Questions · 12 so far
We read Pelham's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 35 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
$11.9Min savings at the end of 2025
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Pelham had $11.9M saved at the end of 2025, up from $5.1M in 2019. That is 40% of one year's spending. Only 1 of 35 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
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.
$250,000budgeted for supplemental taxes in 2026, against $436,046 collected in 2024
Supplemental taxes are extra property tax bills sent when a new or renovated building is added to the assessment roll part-way through a year. The 2026 budget book shows the Town collected $730,738 of them in 2023 and $436,046 in 2024. Both the 2025 budget and the 2026 budget plan for $250,000. The Treasurer's 2025 report says the 2025 surplus was mostly because supplemental taxes and some other revenues came in above budget. It does not print the 2025 supplemental amount in the pages we could read.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$666,000winter control over budget in 2025, per the annual report
Winter control is snow plowing, salting and sanding. The 2025 annual report says winter control was $666,000 over budget in 2025 and $550,000 over the 2024 actual, because of a record number of callouts. The 2026 budget book shows 2024 winter control cost $851,033 against an approved budget of $727,626, and the 2026 budget is $737,490, up $2,459 from 2025. Adding the 2025 overrun to the 2025 budget gives about $1.4 million, worked out by us: the 2026 budget is about half of that.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$1,591,816actual 2024 net cost of shared administration, against an approved $892,443
Shared administrative overhead is a cost line for things that serve the whole Town, such as insurance, legal fees, WSIB (workers' injury insurance) and postage. The 2025 budget book shows $892,443 approved for 2024 and no money going to reserves. The 2026 budget book shows the 2024 actual cost was $1,591,816, including $887,696 moved to reserves, and $139,617 spent on contract services against $90,000 approved. The difference is $699,373, worked out by us.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$28,268,107total debt obligations planned for the end of 2026, up from $22,199,979
The 2025 annual report celebrates that net debt (what the Town owes less what it holds in financial assets) fell from $7.3 million to $4.6 million, helped by "restraint in taking out debt". The 2026 capital budget then plans $8,000,000 of new borrowing for a rebuilt Fire Station 1, and a further $1.0 million for a hospital contribution, expected in 2027. The debenture schedule shows total debt obligations rising from $22,199,979 to $28,268,107 in 2026. The Town says the station's debt payments will be covered by a debt repayment reserve and development charges, not the tax levy.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$1,479,643planned 2026 shortfall at the Meridian Community Centre, up from $817,889 in 2023
The Town's budget book adds up everything for the Meridian Community Centre (the Town's main arena and recreation building) into one table. After debt and other items it shows a shortfall that taxes cover: $817,889 in 2023, $960,336 in 2024, $1,396,135 budgeted for 2025 and $1,479,643 budgeted for 2026. Staff pay and benefits for the centre rise from $1,758,642 in 2023 to $2,523,672 in 2026. Revenues are planned to rise from $1,632,654 to $1,811,500. Worked out by us, the shortfall is up about 81% and staff cost about 43% over those years.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$135Kfor new positions and position changes, as the 2026 budget notes put it
The 2026 budget book explains a $618,065 rise in salaries and wages. One piece reads: "$135K for new positions and position changes not approved by Council". Other notes mention a new part-time and a new full-time position. Separately, the Town's Mayoral decisions page says the Mayor has the power to "establish or amend the organizational structure" of the Town, and lists a Mayoral decision delegating organizational structure and employment matters to the CAO.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
+57%police, fire and safety, 2019 to 2025
Pelham spent $1.6M on police, fire and safety in 2019 and $2.5M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
+88%water, sewers and garbage, 2019 to 2025
Pelham spent $4.0M on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $7.5M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
36 daysthe longest the Town says its 2026 budget process can take under the strong-mayor rules
Under strong-mayor rules the Mayor proposes the budget and council may amend it. The Town's page says council can pass amendments within 30 days, and that Pelham has shortened the later steps so the whole process takes at most 36 days. The 2026 schedule shows draft budgets available to council on October 29, 2025, the Finance and Audit Committee review on November 6 and the presentation to council on November 17. A Mayoral decision dated November 18, 2025 says no amendments were proposed or passed, so the budget was deemed adopted as presented.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$16.8 million vs $17.4 millioncapital projects carried forward to 2026, as stated on two pages of the same report
The Treasurer's message says $16.8 million of capital projects are carried forward to 2026. The accumulated surplus page says about $17.4 million is carrying forward. One page says the Town acquired $9.0 million of tangible capital assets (buildings, roads and equipment) in 2025 and another says $7.9 million. The Treasurer's message also says 59 grant applications totalling $5.4 million led to 10 approvals worth $17.1 million, and the financial overview describes the position at "December 31, 2024" in a report on 2025.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$177per home on snow ploughing, 2025
Pelham spent about $177 per home on snow ploughing in 2025. The typical similar town spent $118. Only 5 of 35 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
$11.9Min savings at the end of 2025
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Pelham had $11.9M saved at the end of 2025, up from $5.1M in 2019. That is 40% of one year's spending. Only 1 of 35 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
| Year | Savings (reserves) |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $5.1M |
| 2020 | $10.1M |
| 2021 | $13.9M |
| 2022 | $13.1M |
| 2023 | $10.0M |
| 2024 | $10.8M |
| 2025 | $11.9M |
With little saved, a broken bridge or a storm has to be paid for with a sudden tax increase or a loan. Low savings can also mean past budgets were balanced by spending savings instead of facing the real cost.
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 Pelham? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Savings (reserves and reserve funds): 2019 $5.1M, 2020 $10.1M, 2021 $13.9M, 2022 $13.1M, 2023 $10.0M, 2024 $10.8M, 2025 $11.9M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 70, line 6420 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: savings equal to 94% of a year's spending. Pelham: 40%.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 35 similar municipalities · Schedules 40 and 70 · archived copy
$250,000budgeted for supplemental taxes in 2026, against $436,046 collected in 2024
Supplemental taxes are extra property tax bills sent when a new or renovated building is added to the assessment roll part-way through a year. The 2026 budget book shows the Town collected $730,738 of them in 2023 and $436,046 in 2024. Both the 2025 budget and the 2026 budget plan for $250,000. The Treasurer's 2025 report says the 2025 surplus was mostly because supplemental taxes and some other revenues came in above budget. It does not print the 2025 supplemental amount in the pages we could read.
A budget is the promise made to taxpayers about what the year will cost. If a revenue line is set well below what it has brought in for years, the tax rate can be higher than it needed to be, and the extra shows up later as a surplus.
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 Pelham? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Finance Services page: "Supplemental Taxation Revenue" 2023 actual $730,738, 2024 actual $436,046, 2025 approved budget $250,000, 2026 approved budget $250,000. The summary of major revenues also shows "Supplemental Taxation Revenue" of 250,000 in both years.
Town of Pelham 2026 Approved Operating Budgets · Finance Services, PDF page 33 (printed page 30); Summary of Major Revenues, PDF page 20 (printed page 17)
The Treasurer's message says the financial statement surplus of $4.7 million "exceeded budget, and is primarily a result supplemental taxation, interest, and recreation program revenues which exceeded budget, and unbudgeted grants." The overview adds: "Property tax revenue was higher than budget because of supplemental taxation revenue, which is a result of growth in the Town", it says. It prints the annual surplus as $ 4,720,490 and does not print the 2025 supplemental taxation amount.
Town of Pelham 2025 Annual Report · Message from the Treasurer, PDF page 23; Consolidated Statement of Operations overview, PDF page 32
$666,000winter control over budget in 2025, per the annual report
Winter control is snow plowing, salting and sanding. The 2025 annual report says winter control was $666,000 over budget in 2025 and $550,000 over the 2024 actual, because of a record number of callouts. The 2026 budget book shows 2024 winter control cost $851,033 against an approved budget of $727,626, and the 2026 budget is $737,490, up $2,459 from 2025. Adding the 2025 overrun to the 2025 budget gives about $1.4 million, worked out by us: the 2026 budget is about half of that.
When a cost goes over budget two years in a row and the next budget does not change, council is either counting on mild winters or planning to cover another overrun from reserves. Residents should 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 Pelham? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Actual winter control cost for 2025 and how the overrun was paid for, with wording you can copy.
Transportation services "are higher than budget mainly due to high demand for winter control services, leading to a record number of operational callouts. The total winter control amount over budget was $666,000 and $550,000 over from 2024 actual."
Town of Pelham 2025 Annual Report · Expenses, PDF page 34
Winter Control, Total Expenditures: 2023 actual 690,283; 2024 actual 851,033; 2025 approved budget 735,031; 2026 approved budget 737,490. 2024 "Transfer from Reserve" $123,406. The page's note says nothing about the 2025 overrun.
Town of Pelham 2026 Approved Operating Budgets · Winter Control, PDF page 46 (printed page 43)
Winter Control, Total Expenditures: 2022 actual 794,210; 2023 actual 690,283; 2024 approved budget 727,626; 2025 approved budget 735,031.
Town of Pelham 2025 Approved Operating Budgets · Winter Control, PDF page 45 (printed page 42)
$1,591,816actual 2024 net cost of shared administration, against an approved $892,443
Shared administrative overhead is a cost line for things that serve the whole Town, such as insurance, legal fees, WSIB (workers' injury insurance) and postage. The 2025 budget book shows $892,443 approved for 2024 and no money going to reserves. The 2026 budget book shows the 2024 actual cost was $1,591,816, including $887,696 moved to reserves, and $139,617 spent on contract services against $90,000 approved. The difference is $699,373, worked out by us.
A reserve transfer in the middle of an operating line is easy to miss. Residents can only tell whether it was a planned saving or an unplanned cost if the Town says what the $887,696 was.
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 Pelham? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: What the $887,696 reserve transfer in 2024 was, with wording you can copy.
Shared Administrative Overhead, 2024 actual: Contract Services $139,617; "Transfer to Reserve" 887,696; Total Expenditures 1,792,346; Net Levy Requirements $ 1,591,816. For 2025 the approved budget shows Contract Services 90,000 and no transfer to reserve.
Town of Pelham 2026 Approved Operating Budgets · Shared Administrative Overhead, PDF page 34 (printed page 31)
Shared Administrative Overhead, 2024 approved budget: Contract Services 90,000; Transfer to Reserve shown as a dash; Total Expenditures 1,092,443; Net Levy Requirements $ 892,443.
Town of Pelham 2025 Approved Operating Budgets · Shared Administrative Overhead, PDF page 33 (printed page 30)
$28,268,107total debt obligations planned for the end of 2026, up from $22,199,979
The 2025 annual report celebrates that net debt (what the Town owes less what it holds in financial assets) fell from $7.3 million to $4.6 million, helped by "restraint in taking out debt". The 2026 capital budget then plans $8,000,000 of new borrowing for a rebuilt Fire Station 1, and a further $1.0 million for a hospital contribution, expected in 2027. The debenture schedule shows total debt obligations rising from $22,199,979 to $28,268,107 in 2026. The Town says the station's debt payments will be covered by a debt repayment reserve and development charges, not the tax levy.
Debt payments come out of future budgets. Even if reserves cover them for now, residents should know how long the reserve lasts and what happens when it runs out.
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 Pelham? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Facilities page: project FAC 01-26 Fire Station #1 - Expansion and Rehabilitation, approved budget 8,000,000, financed by DC Debenture 1,871,400 and Debenture 6,128,600. Debenture schedule: "2026 Total Debt Obligations" $22,199,979 beginning balance, $8,000,000 2026 debt, $28,268,107 year end balance. The Debentures and Debt page says the tax levy part is "fully covered by contributions from the debt repayment reserve", that "The $1.0 million debt for the Hospital contribution is an operating debt" with payments of $90,571 for 15 years, and that debt costs are "not projected to exceed" the 25% provincial limit or the Town's 12% limit.
Town of Pelham 2026 Approved Capital Budget · Facilities, PDF pages 39 to 40; Debentures and Debt, PDF page 150; 2026 Debenture Schedule, PDF page 172
The Treasurer's message says net debt "decreased from $7.3 million to $4.6 million" and that this "is primarily the result of increased transfers to reserves, restraint in taking out debt, and some delays in capital projects." The financial overview says "Long-term debt decreased by $2.07 million due to principal payments on debt, while no new debt was issued in the year."
Town of Pelham 2025 Annual Report · Message from the Treasurer, PDF page 23; Financial Liabilities, PDF page 27
$1,479,643planned 2026 shortfall at the Meridian Community Centre, up from $817,889 in 2023
The Town's budget book adds up everything for the Meridian Community Centre (the Town's main arena and recreation building) into one table. After debt and other items it shows a shortfall that taxes cover: $817,889 in 2023, $960,336 in 2024, $1,396,135 budgeted for 2025 and $1,479,643 budgeted for 2026. Staff pay and benefits for the centre rise from $1,758,642 in 2023 to $2,523,672 in 2026. Revenues are planned to rise from $1,632,654 to $1,811,500. Worked out by us, the shortfall is up about 81% and staff cost about 43% over those years.
A community centre does not have to pay for itself, but residents who fund the shortfall through taxes should know how large it is meant to be and what the pay increase buys.
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 Pelham? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Meridian Community Centre Consolidated Budget: Total Revenues 1,632,654 (2023 actual), 1,637,298 (2024 actual), 1,679,000 (2025 approved), 1,811,500 (2026 approved). Salaries and Benefits 1,758,642, 1,979,657, 2,387,807, 2,523,672. "NET SURPLUS (DEFICIT)" $ (817,889), $ (960,336), $ (1,396,135), $ (1,479,643). Note (3): "Salary Grid movement, COLA, and increase in part-time staff due to increase in activity."
Town of Pelham 2026 Approved Operating Budgets · Meridian Community Centre Consolidated Budget, PDF pages 64 to 66 (printed pages 61 to 63)
Debenture schedule note 2: "Debt will be funded by MCC capital donations pledged for future years until they are no longer able to cover the debt payments, at which time it will become operating debt. This is estimated to occur in 2026." The schedule shows MCC donation pledge debt of $ 2,710,475 at the start of 2026.
Town of Pelham 2026 Approved Capital Budget · 2026 Debenture Schedule, PDF pages 171 to 172
$135Kfor new positions and position changes, as the 2026 budget notes put it
The 2026 budget book explains a $618,065 rise in salaries and wages. One piece reads: "$135K for new positions and position changes not approved by Council". Other notes mention a new part-time and a new full-time position. Separately, the Town's Mayoral decisions page says the Mayor has the power to "establish or amend the organizational structure" of the Town, and lists a Mayoral decision delegating organizational structure and employment matters to the CAO.
Residents expect council to see and vote on new staff positions. If the phrase is a slip, it should be fixed. If positions were added by another route, residents should know who decides.
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 Pelham? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: The positions behind the $135,000 in the 2026 budget, with wording you can copy.
Summary of Major Expenditures, Salaries and Wages $ 8,495,364 (2025) to $ 9,113,429 (2026), change $ 618,065. Note (1): "$376K in increases for cost of living adjustments, salary grid movements, and minimum/living wage increases for existing staff; $135K for new positions and position changes not approved by Council; $85K for volunteer firefighter points."
Town of Pelham 2026 Approved Operating Budgets · Summary of Major Expenditures, PDF page 25 (printed page 22)
The Mayor's special powers include to "Hire and dismiss certain Town officials and establish or amend the organizational structure of the Town of Pelham". The page lists "MD 2025-01 - Delegation of Organizational Structure, Employment Matters to CAO". We did not read that decision: its PDF is a picture with no text layer.
Mayoral Decisions and Directions (web page) · Introduction and the Mayoral Decisions list
+57%police, fire and safety, 2019 to 2025
Pelham spent $1.6M on police, fire and safety in 2019 and $2.5M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
| Year | Police, fire and safety | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +6% | +1% |
| 2021 | +18% | +4% |
| 2022 | +24% | +11% |
| 2023 | +37% | +16% |
| 2024 | +54% | +18% |
| 2025 | +57% | +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 Pelham? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Police, fire and safety: 2019 $1.6M, 2020 $1.7M, 2021 $1.8M, 2022 $2.0M, 2023 $2.2M, 2024 $2.4M, 2025 $2.5M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Fire department, from $966K to $1.5M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
+88%water, sewers and garbage, 2019 to 2025
Pelham spent $4.0M on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $7.5M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
| Year | Water, sewers and garbage | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +10% | +1% |
| 2021 | +14% | +4% |
| 2022 | +25% | +11% |
| 2023 | +42% | +16% |
| 2024 | +49% | +18% |
| 2025 | +88% | +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 Pelham? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Water, sewers and garbage: 2019 $4.0M, 2020 $4.4M, 2021 $4.6M, 2022 $5.0M, 2023 $5.7M, 2024 $6.0M, 2025 $7.5M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Sewer pipes, from $1.6M to $3.6M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
36 daysthe longest the Town says its 2026 budget process can take under the strong-mayor rules
Under strong-mayor rules the Mayor proposes the budget and council may amend it. The Town's page says council can pass amendments within 30 days, and that Pelham has shortened the later steps so the whole process takes at most 36 days. The 2026 schedule shows draft budgets available to council on October 29, 2025, the Finance and Audit Committee review on November 6 and the presentation to council on November 17. A Mayoral decision dated November 18, 2025 says no amendments were proposed or passed, so the budget was deemed adopted as presented.
A budget with no changes can mean council agreed with it, or that there was too little time or too little debate. Residents cannot tell which from the documents we could read, because the meeting minutes were not available to us.
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 Pelham? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
"After the budget is proposed, Council has the authority to pass resolutions amending the proposed budget within 30 days of its receipt." "As a result, the complete budget process has a maximum duration of 36 days and may proceed even faster if veto powers are not exercised." Schedule: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 draft capital and operating budgets available for Council and the Finance and Audit Committee; Thursday, November 6, 2025 Finance and Audit Committee review; Monday, November 17, 2025 Special Meeting presentation at Committee of the Whole.
Mayor's Budget (web page) · How do strong mayor powers work?; 2026 Budget Schedule
Mayoral Decision 2025-02, November 18, 2025: "no amendments to the 2026 Capital and Operating Budget were proposed or passed by Council during the review period." It adds that the 2026 Budget is "deemed adopted as originally presented."
Mayoral Decision 2025-02, Strong Mayor Budget Process · Page 1
$16.8 million vs $17.4 millioncapital projects carried forward to 2026, as stated on two pages of the same report
The Treasurer's message says $16.8 million of capital projects are carried forward to 2026. The accumulated surplus page says about $17.4 million is carrying forward. One page says the Town acquired $9.0 million of tangible capital assets (buildings, roads and equipment) in 2025 and another says $7.9 million. The Treasurer's message also says 59 grant applications totalling $5.4 million led to 10 approvals worth $17.1 million, and the financial overview describes the position at "December 31, 2024" in a report on 2025.
These are small differences, and may well have simple causes, but readers rely on this report. Figures that disagree inside one document make it harder to trust the rest.
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 Pelham? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Treasurer's message: "The Town has $16.8 million of capital projects being carried forward to 2026." "59 grant applications were submitted in 2025, totalling $5.4 million. Of which 10 were approved in the amount of $17.1 million. These included grants applied in 2024 but received approval in 2025". Accumulated surplus page: "The Town has approximately $17.4 million in projects carrying forward to be completed in 2026 which were budgeted in prior years, of which $12.7 million will be funded from these reserves." Tangible capital assets page: "the Town of Pelham acquired $9.0 million of tangible capital assets." Change in net debt page: "the acquisition of tangible capital assets of $7.9 million". Financial position overview: "at December 31, 2024".
Town of Pelham 2025 Annual Report · Message from the Treasurer, PDF page 23; Financial Overview, PDF page 26; Tangible Capital Assets, PDF page 29; Accumulated Surplus, PDF page 30; Change in Net Debt, PDF page 36
$177per home on snow ploughing, 2025
Pelham spent about $177 per home on snow ploughing in 2025. The typical similar town spent $118. Only 5 of 35 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 Pelham? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Snow ploughing per home: Pelham $177; typical similar town $118; ranked 6th highest of 36.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 35 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy