$427,627increase in the police line of the 2026 levy, out of a total levy increase of $597,451
The Township pays the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) a contract fee for policing. The Township's own slides show that the line for police raised the tax levy by $427,627 (29%) in 2026, out of a total levy increase of $597,451 (5.33%). The Township says the cost is only an estimate: it assumed the 11% cap on the yearly OPP increase and said it would adjust once the OPP sent its real bill. Part of the large percentage is that the 2025 budget counted a $266,109 Ontario grant on the police lines, and the 2026 budget counts $11,218.
$6,370,414annual surplus in 2025, against $3,258,683 in the budget figures
A surplus is what is left when a year's revenue is more than its spending. The audited statements show an annual surplus of $6,370,414 for 2025, against $3,258,683 in the budget figures printed beside them, and $1,400,734 in 2024. Spending came in close to the budget ($17,027,730 against $17,136,788). The gap came from revenue: $23,398,144 against $20,395,471. Three lines stand out: user fees and service charges, investment income, and development charges earned. The Township has explained part of this: its note says the budget figures are restated to the accounting basis, and the capital budget was far bigger than the capital actually spent in the year.
$766,696investment interest received to October 2025, against $115,000 budgeted for 2025 and for 2026
The Township keeps savings in investments ($11,686,728 at the end of 2025). The audited 2025 statements show investment income of $1,236,333 against a budget of $328,418. The 2026 budget package shows the line for investment interest at $115,000 for both 2025 and 2026, while the same table shows $766,696 received by the end of October 2025. The budget package's figures run to October 2025, and they cover one account line, so they are not the same measure as the audited statement.
$24,780,915reserves and reserve funds at December 31, 2025, up from $20,369,972
A reserve is money set aside for later use, like a savings account for roads, water and fire trucks. The audited statements show reserves and reserve funds grew from $20,369,972 to $24,780,915 in 2025, after $6,347,983 was put in from operations and $1,937,040 was used. The Township's November 2025 budget package had expected the total of all reserves to end 2025 at $22,414,914 and to fall to $20,200,256 by the end of 2026. The Township has explained part of the reason: staff say the corporate budget includes a transfer to the asset reserves "per Asset Management Plan", and the Plan says current funding is well short of what the Township's assets will need.