Questions · 9 so far
We read Prince's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 50 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
+98%running the town office, 2019 to 2024
Prince spent $349K on running the town office in 2019 and $691K in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 2 of 50 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.
2 yearsof statements with a qualified opinion for the same unfinished review (2024 final, 2025 draft)
The auditor says the Township has not finished a review the accounting rules require, so the auditor could not say how much it affects the numbers. The 2024 statements carry this, and so do the draft 2025 statements. A qualified opinion means the auditor is happy with the statements apart from one named problem.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$1,125,962long-term debt at December 31, 2025 (draft statements), up from $231,000
The draft 2025 statements show two new loans from Infrastructure Ontario's lending arm (Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation), on top of one older loan. The loan total is almost five times what it was a year earlier.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
6.45%increase in the amount raised by taxation in the 2026 budget
The 2026 budget raises $1,785,757.46 from property taxes, an increase of $108,135.47 or 6.45%. The same budget has a debt repayment line of $152,011.88 where the 2025 budget column is blank. Worked out by us, total operating expenses (which leave debt out) also rise by $155,351.10 from the 2025 budget column. We did not find the Township explaining the increase in the documents we read.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
$20,340.00paid for the grader, as shown in the July 14, 2026 cheque log
Council approved buying a used grader for $18,000 plus HST. Staff said they got prices from "a local vendor" and from online listings. A letter in the same agenda package, from the Township's former road contractor, already offered a grader at $18,000 plus HST. The tender report called the equipment "fully funded through grant support", but we did not see which grant.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$3,377.50a year: the in-house estimate was lower than the compliant bid by this much (worked out by us)
Staff estimated the in-house plan at $67,000 a year against $70,377.50 for the one bid that met the tender rules. The in-house number counts only costs not already in the budget, and it relies on grant money for equipment. The gap is $3,377.50 a year, worked out by us.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$8,000the Township's share of an $80,000 project, if the grant had come through
On March 31, 2026 council agreed to put up $8,000 toward an $80,000 fencing project, and to cover any overruns from the 2026 budget. By May 12 the grant application had been denied, and one of the options before council was for the Township to pay all of the cost.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$613,566draft 2025 annual surplus, against $186,699 in the plan
In the draft 2025 statements, provincial and federal grants came in well above the plan, and general government spending came in below it. The statements also explain that the plan is built on a different basis from the audited numbers. We treat this as context, not a concern.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$163,484roads reserve at December 31, 2025 (draft), down from $312,780
A reserve is savings that council sets aside for a purpose. In the draft 2025 statements the roads reserve fell by about half, while the general working funds reserve rose. This is likely ordinary use of a reserve, but the statements do not say what it paid for.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
+98%running the town office, 2019 to 2024
Prince spent $349K on running the town office in 2019 and $691K in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 2 of 50 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Running the town office | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +16% | +1% |
| 2021 | +23% | +4% |
| 2022 | +40% | +11% |
| 2023 | +58% | +16% |
| 2024 | +98% | +18% |
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Money spent running the office is money not spent on roads, water or safety. When office costs grow much faster than the services people see, it is fair to ask what the extra money is buying.
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 Prince? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Running the town office: 2019 $349K, 2020 $405K, 2021 $429K, 2022 $489K, 2023 $550K, 2024 $691K.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Office and administration, from $317K to $664K.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 38%. Prince ranks 3rd of 51.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 50 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
2 yearsof statements with a qualified opinion for the same unfinished review (2024 final, 2025 draft)
The auditor says the Township has not finished a review the accounting rules require, so the auditor could not say how much it affects the numbers. The 2024 statements carry this, and so do the draft 2025 statements. A qualified opinion means the auditor is happy with the statements apart from one named problem.
The auditor says the effect on the year's surplus, the value of buildings and roads, and the total savings (accumulated surplus) cannot be measured until the review is done.
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 Prince? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The auditor's report on the 2024 statements is headed "Qualified Opinion". Its basis section says: "Management has not completed its assessment of the tangible capital assets for potential asset retirement obligations." It says it is not possible to quantify the effect on the 2024 and 2023 expenses and annual surplus, tangible capital assets and accumulated surplus. The report is dated October 14, 2025.
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2024 (BDO Canada LLP) · Independent Auditor's Report, PDF pages 4 and 5
The draft auditor's report on the 2025 statements is also headed "Qualified Opinion" and repeats the same sentence: "Management has not completed its assessment of the tangible capital assets for potential asset retirement obligations." It is dated September 8, 2026. Every page of these statements is marked Draft. Council's agenda for that meeting asks it to accept the 2025 statements "as presented".
Agenda package, Council meeting of September 8, 2026 · PDF page 1 (agenda item 6) and pages 17 and 19 (draft Independent Auditor's Report)
$1,125,962long-term debt at December 31, 2025 (draft statements), up from $231,000
The draft 2025 statements show two new loans from Infrastructure Ontario's lending arm (Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation), on top of one older loan. The loan total is almost five times what it was a year earlier.
Loans are paid back from the tax levy and from grants, for years after the money is spent. The draft statements list the loans but do not say what each one 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 Prince? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Draft note 4 lists three debentures: $189,000 (due 2030, 1.99%), $200,302 (due 2030, 3.31%) and $736,660 (due 2041, 4.16%), totalling $1,125,962, against $231,000 the year before. Principal due in 2026 is $114,580, and $509,423 is due after 2030.
Agenda package, Council meeting of September 8, 2026 (draft 2025 financial statements) · Note 4, Long term debt, PDF page 28
The draft cash flow statement shows "Proceeds of long term debt" of 936,961 and "Repayment of long term debt" of (42,000) in 2025.
Agenda package, Council meeting of September 8, 2026 (draft 2025 financial statements) · Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, PDF page 24
The 2024 audited statements show one debenture of $231,000 at December 31, 2024 ($273,000 in 2023), with interest paid of $5,237.
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2024 (BDO Canada LLP) · Note 4, Long term debt, PDF page 14
The 2026 draft budget has a Debt Repayment section with lines for "Principal - Debentures SCBA" 39,602.68, "Principal - Debentures Fire Truck" 42,000.00 and "Principal - Debentures Bridge" 32,977.57, and "Total Debt Repayment" of 152,011.88.
Agenda package, special budget meeting of March 31, 2026 · 2026 Budget Expenditures, Debt Repayment, PDF page 7
6.45%increase in the amount raised by taxation in the 2026 budget
The 2026 budget raises $1,785,757.46 from property taxes, an increase of $108,135.47 or 6.45%. The same budget has a debt repayment line of $152,011.88 where the 2025 budget column is blank. Worked out by us, total operating expenses (which leave debt out) also rise by $155,351.10 from the 2025 budget column. We did not find the Township explaining the increase in the documents we read.
The levy is what property owners pay, apart from school taxes. A new fixed cost like loan repayment keeps coming back each year.
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 Prince? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The 2026 draft budget ends with "To be raised by Taxation" 1,785,757.46 and "Levy Increase" 108,135.47, 6.45%.
Agenda package, special budget meeting of March 31, 2026 · 2026 Budget, last page of the tables, PDF page 8
"Total Operating Expenses" are 2,435,787.69 (2025 budget column) and 2,591,138.79 (2026 draft). The Debt Repayment section is a separate line: "Total Debt Repayment" 152,011.88 in 2026, with no figure in the 2025 budget column.
Agenda package, special budget meeting of March 31, 2026 · 2026 Budget Expenditures, PDF page 7
The minutes of the March 31, 2026 special budget meeting record Resolution 2026-71, carried, approving the 2026 budget "as presented", with a tax rate by-law to follow.
Agenda package, Council meeting of April 14, 2026 · Minutes of March 31, 2026, item 4a, PDF page 10
$20,340.00paid for the grader, as shown in the July 14, 2026 cheque log
Council approved buying a used grader for $18,000 plus HST. Staff said they got prices from "a local vendor" and from online listings. A letter in the same agenda package, from the Township's former road contractor, already offered a grader at $18,000 plus HST. The tender report called the equipment "fully funded through grant support", but we did not see which grant.
A purchase from someone who has just stopped doing business with the Township is not wrong by itself, but a second price or a valuation is how a town shows it paid fair value.
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 Prince? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
A staff report says staff "obtained pricing for comparable used graders through" direct communication with "a local vendor" and a review of available market listings, and that, "Given the time-sensitive nature of the requirement", staff are satisfied the price is fair market value and fits the Procurement By-law. The resolution in the same package left the seller and amount blank.
Agenda package, Council meeting of April 14, 2026 · Staff report on ongoing projects, item 1 Grader Purchase, PDF page 16; draft resolution, PDF page 3
A letter dated August 5, 2025 to council from the Township's former snow plowing and grading contractor says it will stop those services from November 1, 2025, and adds that a grader "will be available for purchase at a selling price of $18,000 +HST".
Agenda package, Council meeting of April 14, 2026 · Attached letter, PDF page 33
Resolution 2026-91 (carried per the May 12 package) approves buying a used grader for $18,000 plus HST. A staff report in that package says the Township entered into an agreement for the grader, with delivery completed and accepted on May 1, 2026.
Agenda package, Council meeting of May 12, 2026 · New Business 13a, PDF page 7; staff report on ongoing projects item 2, PDF page 13
The cheque log lists a payment for "Grader Purchase" of 20,340.00. The amount is the approved price plus 13% HST (worked out by us).
Agenda package, Council meeting of July 14, 2026 · Cheque log, PDF page 65
The staff report on the road tender says the in-house option has "Equipment purchases, including a grader, fully funded through grant support."
Agenda package, special budget meeting of March 31, 2026 · Staff report, Tender 2026-01, section 4 Financial Analysis, PDF page 10
$3,377.50a year: the in-house estimate was lower than the compliant bid by this much (worked out by us)
Staff estimated the in-house plan at $67,000 a year against $70,377.50 for the one bid that met the tender rules. The in-house number counts only costs not already in the budget, and it relies on grant money for equipment. The gap is $3,377.50 a year, worked out by us.
A small saving can disappear if costs that are left out, such as fuel, repairs, insurance and the equipment's own upkeep, are counted, or if the grant does not cover everything.
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 Prince? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The staff report dated March 18, 2026 lists "Possamai Construction $70,377.50", "Northern Fencing and Contracting Inc. $69,370.00" and "Internal Delivery of servcie $67,000.00" as estimated annual costs. It says the second bid was non-compliant because required insurance confirmation was missing, so only one compliant bid was received. It says: "The in-house option reflects only incremental costs not already included in the draft budget."
Agenda package, special budget meeting of March 31, 2026 · Staff report, Tender 2026-01, sections 3 to 5, PDF pages 9 and 10
Resolution 2026-73, carried at the March 31, 2026 meeting, selected the in-house option, which includes buying a grader, renting a backhoe for the season and moving a staff position to full time.
Agenda package, Council meeting of April 14, 2026 · Minutes of March 31, 2026, item 5a, PDF page 11
$8,000the Township's share of an $80,000 project, if the grant had come through
On March 31, 2026 council agreed to put up $8,000 toward an $80,000 fencing project, and to cover any overruns from the 2026 budget. By May 12 the grant application had been denied, and one of the options before council was for the Township to pay all of the cost.
The Township's share could go from $8,000 to as much as the whole $80,000 if council picks that option.
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 Prince? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Resolution 2026-74 on March 31, 2026 says the Township "agrees to commit a total of $8,000 towards the total project cost of $80,000" and "resolves to cover any project-related cost overruns from the 2026 budget".
Agenda package, special budget meeting of March 31, 2026 · Agenda item 5b, PDF page 2
The May 12, 2026 agenda says "the funding application with NOHFC has been denied with the reason being limited benefit to broader community and economic development". It offers four options: defeat the project; proceed with "the Municipality will be responsible for all associated costs"; a yellow metal gate and no fencing; or a tree line.
Agenda package, Council meeting of May 12, 2026 · New Business 13a, PDF page 3
$613,566draft 2025 annual surplus, against $186,699 in the plan
In the draft 2025 statements, provincial and federal grants came in well above the plan, and general government spending came in below it. The statements also explain that the plan is built on a different basis from the audited numbers. We treat this as context, not a concern.
A bigger surplus than planned usually means money arrived ahead of spending, so it helps to know what it was 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 Prince? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Draft statement of operations: "Annual surplus" 186,699 (budget) and 613,566 (2025). Provincial grants 1,226,073 budget and 1,388,482 actual; federal grants 100,055 budget and 254,641 actual; general government 805,420 budget and 611,760 actual.
Agenda package, Council meeting of September 8, 2026 (draft 2025 financial statements) · Consolidated Statement of Operations, PDF page 21
Draft note 11 says the budget "expensed all tangible capital expenditures rather than including amortization expense", and reconciles a bylaw surplus of $ - to a budget surplus per statement of operations of $186,699, with capital expenditures of 1,312,592 added and amortization of (330,060) deducted.
Agenda package, Council meeting of September 8, 2026 (draft 2025 financial statements) · Note 11, Budget, PDF page 31
$163,484roads reserve at December 31, 2025 (draft), down from $312,780
A reserve is savings that council sets aside for a purpose. In the draft 2025 statements the roads reserve fell by about half, while the general working funds reserve rose. This is likely ordinary use of a reserve, but the statements do not say what it paid for.
Reserves are the Township's cushion for big repairs. Knowing what was drawn lets residents see how far the cushion has shrunk.
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 Prince? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Draft note 3 lists Roads reserve 163,484 (2025) and 312,780 (2024), Working funds 1,896,140 and 1,647,010, and Total reserves 2,195,396 and 2,095,562.
Agenda package, Council meeting of September 8, 2026 (draft 2025 financial statements) · Note 3, Accumulated surplus, PDF page 27