$89,421working capital reserve at December 31, 2025, down from $690,764
A reserve is money the Town saves for a purpose. The working capital reserve is general savings the Town can use to cover cash gaps and projects. The 2026 budget book shows $1,491,297 in the "Transfer to Working Capital Reserve" line for 2025, in both its "actual" (through August 31, 2025) and 2025 budget columns, and $1,673,553 planned for 2026. The audited statements show the working capital reserve at $89,421 at December 31, 2025, down from $690,764 a year earlier. If the planned transfer was made, about $2,092,640 came out of the reserve during the year (worked out by us). Total reserves barely moved ($5,454,313 against $5,484,576), because other reserves, including an "Operating tax reduction" reserve that started the year at nothing and ended at $204,509, grew.
$14,139,433contract for the Bright's Grove water intake replacement, including HST
The Town has signed a $14,139,433 contract (it says this includes HST) to replace the water intake at the Bright's Grove plant, with work meant to finish by October 2026. Unfinished work of $10,201,088 was on the books at the end of 2025, up from $4,253,340. The 2026 budget book shows $10,293,450 of intake spending against a grant line of $7,514,219, which leaves $2,779,231 (worked out by us). In the same budget the water department takes $2,024,081 from reserves. The waterworks reserve stood at $2,076,644 at the end of 2025, so about $52,563 would remain (worked out by us). The Town also owes $5,285,527 on debentures (loans repaid over many years).
$2,152,538general government expenses in 2025, against a budget of $1,531,858
General government is the cost of running the Town itself: council, the clerk's and treasury offices, insurance, legal costs, computers and buildings. The 2025 statements show $2,152,538 spent, against a 2025 budget of $1,531,858 (about $620,680 over, worked out by us) and $1,797,225 in 2024. The budget book gives a partial look at why: by August 31, 2025 the legal line had used $42,134 of its $45,000 budget, and insurance had used $109,397 against a full-year budget of $100,967. The statements do not say which lines made up the rest of the gap.
$5,410,913environmental services expenses in 2025, against a budget of $4,710,876
Environmental services covers water, sewers and garbage and recycling. The 2025 statements show $5,410,913 spent against a budget of $4,710,876, about $700,037 more (worked out by us), and $4,936,009 in 2024. Revenue also ran above budget: "Fees and user charges" came in at $2,544,809 against $2,036,738, and fees from other municipalities at $1,551,560 against $1,150,000, while "Water and sewer charges" were close to budget at $3,532,387 against $3,560,876. The statements do not say whether the extra spending was matched by the extra fees.