87,346 128,683", "Elected Officials Compensation 81,346 89,683" and "Operations 6,000 39,000" for the 2025 budget and 2026 budget.
2026 Operational and Capital Budget (adopted May 7, 2026) · Schedule of Consolidated Expenses, PDF page 9
The 2025 budget schedule listed "Conferences/meetings/professional allowances 30,000 25,000" and "Agreement - Integrty Commissioner 7,000 6,000" under Conseil municipal.
2025 Operational Budget (adopted May 8, 2025) · Schedule of Consolidated Expenses, PDF page 7
Budget Overview: "Total Expenses 4,745,884 5,191,520 +9.39%" and "Total Revenues 4,852,602 5,231,382 +7.81%" (2025, 2026).
2026 Operational and Capital Budget (adopted May 7, 2026) · Budget Overview, PDF page 2
$197,000planning "operations" budgeted for 2026
The 2026 budget has $197,000 on the "operations" line for planning (2025: $207,500), more than half (worked out by us) of the planning budget of $325,822. The book says the planning and development increase is "mainly due to higher legal and professional fees". In the 2024 statements the town listed commitments to an outside planning firm: $141,760 for an official plan and zoning review, with $86,719 left to pay, and $27,570 for a commercial improvement plan with $8,704 left.
Plans written by consultants are useful if they are finished and used. When most of a budget line goes to outside advice, residents are entitled to know what it buys and when it ends.
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 Moonbeam? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Payments to outside planning consultants, 2024 to 2026, with wording you can copy.
The 2026 schedule shows "Planning 334,753 325,822" and "Operations 207,500 197,000" for the 2025 budget and 2026 budget.
2026 Operational and Capital Budget (adopted May 7, 2026) · Schedule of Consolidated Expenses, PDF page 11
For Planning and Development Services (502,875 and 647,592), the overview says: "The increase is mainly due to higher legal and professional fees related to planning and economic development activities".
2026 Operational and Capital Budget (adopted May 7, 2026) · Budget Overview, PDF page 2
Note 16 lists "J.L. Richards & Associates - proposal to update the official plan and zoning by-law review for $141,760. Commitment left to pay at December 31, 2024 is $86,719." and a second proposal "for $27,570. Commitment left to pay at December 31, 2024 is $8,704."
Consolidated financial statements, December 31, 2024 · Note 16, Commitments, PDF page 23
$74,673allowance for doubtful accounts at December 31, 2023, shown as nil at December 31, 2024
An allowance for doubtful accounts is money a town sets aside because some bills will not be paid. At December 31, 2023 the town had an allowance of $74,673 against taxes receivable. At December 31, 2024 it shows "-". Taxes from prior years, with penalties and interest, were $330,864 (2023: $317,628). The notes do not explain the change.
Removing the allowance makes the year look better by $74,673. That is only right if the old taxes are expected to be paid, for example because the town can sell the property if they are not.
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 Moonbeam? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 8 shows "Prior years and penalties and interest $ 330,864 $ 317,628" and "Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts - (74,673)" for 2024 and 2023, giving taxes receivable of 524,038 and 415,903.
Consolidated financial statements, December 31, 2024 · Note 8, Taxes Receivable, PDF page 18
The accounting policy on taxation says: "All property taxes are secured by the land and pose minimal collection risk."
Consolidated financial statements, December 31, 2024 · Note 2, Revenue Recognition, PDF page 14
Note 8, Taxes receivable: "Prior years and penalties and interest 330,864 317,628" (2024, 2023); "Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts - (74,673)".
Consolidated financial statements, December 31, 2024 · Note 8, Taxes Receivable, PDF page 18
+61%running the town office, 2019 to 2024
Moonbeam spent $509K on running the town office in 2019 and $817K in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 9 of 48 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Running the town office | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +16% | +1% |
| 2021 | +6% | +4% |
| 2022 | +62% | +11% |
| 2023 | +27% | +16% |
| 2024 | +61% | +18% |
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Money spent running the office is money not spent on roads, water or safety. When office costs grow much faster than the services people see, it is fair to ask what the extra money is buying.
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 Moonbeam? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Running the town office: 2019 $509K, 2020 $591K, 2021 $537K, 2022 $822K, 2023 $647K, 2024 $817K.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Senior management, from $451K to $737K.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 39%. Moonbeam ranks 10th of 49.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 48 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
$4,712,340total 2025 expenses as adopted, against $4,745,884 and $4,788,804 shown for 2025 in the 2026 book
The 2025 budget Council adopted on May 8, 2025 shows total expenses of $4,712,340. The 2026 budget book, in its overview table, shows the 2025 column as $4,745,884. In its detailed schedule, the same book shows the 2025 budget as $4,788,804. The 2026 book explains some of the differences by moving costs between departments, but a move between departments should not change the total.
A budget is the promise to taxpayers. Comparing 2026 with 2025 only means something if everyone is comparing against the same 2025 number. The audited 2025 statements, which would show the actual result, were not on the town's page when we read 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 Moonbeam? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The adopted 2025 budget overview shows "Total Expenses 4,768,662 4,712,340" for 2024 and 2025.
2025 Operational Budget (adopted May 8, 2025) · Budget Overview, PDF page 2
The 2026 budget overview shows "Total Expenses 4,745,884 5,191,520 +9.39%" for 2025 and 2026. For Government Services it shows 621,440 and 1,501,750, and explains: "reclassifications of expenses that were accounted for in the Finances and Transfers Department in 2025".
2026 Operational and Capital Budget (adopted May 7, 2026) · Budget Overview, PDF page 2
The 2026 schedule of consolidated expenses shows "TOTAL EXPENSES 4,788,804 $ 5,231,382 $" for the 2025 budget and 2026 budget, and "GOVERNMENT SERVICES 1,421,755 1,501,750".
2026 Operational and Capital Budget (adopted May 7, 2026) · Schedule of Consolidated Expenses, PDF pages 9 to 11
November 6, 2025date of the auditor's report on the 2024 statements
The 2023 statements are dated October 23, 2024 and the auditor's report on the 2024 statements is dated November 6, 2025, about ten months after the year ended. Budgets are adopted well into the year they cover: the 2024 budget on June 6, 2024, the 2025 budget on May 8, 2025 and the 2026 budget on May 7, 2026. When we read the town's finance page on October 7, 2026 the 2024 statements were the newest posted.
Residents can only judge last year's money while it is still recent. A budget adopted in May means the town spends for months without a plan Council has voted on.
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 Moonbeam? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The auditor's report on the 2024 statements is dated "November 6, 2025".
Consolidated financial statements, December 31, 2024 · Independent Auditor's Report, PDF page 5
The management report on the 2023 statements is dated "October 23, 2024".
Financial statements, December 31, 2023 · Management's Report, PDF page 2
Note 19 says "The 2024 budget for the municipality was adopted by Council on June 6, 2024."
Consolidated financial statements, December 31, 2024 · Note 19, Budget Amounts, PDF page 27
The 2025 budget cover says "ADOPTED BY COUNCIL ON MAY 8, 2025".
2025 Operational Budget (adopted May 8, 2025) · Cover, PDF page 1
The 2026 budget cover says "ADOPTED BY COUNCIL ON MAY 7, 2026".
2026 Operational and Capital Budget (adopted May 7, 2026) · Cover, PDF page 1