Questions · 11 so far
We read North Stormont's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 42 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
+106%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2025
North Stormont spent $540K on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $1.1M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 2 of 42 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
Qualifiedthe auditor's opinion on both the 2024 and 2025 statements
The auditor said the 2024 and 2025 statements are fair except for one gap. The Township had not finished working out what it will owe to take its buildings, lagoons, landfill and similar assets out of service one day, so none of that was counted. The Township says it is still working on it.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$2,221,577"accounts receivable - other" at December 31, 2025 (2023: $1,097,650)
Money owed to the Township under "accounts receivable - other" went from $1,097,650 at the end of 2023 to $2,231,237 at the end of 2024, and was $2,221,577 at the end of 2025. It is by far the largest piece of what the Township is owed outside of taxes. The notes do not say who owes it.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
29 %tax arrears as a share of the Township's own levy, December 31, 2025 (2024: 23 %)
The Township's unaudited five-year review shows unpaid taxes (arrears) at 29% of its own levy at the end of 2025, up from 23% a year earlier. Taxes receivable on the balance sheet grew from $849,557 to $1,153,313. The 2025 budget said staff expected better collections.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$4,817,132municipal debt at December 31, 2025, up from $3,783,348 a year before
The 2025 budget says savings were drawn on and new loans taken "to keep taxes lower". The tax rate rose 4.98% (the levy rose 6.49%). In 2025 the Township's municipal debt rose from $3,783,348 to $4,817,132, and its working capital reserve fell from $2,321,280 to $1,955,590.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 6 sources
$726,292spent on environmental services in 2025, against a budget of $421,369
In 2025 the Township's environmental services spending was 72% over its budget (worked out by us from the two printed figures). It was $806,079 in 2024. General government was also above budget, at $1,562,699 against $1,404,895.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
+60%police, fire and safety, 2019 to 2025
North Stormont spent $717K on police, fire and safety in 2019 and $1.1M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
+52%water, sewers and garbage, 2019 to 2025
North Stormont spent $948K on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $1.4M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$98per home on council, 2025
North Stormont spent about $98 per home on council in 2025. The typical similar town spent $52. Only 5 of 42 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
$3,184,103spent on capital assets in 2025, against a budget of $6,922,081
The statements compare the 2025 budget with actual results. Spending on buying or building assets was less than half of plan. Capital grants came in at $775,855 against a budget of $2,084,047, and the planned annual surplus of $3,937,579 ended at $1,850,509. Loan money received was $1,400,000 against a budgeted $1,725,000.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$3,274,235water and sewer reserves at December 31, 2025 (2024: $2,151,409)
Water and sewer reserves went from $2,151,409 to $3,274,235 in 2025, a gain of $1,122,826 (worked out by us). Water and sewer are paid by users of the system, not through property taxes. The Township says its 5.7% yearly rate increases follow a consulting firm's long-range plan adopted in 2020.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
+106%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2025
North Stormont spent $540K on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $1.1M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 2 of 42 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Parks, arena and library | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | −14% | +1% |
| 2021 | −6% | +4% |
| 2022 | +34% | +11% |
| 2023 | +44% | +16% |
| 2024 | +73% | +18% |
| 2025 | +106% | +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 North Stormont? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Parks, arena and library: 2019 $540K, 2020 $464K, 2021 $507K, 2022 $722K, 2023 $776K, 2024 $935K, 2025 $1.1M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Arena and buildings, from $398K to $695K.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 59%. North Stormont ranks 3rd of 43.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 42 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Qualifiedthe auditor's opinion on both the 2024 and 2025 statements
The auditor said the 2024 and 2025 statements are fair except for one gap. The Township had not finished working out what it will owe to take its buildings, lagoons, landfill and similar assets out of service one day, so none of that was counted. The Township says it is still working on it.
A qualified opinion means the auditor could not fully vouch for the numbers. Here the missing piece is a future cost that is not in the statements, so the Township's real debts may be larger than the statements show. We cannot tell how much.
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 North Stormont? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The auditor's report for 2025 is headed "Qualified Opinion" and says: "The Township did not complete its analysis as described in note 1(j), and thus liabilities arising from legal obligations associated with the retirement of certain tangible capital assets and their related disclosures were not recorded in the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025." It is dated June 9, 2026.
Financial statements 2025 (Welch LLP report) · PDF pages 4 to 5 (printed pages 2 to 3), Independent Auditor's Report
The Township's own note says: "The Township is currently in the process of completing its assessment on the impact of PS 3280's implementation on the assets described above."
Financial statements 2025 · PDF page 11 (printed page 9), note 1(j) Asset Retirement Obligations
The auditor's report for 2024 is also headed "Qualified Opinion" and gives the same reason: "liabilities arising from legal obligations associated with the retirement of certain tangible capital assets and their related disclosures were not recorded in the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024."
Financial statements 2024 (Welch LLP report) · PDF page 4 (printed page 2), Independent Auditor's Report
$2,221,577"accounts receivable - other" at December 31, 2025 (2023: $1,097,650)
Money owed to the Township under "accounts receivable - other" went from $1,097,650 at the end of 2023 to $2,231,237 at the end of 2024, and was $2,221,577 at the end of 2025. It is by far the largest piece of what the Township is owed outside of taxes. The notes do not say who owes it.
Most of what the Township is owed outside of taxes sits in one unlabelled line. Residents cannot tell whether it is a safe amount owed by a government, or money that is slow to 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 North Stormont? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 3 lists "Accounts receivable - other" at $2,221,577 for 2025 and $2,231,237 for 2024, out of total accounts receivable of $2,896,162 (2024: $2,878,064). The note does not say who owes the money.
Financial statements 2025 · PDF page 13 (printed page 11), note 3 Accounts Receivable
The 2024 statements show "Accounts receivable - other" at $2,231,237 for 2024 and $1,097,650 for 2023, out of total accounts receivable of $2,878,064 (2023: $1,612,556).
Financial statements 2024 · PDF page 13 (printed page 11), note 3 Accounts Receivable
29 %tax arrears as a share of the Township's own levy, December 31, 2025 (2024: 23 %)
The Township's unaudited five-year review shows unpaid taxes (arrears) at 29% of its own levy at the end of 2025, up from 23% a year earlier. Taxes receivable on the balance sheet grew from $849,557 to $1,153,313. The 2025 budget said staff expected better collections.
When more taxes go unpaid, the Township has to cover the gap with cash from other sources or borrow short term. It had drawn $1,000,000 on its credit line at the end of 2024.
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 North Stormont? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Schedule 1 (marked unaudited) lists "Tax Arrears", "% of own levy": 29 % for 2025, 23 % for 2024, 25 % for 2023, 29 % for 2022 and 32 % for 2021. The share of the total levy is shown as 9 % for 2025.
Financial statements 2025 · PDF page 24 (printed page 22), Schedule 1 - Five year financial review (unaudited)
The statement of financial position shows "Taxes receivable" of $1,153,313 for 2025 and $849,557 for 2024.
Financial statements 2025 · PDF page 6 (printed page 4), Statement of Financial Position
Note 4 says the Township "had drawn $nil (2024 - $1,000,000) on the credit facility", a revolving facility of up to $2,800,000 used to finance spending until property taxes arrive.
Financial statements 2025 · PDF page 13 (printed page 11), note 4 Credit Facility
The Township's explanation: in its list of major changes from 2024 to 2025, the 2025 budget includes the line "Reduction in tax penalties due to increased collections 25,000".
Final 2025 Capital and Operating Budgets · PDF page 7 (printed page [6]), Major changes from 2024 to 2025
$4,817,132municipal debt at December 31, 2025, up from $3,783,348 a year before
The 2025 budget says savings were drawn on and new loans taken "to keep taxes lower". The tax rate rose 4.98% (the levy rose 6.49%). In 2025 the Township's municipal debt rose from $3,783,348 to $4,817,132, and its working capital reserve fell from $2,321,280 to $1,955,590.
Savings and loans can smooth a tax increase, but they push costs to later years: reserves have to be rebuilt and loans repaid with interest. Residents may want to know how much of the cost of this year's services is being deferred.
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 North Stormont? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The 2025 budget's key assumptions say: "Transfer from reserves of approximately $776,540 and $410,524 moved to reserves in order to keep the tax rate increase lower." and "Additional borrowing of $1.725 million for the new Township Office and snowplow in order to keep taxes lower".
Final 2025 Capital and Operating Budgets · PDF page 3 (printed page [2]), Executive Summary, Key Assumptions and Rationale
The budget snapshot shows the "Total Tax Levy" going from $3,614,211 to $3,848,843, a change of $234,632 or 6.49%.
Final 2025 Capital and Operating Budgets · PDF page 4 (printed page [3]), Current Budget Snapshot
The Township's explanation: "The annual debt repayment limit from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is 25% of total revenues or $1,569,169. With existing and new debt, the Township will be at $619,612 or roughly 10%."
Final 2025 Capital and Operating Budgets · PDF page 10 (printed page [9]), Debentures and Long-Term Debt
The statement of financial position shows "Municipal debt (note 8)" of $4,817,132 for 2025 and $3,783,348 for 2024. Note 8 lists a new Bank of Montreal debenture loan at 4.88%, due August, 2035, with a balance of $1,386,155 at the end of 2025.
Financial statements 2025 · PDF pages 6 and 15 (printed pages 4 and 13), Statement of Financial Position and note 8 Municipal Debt
Note 10 shows the "Working capital" reserve at $1,955,590 for 2025 and $2,321,280 for 2024.
Financial statements 2025 · PDF page 17 (printed page 15), note 10 Accumulated Surplus
The Executive Summary says: "Proposed municipal tax rate increase for 2025 is 4.98%, for total municipal tax dollars of $3,848,843", and "Municipal tax rate is proposed at an 4.98% increase which would increase the municipal portion by $19 to the residential rate per $100,000 of assessment."
Final 2025 Capital and Operating Budgets · PDF page 3 (printed page [2]), Executive Summary
$726,292spent on environmental services in 2025, against a budget of $421,369
In 2025 the Township's environmental services spending was 72% over its budget (worked out by us from the two printed figures). It was $806,079 in 2024. General government was also above budget, at $1,562,699 against $1,404,895.
Waste collection and disposal are costs most residents use every week. A large miss in one area suggests the budget was off, or something changed during the year. Either way, it should be explained to those who pay.
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 North Stormont? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The statement of operations shows "Environmental services" at 421,369 budgeted, 726,292 actual for 2025 and 806,079 actual for 2024. "General government" shows 1,404,895 budgeted, 1,562,699 actual for 2025.
Financial statements 2025 · PDF page 7 (printed page 5), Statement of Operations, operating expenditures
Note 11 says: "Environmental services includes waste collection, disposal and recycling services."
Financial statements 2025 · PDF page 18 (printed page 16), note 11 Segmented Information
Context from the 2025 budget's list of major changes: "Reduction in recycling costs (154,000)" and "Reduction in waste diversion funding 118,051" with the comment "Due to removed of recycling program - Stewardship funding".
Final 2025 Capital and Operating Budgets · PDF page 7 (printed page [6]), Major changes from 2024 to 2025
+60%police, fire and safety, 2019 to 2025
North Stormont spent $717K on police, fire and safety in 2019 and $1.1M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
| Year | Police, fire and safety | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +9% | +1% |
| 2021 | +21% | +4% |
| 2022 | +36% | +11% |
| 2023 | +33% | +16% |
| 2024 | +50% | +18% |
| 2025 | +60% | +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 North Stormont? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Police, fire and safety: 2019 $717K, 2020 $782K, 2021 $866K, 2022 $973K, 2023 $957K, 2024 $1.1M, 2025 $1.1M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Fire department, from $421K to $700K.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
+52%water, sewers and garbage, 2019 to 2025
North Stormont spent $948K on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $1.4M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
| Year | Water, sewers and garbage | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +20% | +1% |
| 2021 | +29% | +4% |
| 2022 | +48% | +11% |
| 2023 | +35% | +16% |
| 2024 | +77% | +18% |
| 2025 | +52% | +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 North Stormont? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Water, sewers and garbage: 2019 $948K, 2020 $1.1M, 2021 $1.2M, 2022 $1.4M, 2023 $1.3M, 2024 $1.7M, 2025 $1.4M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: The dump (landfill), from $237K to $590K.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
$98per home on council, 2025
North Stormont spent about $98 per home on council in 2025. The typical similar town spent $52. Only 5 of 42 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 North Stormont? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Council per home: North Stormont $98; typical similar town $52; ranked 6th highest of 43.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 42 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy
$3,184,103spent on capital assets in 2025, against a budget of $6,922,081
The statements compare the 2025 budget with actual results. Spending on buying or building assets was less than half of plan. Capital grants came in at $775,855 against a budget of $2,084,047, and the planned annual surplus of $3,937,579 ended at $1,850,509. Loan money received was $1,400,000 against a budgeted $1,725,000.
Residents are asked to approve a budget that includes projects and the loans and grants to pay for them. A large gap raises the question of which projects slipped, and whether they will cost more 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 North Stormont? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The statement of changes in net financial assets shows "Acquisition of tangible capital assets and assets under construction" of (6,922,081) budgeted and (3,184,103) actual for 2025, and "Annual surplus" of $3,937,579 budgeted and $1,850,509 actual.
Financial statements 2025 · PDF page 8 (printed page 6), Statement of Changes in Net Financial Assets
The statement of operations shows "Government transfers - capital" of 2,084,047 budgeted and 775,855 actual for 2025.
Financial statements 2025 · PDF page 7 (printed page 5), Statement of Operations
Note 15 reconciles the budget and lists "Loan proceeds included as income (1,725,000)". The statement of cash flows shows "Proceeds from long-term debt" of 1,400,000 for 2025.
Financial statements 2025 · PDF pages 21 and 9 (printed pages 19 and 7), note 15 Budgeted Figures and Statement of Cash Flows
$3,274,235water and sewer reserves at December 31, 2025 (2024: $2,151,409)
Water and sewer reserves went from $2,151,409 to $3,274,235 in 2025, a gain of $1,122,826 (worked out by us). Water and sewer are paid by users of the system, not through property taxes. The Township says its 5.7% yearly rate increases follow a consulting firm's long-range plan adopted in 2020.
Water customers pay rates that rise each year. A reserve is meant to pay for future repairs, so it is worth knowing how large it should be and what it is saving for.
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 North Stormont? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 10 lists the "Water and sewer" reserve at $3,274,235 for 2025 and $2,151,409 for 2024.
Financial statements 2025 · PDF page 17 (printed page 15), note 10 Accumulated Surplus
The Township's explanation: "Water and wastewater are user fee based and only those on the systems, pay for the service. This does not affect the tax base." and "The 2025 budget includes a 5.7% rate increase which aligns with the recommendations outlined in the BMA Management Consulting Inc.'s water and wastewater long range financial plan adopted by Council in 2020."
Final 2025 Capital and Operating Budgets · PDF page 6 (printed page [5]), Water and Wastewater