Not the full picture. Built from public records, which leave things out.Read by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date. Check the sources, and tell us if you spot a mistake. What this site can't tell you Read by hand. We read Petrolia's own documents for this site in October 2026; the Sources page lists which ones. The comparisons with other places still come from the Province's yearly reports.
Questions · 8 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Petrolia's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 72 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
What these are, and what they are not. A question here means a number or practice is unusual, or harder to see than it should be. It does not mean anyone did anything wrong. Most unusual numbers turn out to have ordinary explanations, and every question lists some. The only way to know is to ask.
Worth asking
Worth asking
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
$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.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$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).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$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.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$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.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
2020latest year of council pay statement we found on the Town's site (none for 2021 to 2025)
Ontario's Municipal Act (section 284) requires the Town to give council, by March 31 each year, a statement of what each member was paid in the year before; these statements are public records. The Town's Mayor and Council page links statements for 2014 to 2018 and for 2020. We did not find statements for 2019 or for 2021 to 2025 on that page or on the Town's financial information page. The 2026 budget gives a sense of the amounts: council salaries of $130,000 in the 2025 budget and $136,500 in the 2026 budget, and total council expenses of $188,300 and $197,550.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Petrolia had $5.5M saved at the end of 2024, down from $6.2M in 2019. That is 46% of one year's spending. Only 12 of 72 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$5,372,526surplus in 2025, against a budgeted $2,272,465
A surplus is what is left when a year's revenue is more than its spending. The 2025 statements show total revenue of $21,664,134 against a budget of $15,837,377. Most of the gap is grants: $5,844,054 came in, against $1,791,869 budgeted. The Town's own note says $4,752,900 of the grants were for capital work (building things that last, such as roads and water plants), up from $735,929 the year before. Grant money for a project is usually spent on that project, so the surplus is not all free cash. The Town explains that its budget is built a different way from the audited statements.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$1,789,574theatre revenue budgeted for 2026, against $1,778,023 of theatre expenses
The Town itself runs a professional summer theatre, the Victoria Playhouse Petrolia (VPP), in Victoria Hall. The 2026 budget shows theatre revenue of $1,789,574 against theatre expenses of $1,778,023, a gap of $11,551 (worked out by us) that matches the rehearsal hall's total expenses of $11,551, so the budget lands at zero. Ticket sales are budgeted at $1,225,000, which is most of the revenue. The budget book gives 2025 only through August 31, 2025, when revenue was $1,306,368 and theatre expenses $1,123,000, with the sixth show's costs ($38,873 of $160,477 budgeted) mostly still to come. We did not find a published result for the full 2025 season.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$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.
Why it matters
A reserve is the cushion for surprises. If the Town plans to add $1.5 million a year to it but the balance keeps falling, residents should be told what the money was spent on and what the balance is meant to be.
It could be because…
The reserve was used to pay the Town's share of capital projects, such as the water intake, which is what a working capital reserve is for.
The "actual" column in the budget book may show the planned transfer, booked in one step, rather than money that moved.
Money may have moved between reserves (for example into the operating tax reduction reserve) as part of a plan.
Questions you could ask
What was the working capital reserve spent on in 2025, and what balance does Council want to hold?
Does the budget book's "actual" column for reserve transfers show money that really moved?
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 Petrolia?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
2026 operating budget summary, "Less: transfers to reserves": Transfer to Working Capital Reserve actual 2025 (up to Aug 31/25) 1,491,297, budget 2025 1,491,297, budget 2026 1,673,553. Transfer to CCBF - Gas Tax Reserve 196,927 in each column. Transfer to OCIF Formula Based Reserve 584,242 (2025) and 587,775 (2026). Total transfers 2,272,465 (2025) and 2,458,255 (2026).
$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).
Why it matters
The intake is a large project for a town whose yearly tax levy is under $7 million. Residents pay for any shortfall through water rates, taxes or new borrowing, and the water reserve is also the cushion for repairs to the water system.
It could be because…
The Town may have planned this: the reserve was built up for exactly this project and the grants cover most of the cost.
The grant line in the budget may not be the only funding; other grants or recoveries may arrive that the budget book does not show yet.
The contract figure includes HST, which municipalities largely get back, so the net cost is lower.
Questions you could ask
What is the full funding plan for the intake: grants, reserves, borrowing and water rates?
What reserve will the Town hold for water repairs once the intake is paid 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 Petrolia?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 14, Commitments, Brights Grove WTP Intake Replacement: the Town has contracted with a construction company for the project "in the amount of $14,139,433 including HST"; "expected to commence April 2025, with completion by October 2026."
Note 9: assets under construction "having a value of $10,201,088 (2024 - $4,253,340) have not been amortized." Note 8: municipal debt 5,285,527 (2024: 5,814,157); principal repayments 2026 437,575, 2027 414,091, 2028 389,270, 2029 402,189, 2030 415,534, thereafter 3,226,868.
$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.
Why it matters
This is spending on the Town's own operations rather than services to residents. A line that runs 40 per cent over budget in one year should have a published reason.
It could be because…
The budget and the statements group costs differently (for example, amortization, the yearly wearing-out of buildings and equipment, and shared staff costs may sit in different lines).
Insurance prices rose across Ontario, and the legal line may include a one-off matter.
Costs of planning for the 2026 election and new software or computer support may have been added during the year.
Questions you could ask
Which lines made up the $620,680 gap between budget and actual for general government in 2025?
Does the Town report spending against budget to Council during the year, and where are those reports posted?
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 Petrolia?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Statement of operations, expenses: "General government" budget 2025 1,531,858, actual 2025 2,152,538, actual 2024 1,797,225. "TOTAL EXPENSES" budget 13,564,912, actual 16,291,608 (2024: 15,226,999).
General administration, legal and professional fees: "GEN ADMIN-LEGAL AND ASSOCIATED COSTS" actual 2025 (up to Aug 31/25) 42,134, budget 2025 45,000, budget 2026 45,000. "F.O.I. / INTEGRITY COMM / CLOSED MTG" 6,100, 7,500 and 7,500. "GEN ADMIN-INSURANCE" 109,397, 100,967 and 115,000.
$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.
Why it matters
Water and sewer costs are paid for by rates, so a spending overrun in these services lands on household water bills rather than on the tax levy.
It could be because…
Extra work billed to other municipalities (the Town sells water to neighbours) brings extra cost with it, and the extra fees may cover it.
The Town's contract operators of the water and sewage plants may have charged more for repairs, as the contracts allow variable costs on top of the yearly price.
Work on the intake project may have been counted partly in this line.
Questions you could ask
How much of the $700,037 was water sold to other municipalities, and was it matched by fees from them?
Do water and sewer rates for 2026 take the 2025 overrun into account?
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 Petrolia?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Statement of operations, 2025: "Environmental services" budget 4,710,876, actual 5,410,913, 2024 actual 4,936,009. "Water and sewer charges" 3,560,876, 3,532,387 and 3,462,388. "Fees and user charges" 2,036,738, 2,544,809 and 2,392,167. "Fees and user charges - other Municipalities" 1,150,000, 1,551,560 and 1,449,578 (budget, 2025 actual, 2024 actual).
Note 14: the water treatment plant is run by the Ontario Clean Water Agency at 541,800 in 2026 and 583,530 in 2027 (excluding HST and variable costs); the wastewater plant is run under a service agreement at 543,451 a year in 2026 and 2027 (excluding HST and variable costs).
2020latest year of council pay statement we found on the Town's site (none for 2021 to 2025)
Ontario's Municipal Act (section 284) requires the Town to give council, by March 31 each year, a statement of what each member was paid in the year before; these statements are public records. The Town's Mayor and Council page links statements for 2014 to 2018 and for 2020. We did not find statements for 2019 or for 2021 to 2025 on that page or on the Town's financial information page. The 2026 budget gives a sense of the amounts: council salaries of $130,000 in the 2025 budget and $136,500 in the 2026 budget, and total council expenses of $188,300 and $197,550.
Why it matters
Council pay is public money and an election is on October 26, 2026. Voters should be able to see what each member was paid and claimed in the years they are being asked to judge.
It could be because…
The statements may exist but be posted somewhere else, such as with a council agenda on the Town's meeting portal, which we did not read.
The Town may post them when it is asked, or have moved them off the page after an update to its website.
Questions you could ask
Will the Town post the council remuneration and expense statements for 2019 and 2021 to 2025 before the October 26, 2026 election?
Which by-law sets council pay, and when was it last changed?
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 Petrolia?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The 2020 statement report quotes Municipal Act section 284: the municipality shall each year "on or before March 31" provide to council a statement on remuneration and expenses paid in the previous year, and statements are public records. It attaches the 2020 Council Remuneration and Expenses.
The Mayor and Council page links council remuneration and expense reports titled 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020. We found no link for 2019 or for 2021 to 2025 on the page.
2026 budget, council: "COUNCIL-SALARIES" actual 2025 (up to Aug 31/25) 87,039, budget 2025 130,000, budget 2026 136,500. "TOTAL COUNCIL EXPENSES" 133,630, 188,300 and 197,550.
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Petrolia had $5.5M saved at the end of 2024, down from $6.2M in 2019. That is 46% of one year's spending. Only 12 of 72 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Does Petrolia have enough saved for repairs and emergencies?
$0$2.0M$4.0M$6.0M$8.0M
$5.5M
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Savings (reserves)
2019
$6.2M
2020
$7.5M
2021
$7.7M
2022
$7.2M
2023
$6.9M
2024
$5.5M
Why it matters
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.
It could be because…
The town spent savings on purpose, on projects that were planned and saved up for.
Some savings were used to match grant money, which brings in more than it costs.
The town has a plan to rebuild its savings.
Questions you could ask
Does the town have a written reserve policy with a target amount?
What were the savings spent on between 2019 and 2024?
What is the plan to rebuild them, and by when?
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 Petrolia?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
$5,372,526surplus in 2025, against a budgeted $2,272,465
A surplus is what is left when a year's revenue is more than its spending. The 2025 statements show total revenue of $21,664,134 against a budget of $15,837,377. Most of the gap is grants: $5,844,054 came in, against $1,791,869 budgeted. The Town's own note says $4,752,900 of the grants were for capital work (building things that last, such as roads and water plants), up from $735,929 the year before. Grant money for a project is usually spent on that project, so the surplus is not all free cash. The Town explains that its budget is built a different way from the audited statements.
Why it matters
The budget is the promise made to taxpayers about the year. When the result is very different from the promise, residents cannot easily tell how much of the surplus is spare money and how much is already committed to projects.
It could be because…
Most of the extra revenue is one-time capital grant money for the water intake project, which is spent as the work is done, so it is not spare cash.
The Town says budgets are not prepared on the same basis as the audited statements (the budget counts capital spending as an expense and the statements do not), so part of the gap is accounting, not cash.
Grants are counted when the conditions for them are met, which can be in a different year from the budget.
Questions you could ask
How much of the $5,372,526 surplus is grant money that must be spent on the water intake and other projects?
Will Council be shown a plain table each year that turns the budgeted surplus into the audited one?
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 Petrolia?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Statement of operations, 2025 column: "ANNUAL SURPLUS" budget 2,272,465, actual 5,372,526 (2024 actual 3,014,612). "TOTAL REVENUES" budget 15,837,377, actual 21,664,134 (2024 actual 18,241,611). "Grants (note 13)" budget 1,791,869, actual 5,844,054 (2024 actual 1,791,297).
Note 13, Grants: "Total Capital" 4,752,900 (2024: 735,929). Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program 3,284,507 (2024: 227,984); Housing-Enabled Water Systems Fund 571,814; Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund 805,518. "Total Operating" 1,091,154 (2024: 1,055,368). "Total Grants" 5,844,054.
Note 12 says the budget figures are the budget adopted by Council with adjustments, because budgets are not prepared on the same basis as the statements. It lists the adjustments to the budgeted surplus for the year of 2,519,639: debt principal repayments 528,630, net capital expenditures 7,573,828, net reserve transfers (4,838,395) and amortization (3,511,237), giving an annual budgeted surplus of 2,272,465.
$1,789,574theatre revenue budgeted for 2026, against $1,778,023 of theatre expenses
The Town itself runs a professional summer theatre, the Victoria Playhouse Petrolia (VPP), in Victoria Hall. The 2026 budget shows theatre revenue of $1,789,574 against theatre expenses of $1,778,023, a gap of $11,551 (worked out by us) that matches the rehearsal hall's total expenses of $11,551, so the budget lands at zero. Ticket sales are budgeted at $1,225,000, which is most of the revenue. The budget book gives 2025 only through August 31, 2025, when revenue was $1,306,368 and theatre expenses $1,123,000, with the sixth show's costs ($38,873 of $160,477 budgeted) mostly still to come. We did not find a published result for the full 2025 season.
Why it matters
A theatre that must raise $1.2 million in ticket sales each year is a business risk carried by taxpayers if a season sells poorly. Residents are owed the full-year result.
It could be because…
The theatre may have finished the year at or above break-even; the August figures leave out the later shows and their ticket sales.
Sponsors, donations and a reserve fund contribution are built into the revenue budget to carry a weaker season.
The Town may report the season's result to Council in a report we did not read.
Questions you could ask
What was the Victoria Playhouse's full-year 2025 result, and was any reserve used?
What happens to the Town's budget if ticket sales fall short of $1,225,000?
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 Petrolia?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
VPP, revenue: "VPP-TICKET SALES" actual 2025 (up to Aug 31/25) (918,954), budget 2025 (1,225,000), budget 2026 (1,225,000). "TOTAL REVENUE" (1,306,368), (1,768,945) and (1,789,574). Figures in brackets are revenue.
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