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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Ramara'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 · 10 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Ramara's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 45 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.
2 reportsfrom the Ontario Ombudsman finding open-meeting rules were not followed (October 2025 and August 2026)
Councils must do their business in public, apart from a short list of exceptions. The Ontario Ombudsman is Ramara's closed meeting investigator. In October 2025 the Ombudsman found that one email sent to every member of the Committee of the Whole on October 23, 2024 counted as a meeting held outside the public eye, because it pushed along the budget decision made the next day. In August 2026 the Ombudsman found that the Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee (shared with the Township of Severn) voted in closed session on June 21, 2024 when the rules do not allow a vote. Neither report found anything about money. The reports say the Township cooperated fully and, in both cases, the Ombudsman made recommendations rather than any finding of bad faith.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$7,027,467spent on protection services in 2025, against a budget of $5,592,533
Protection services is the audited statements' name for police, fire, conservation authority and inspection. The statement of operations shows a 2025 budget of $5,592,533 and actual spending of $7,027,467, which is $1,434,934 more (worked out by us). The year before it was $4,996,182. The 2026 budget book shows where at least some of it sits: the Fire Department's "Contracted Services" line was budgeted at $109,400.00 for 2025, and the book shows $1,709,318.56 spent by November 6, 2025. The book does not say why. Its only comment on Fire contracts covers 2026, saying they were adjusted for price increases.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$10,150,000budgeted for the Bayshore (plant 202) tile beds in 2026, mostly to be paid by a loan estimated at $10.2 million
The 2026 budget includes $10,150,000 to replace the sprayfields at treatment plant 202 (Bayshore) with underground tile beds. The Township says the sprayfields have reached the end of their life. The budget book says the money comes from a loan "estimated at $10.2M" to be taken out later in 2026, and that repayment will show up in the 2027 budget. Sewer charges were raised by 15% for 2026. The Township's news release says the increase is about $54 a quarter for a home using 35 cubic metres. The Township explained the need and the timing. The loan terms, the yearly repayment and the effect on rates over time are not in the documents we read.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$3,200,248Brechin sewers deficit, unchanged at the end of 2024 and 2025
Accumulated surplus is the total of everything the Township owns minus what it owes, split into pieces. One piece, "Brechin sewers", is a deficit of $3,200,248 at the end of both 2025 and 2024. Separately the statements show "Unfunded capital" of $1,472,285 and say that $1,283,235 of it will be billed to residents as a local improvement charge, with a lump-sum or a 20-year loan option. The Township holds $1,231,366 as a long term receivable called "Brechin sewer assessment". The Township has explained the unfunded capital part. We did not find an explanation of the $3,200,248 deficit or a date when it ends.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$176,576.34legal fees by November 6, 2025, against a budget of $20,000
Lagoon City Parks and Waterways (LCPW) is a commission of the Township, funded mainly by its own levy. Its section of the 2026 budget book shows a 2025 legal fees budget of $20,000.00 and $176,576.34 spent by November 6, 2025. The Township-wide legal fees line stood at $277,857 against a $207,900 budget at that date, so the commission's overage is larger than the Township's, because other departments' legal lines were under budget. The 2026 budget keeps LCPW legal fees at $20,000.00, and the highlights page does not mention legal costs. The commission still showed a surplus on the same page.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
At the end of 2025, $4.2M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 14% of everything billed. Only 1 of 45 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $3.2M.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$2,500,000of new long term debt in 2025, with $12,280,129 in investments and $15,271,137 in reserves at year end
Reserves are savings Council sets aside for later. At the end of 2025 the Township held $12,280,129 in principal protected notes (investments that return the original amount at the end of their term), $5,473,740 in cash and $15,271,137 in reserves. During 2025 it also took out two bank loans from CIBC and reports $2,500,000 of new long term debt. Reserves rose from $10,678,796 to $15,271,137, which is $4,592,341 more (worked out by us). The Township has published its reasons. Its budget says reserves prevent sudden tax increases, that the new debt is for wastewater projects, and that no investments mature in 2026. The notes mature between August 26, 2027 and July 3, 2031, so they cannot be cashed in at will.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 7 sources
$5,031,711of capital assets bought in 2025, against a plan of $12,922,900; 2026 plan is $18,238,600
Capital means roads, buildings, vehicles and water and sewer works that last many years. The 2025 plan was $12,922,900. The statements show $5,031,711 bought, which is about 39% of the plan (worked out by us). The 2026 budget raises capital to $18,238,600. Most of that is the $10,150,000 wastewater plant and $4,000,000 for roads. The Township has explained part of the gap. It says roads projects were delayed until its Roads Needs Study was finished and that unused funds carry into 2026.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
2 reportsfrom the Ontario Ombudsman finding open-meeting rules were not followed (October 2025 and August 2026)
Councils must do their business in public, apart from a short list of exceptions. The Ontario Ombudsman is Ramara's closed meeting investigator. In October 2025 the Ombudsman found that one email sent to every member of the Committee of the Whole on October 23, 2024 counted as a meeting held outside the public eye, because it pushed along the budget decision made the next day. In August 2026 the Ombudsman found that the Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee (shared with the Township of Severn) voted in closed session on June 21, 2024 when the rules do not allow a vote. Neither report found anything about money. The reports say the Township cooperated fully and, in both cases, the Ombudsman made recommendations rather than any finding of bad faith.
Why it matters
Open-meeting rules are how residents see why a decision was made. In the first case the Ombudsman wrote that a member of the public "would not have a clear understanding of why the foodcycler program was removed from the budget". The law asks council to pass a resolution saying how it will address each report. We could not read the minutes, so we do not know whether it did.
It could be because…
The October 2025 email was a single message that nobody answered. The Ombudsman found the second email, sent October 24, 2024, was not a meeting.
Both reports say the Township cooperated fully with the Ombudsman.
In the August 2026 report, people the Ombudsman spoke with either could not recall whether the committee had returned to open session before it voted, or remembered it differently from the minutes. The Ombudsman said the facility tours themselves were allowed in closed session as education or training.
The Ombudsman's recommendations are about care and training (for example, being aware that emails to a quorum can be a meeting), which are easy for a council to adopt.
Questions you could ask
On what date did Council pass the resolution the Municipal Act requires for each report, and what did it say it would do?
What has the Township changed since October 2025 about how members share budget information by email?
Has the Township reminded joint committees, including the one it shares with Severn, that no vote may be taken in a meeting closed for education or training?
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 Ramara?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Ombudsman, October 2025, Complaint, paragraph 2: "My investigation found that a quorum of the Committee was present over email on both dates. However, only the October 23, 2024 email materially advanced the business or decision-making of the Township, constituting a meeting contrary to the open meeting requirements in the Act."
Ombudsman, October 2025, paragraph 28: "The information in this email directly resulted in a decision by the Committee to remove the foodcycler program from the Township budget." Paragraph 30 says the email, including its attachments, "was never publicly disclosed" (paragraph 30, PDF page 7).
Ombudsman, October 2025, Recommendation 2: the Committee of the Whole "should be mindful that electronic written communications, such as emails, sent to a quorum of council can be considered a meeting under the Municipal Act, 2001." Paragraph 47: "council is required to pass a resolution stating how it intends to address this report."
Ombudsman, August 2026, Complaint, paragraph 2: "My investigation determined that while the discussion at the June 21, 2024 meeting fit within the exception for education or training, the Committee contravened the open meeting rules when it voted in closed session." Paragraph 36: the Committee "contravened section 239(5) of the Municipal Act, 2001 on June 21, 2024 when it voted in a closed session while under the exception for education or training, as no votes are permitted when a meeting is closed under this section."
The Township's page says reports from the closed meeting investigator "must be made publicly accessible" and that they "will be included on a public agenda and considered during an open session of Council or a Standing Committee of Council." It lists both Ombudsman reports under 2025 and 2026.
$7,027,467spent on protection services in 2025, against a budget of $5,592,533
Protection services is the audited statements' name for police, fire, conservation authority and inspection. The statement of operations shows a 2025 budget of $5,592,533 and actual spending of $7,027,467, which is $1,434,934 more (worked out by us). The year before it was $4,996,182. The 2026 budget book shows where at least some of it sits: the Fire Department's "Contracted Services" line was budgeted at $109,400.00 for 2025, and the book shows $1,709,318.56 spent by November 6, 2025. The book does not say why. Its only comment on Fire contracts covers 2026, saying they were adjusted for price increases.
Why it matters
Contracted services are money paid to outside businesses or other governments rather than to Township staff, so a jump this size deserves a plain explanation. Protection spending is paid from property taxes. The budget book keeps the 2026 Fire contracted services line at $117,600.00, so either the 2025 amount was a one-time cost or the 2026 line is too low.
It could be because…
A one-time contract or purchase, such as a vehicle or equipment, may have been recorded under contracted services instead of capital, which the budget would have counted on a different line.
A cost recorded under Fire may belong elsewhere, for example a shared payment or one made on behalf of another body.
Council may have approved the extra spending by a separate report during 2025. We could not read the minutes, because the Township's meeting portal blocks automated reading.
The "2025 Actual" figure in the budget book is as of November 6, 2025, so it is not a full-year figure, and the audited statements do not show the Fire line on its own.
Questions you could ask
What contracts or purchases make up the Fire Department's 2025 contracted services, and who were they paid to?
Did Council approve a budget change or a reserve draw for the extra Fire spending, and on what date?
Why does the 2026 budget keep the Fire contracted services line near its 2025 budget rather than its 2025 spending?
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 Ramara?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Fire 2026 Budget Highlights: "Contracted services have been adjusted to reflect price increases on contracts." The page does not mention the 2025 amount.
$10,150,000budgeted for the Bayshore (plant 202) tile beds in 2026, mostly to be paid by a loan estimated at $10.2 million
The 2026 budget includes $10,150,000 to replace the sprayfields at treatment plant 202 (Bayshore) with underground tile beds. The Township says the sprayfields have reached the end of their life. The budget book says the money comes from a loan "estimated at $10.2M" to be taken out later in 2026, and that repayment will show up in the 2027 budget. Sewer charges were raised by 15% for 2026. The Township's news release says the increase is about $54 a quarter for a home using 35 cubic metres. The Township explained the need and the timing. The loan terms, the yearly repayment and the effect on rates over time are not in the documents we read.
Why it matters
Wastewater is paid for by the people connected to the sewer system, not by all taxpayers. A loan of this size has to be repaid with interest by those same users, so the interest rate, the length of the loan and any grants decide how much their bills go up. The book already shows wastewater "Principal Debt & Interest" rising from 649,400.00 to 1,983,600.00 before the plant loan begins to be repaid.
It could be because…
The Township says the sprayfields are at the end of their life, with poor soil, a short spraying season and climate change, so the work may be required to keep treating wastewater.
The budget says trucking wastewater away (hauling) is estimated at $1M for 2026 against $1.5M in 2025, so the new plant may cut that cost.
The book says there may be savings from no longer running the sprayfields, with an estimate to come once the final design is done.
The book shows a share of the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund going to wastewater, so some funding other than the loan exists, though the amount shown is small beside the plant.
Questions you could ask
What interest rate and term does the Township expect on the loan of about $10.2 million, and what will the yearly repayment be from 2027?
Has the Township applied for any grant toward the plant, and how much of the loan could it replace?
What further rate increases for wastewater does the Township's long-term plan assume after 2026?
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 Ramara?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Project page: "PROJECT NAME: 10,150,000", Tile Beds. "These sprayfields have reached their end of life." "It is anticipated that all of the work will be completed in 2026, with a maintenance period extending into 2027." "There may be additional operating impacts once the new system is finalized; however, there will also be savings from not operating the existing system."
Wastewater Designated Ratepayers 2026 Budget Highlights: "Other revenues include a loan estimated at $10.2M that the Township will secure later in 2026 to fund wastewater treatment facility 202. It also includes $1M loan for 2026 Hauling if required." "The repayment of the loan for the wastewater treatment plant will be reflected in the 2027 budget." Hauling "is estimated at $1M for 2026 versus $1.5M in 2025."
2026 Wastewater Rates: "Rates have been increased by 15%". Fixed charge per quarter for meters less than 1 inch: 208.95 in 2025, 240.29 in 2026. Consumption charge per cubic metre: 4.35 in 2025, 5.00 in 2026.
Wastewater Designated Ratepayers Summary, "Actuals as of November 6, 2025": "Capital" 4,219,800.00 (2025 budget) and 11,090,800.00 (2026 budget). "Principal Debt & Interest" 649,400.00 and 1,983,600.00. "Other-Revenue" 4,862,800.00 and 11,576,400.00. "Sewer Charges" 1,761,300.00 and 1,975,000.00.
News release, November 7, 2025: "$10.15 million wastewater treatment plant project to address aging sprayfields." The budget "includes an increase to water (approximately $20 per quarter) and wastewater rates (approximately $54 per quarter) based on the average residential usage of 35 cubic metres per quarter".
$3,200,248Brechin sewers deficit, unchanged at the end of 2024 and 2025
Accumulated surplus is the total of everything the Township owns minus what it owes, split into pieces. One piece, "Brechin sewers", is a deficit of $3,200,248 at the end of both 2025 and 2024. Separately the statements show "Unfunded capital" of $1,472,285 and say that $1,283,235 of it will be billed to residents as a local improvement charge, with a lump-sum or a 20-year loan option. The Township holds $1,231,366 as a long term receivable called "Brechin sewer assessment". The Township has explained the unfunded capital part. We did not find an explanation of the $3,200,248 deficit or a date when it ends.
Why it matters
A deficit that does not change from one year to the next means no money is being applied to it. Someone will end up paying: Brechin sewer users through charges, property owners through the improvement charge, or all taxpayers. Residents deserve to know which.
It could be because…
Sewer construction is paid for up front and recovered over many years through charges on the people who benefit, so a deficit during that period can be normal.
The statements say a local improvement charge and long term debt will match the amount residents choose to pay over 20 years, so the number may fall once billing starts.
The "Brechin sewers" line may be an accounting balance with no cash behind it, and the statements do not say.
Questions you could ask
What makes up the $3,200,248 Brechin sewers deficit, and how is it expected to be cleared?
When will the local improvement charge be billed, and how much per property?
Will any part of the deficit fall on taxpayers who are not connected to the Brechin sewer?
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 Ramara?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 9(a), Accumulated surplus: "Brechin sewers" (3,200,248) for 2025 and (3,200,248) for 2024. "Unfunded capital (b)" (1,472,285) for 2025 and (1,695,674) for 2024. Note 9(b): "$1,283,235 of the unfunded capital costs will be billed as a local improvement charge. Residents will have the option of a lump sum payment or a 20 year loan. Long term debt will be taken out to match the amount of the 20 year loan recivable. The remainder of the unfunded capital will be funded through charges to operations."
$176,576.34legal fees by November 6, 2025, against a budget of $20,000
Lagoon City Parks and Waterways (LCPW) is a commission of the Township, funded mainly by its own levy. Its section of the 2026 budget book shows a 2025 legal fees budget of $20,000.00 and $176,576.34 spent by November 6, 2025. The Township-wide legal fees line stood at $277,857 against a $207,900 budget at that date, so the commission's overage is larger than the Township's, because other departments' legal lines were under budget. The 2026 budget keeps LCPW legal fees at $20,000.00, and the highlights page does not mention legal costs. The commission still showed a surplus on the same page.
Why it matters
Legal bills this far above a budget usually mean a particular dispute or court matter. The commission is funded by its levy, so those who pay it may reasonably want to know what the bills were for and whether they will repeat. A 2026 line of $20,000 would be too low if it does.
It could be because…
One legal matter, such as a dispute, an appeal or a licensing issue, can cost many times a normal year's budget.
The commission was well under budget overall, with expenses of 766,491.73 against a budget of 1,146,500.00 at that date, so the levy was not pushed up by it.
The cost may have been paid from the commission's reserves, which the book shows had a larger transfer than budgeted.
Questions you could ask
What legal matters made up the LCPW legal fees in 2025, and are any still open?
Why was the 2026 LCPW legal line left at $20,000.00?
What was the full-year 2025 legal fee total for LCPW?
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 Ramara?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
2026 Lagoon City Parks and Waterways Budget Summary, "Actuals as of November 6, 2025": "Legal Fees" 2025 Budget 20,000.00, 2025 Actual 176,576.34, 2026 Budget 20,000.00. "Expenses Total" 1,146,500.00, 766,491.73, 1,161,900.00. "Reserves-Expense" 228,000.00, 320,500.00, 178,400.00.
LCPW 2026 Budget Highlights lists a 0% levy request, short-term rental licences, capital, and salaries. It says "Adjustments made throughout budget to reflect the actuals." It does not mention legal fees.
Ramara spent $3.6M on police, fire and safety in 2019 and $6.6M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Why did the cost of police, fire and safety grow 83% in 6 years?
Police, fire and safety
Prices (inflation)
+0%+20%+40%+60%+80%+100%
+83%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Police, fire and safety
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
+7%
+1%
2021
+18%
+4%
2022
+13%
+11%
2023
+19%
+16%
2024
+28%
+18%
2025
+83%
+21%
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Why it matters
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.
It could be because…
The town added a service, a building or staff that residents asked for.
Costs were moved from another area, so the total did not really change.
Accounting rules changed how costs are sorted.
Large one-time costs, like a study, lawsuit or repair, landed in one year.
Questions you could ask
What did the extra $3.0M a year pay for?
Why did emergency planning go from $1,801 to $1.8M?
Was each increase approved by council as a separate decision, or did it happen through the yearly budget?
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 Ramara?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Police, fire and safety: 2019 $3.6M, 2020 $3.9M, 2021 $4.2M, 2022 $4.0M, 2023 $4.3M, 2024 $4.6M, 2025 $6.6M.
Ramara spent $2.3M on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $4.0M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Why did the cost of water, sewers and garbage grow 73% in 6 years?
Water, sewers and garbage
Prices (inflation)
+0%+20%+40%+60%+80%+100%+120%
+73%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Water, sewers and garbage
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
+9%
+1%
2021
+16%
+4%
2022
+28%
+11%
2023
+23%
+16%
2024
+103%
+18%
2025
+73%
+21%
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Why it matters
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.
It could be because…
The town added a service, a building or staff that residents asked for.
Costs were moved from another area, so the total did not really change.
Accounting rules changed how costs are sorted.
Large one-time costs, like a study, lawsuit or repair, landed in one year.
Questions you could ask
What did the extra $1.7M a year pay for?
Why did sewage treatment go from $744K to $2.2M?
Was each increase approved by council as a separate decision, or did it happen through the yearly budget?
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 Ramara?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
At the end of 2025, $4.2M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 14% of everything billed. Only 1 of 45 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $3.2M.
Why are so many property taxes unpaid?
$0$1.0M$2.0M$3.0M$4.0M$5.0M
$4.2M
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Unpaid property tax at year end
2019
$2.7M
2020
$3.0M
2021
$2.1M
2022
$2.4M
2023
$2.6M
2024
$3.2M
2025
$4.2M
Why it matters
When taxes go unpaid, everyone else carries the cost, and the town may borrow to cover the gap. The Province's financial indicators treat 10% to 15% as a moderate risk and more than 15% as a high risk. Collection is the town's job, so a rising number is worth asking about.
It could be because…
The final tax bill was due late in the year, so some payments simply arrived in January.
A few large properties are in dispute or being sold for back taxes.
Hard times for residents, which the town may be handling with payment plans.
Questions you could ask
How much is more than one year overdue, and from how many properties?
Are the rules for chasing unpaid taxes applied the same way to everyone?
Has the town registered tax arrears certificates on properties about two years behind? If still unpaid a year after that, Ontario law lets the town sell the property.
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 Ramara?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Taxes receivable: 2019 $2.7M, 2020 $3.0M, 2021 $2.1M, 2022 $2.4M, 2023 $2.6M, 2024 $3.2M, 2025 $4.2M. Of the 2025 total, $973K was from earlier years.
$2,500,000of new long term debt in 2025, with $12,280,129 in investments and $15,271,137 in reserves at year end
Reserves are savings Council sets aside for later. At the end of 2025 the Township held $12,280,129 in principal protected notes (investments that return the original amount at the end of their term), $5,473,740 in cash and $15,271,137 in reserves. During 2025 it also took out two bank loans from CIBC and reports $2,500,000 of new long term debt. Reserves rose from $10,678,796 to $15,271,137, which is $4,592,341 more (worked out by us). The Township has published its reasons. Its budget says reserves prevent sudden tax increases, that the new debt is for wastewater projects, and that no investments mature in 2026. The notes mature between August 26, 2027 and July 3, 2031, so they cannot be cashed in at will.
Why it matters
Borrowing costs interest, and the statements show $374,967 of interest paid on long term debt in 2025. Saving while borrowing can be sound if the savings are locked up or needed for later projects. Residents can reasonably ask what the plan is. The 2026 budget raises the debt line much more, to pay for a wastewater plant.
It could be because…
The notes are locked until 2027 to 2031, and the budget says no investments mature in 2026, so the cash was not available.
The Township says reserves protect against sudden tax increases and pay for major projects, and its 2026 budget summary shows a 4.23% share of the tax rate going into reserves.
The Township says the new debt is for wastewater projects, and the sewer-related loans may be paid back by sewer ratepayers rather than from general taxes.
The statements say the repayments are within the annual debt repayment limit set by the province.
Questions you could ask
What did each of the two CIBC loans in 2025 pay for, and who repays them (all taxpayers or a designated group)?
What is the plan for the principal protected notes when they mature from August 26, 2027, and could they be used instead of new debt?
What interest rate do the notes earn compared with the 4.368% on one of the loans?
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 Ramara?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 7, Long term debt: a bank loan issued to CIBC "due April 18, 2030" with a balance of 1,350,000, and a bank loan issued to CIBC at "4.368% per annum, due September 1, 2030" with a balance of 1,000,000. Total long term debt 10,061,490 (2024: 8,099,831). Interest paid on long term debt in 2025 was $374,967. The note says the payments "are within the annual debt repayment limit prescribed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing."
Note 3, Investments: "Principal protected notes" 12,280,129 (2024: 10,577,221). "The CIBC principal protected notes have maturity dates between August 26, 2027 and July 3, 2031."
Administration 2026 Budget Highlights: "The reduction in other revenues from 2025 is due to investment coming to term in 2025. There are no investments maturing in 2026." The Why Invest in Reserves? page says reserves "Prevents sudden tax increases during emergencies or unexpected expenses."
$5,031,711of capital assets bought in 2025, against a plan of $12,922,900; 2026 plan is $18,238,600
Capital means roads, buildings, vehicles and water and sewer works that last many years. The 2025 plan was $12,922,900. The statements show $5,031,711 bought, which is about 39% of the plan (worked out by us). The 2026 budget raises capital to $18,238,600. Most of that is the $10,150,000 wastewater plant and $4,000,000 for roads. The Township has explained part of the gap. It says roads projects were delayed until its Roads Needs Study was finished and that unused funds carry into 2026.
Why it matters
Residents pay a tax and rate increase now for projects that may not be built on time. A planned amount that is not spent can sit in reserves or be carried over, and a large 2026 program raises the chance of delay again. The wastewater plant is paid by a loan that starts when the money is borrowed.
It could be because…
The Township says roads projects were held back until the Roads Needs Study was done, and the unused funding moves into 2026.
Assets under construction grew from $2,727,224 to $4,524,606, so some work was under way but not finished at year end.
The 2025 plan included water and wastewater projects, and the budget book says the 2025 water expansion project makes 2026 water capital lower.
Questions you could ask
Which 2025 capital projects were not started or finished, and how much of the $12,922,900 plan carried into 2026?
Does the Township have the staff and contractors to deliver $18,238,600 of work in 2026?
When will the Roads Needs Study results be published with a project schedule?
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 Ramara?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Statement of Change in Net Financial Assets, 2025: "Purchase of tangible capital assets" budget (12,922,900), actual (5,031,711), 2024 actual (10,863,890).
2026 Budget Summary: "Total Capital" 12,922,900 (2025 budget) and 18,238,600 (2026). Budget Highlights: "Total increase in capital investment of $5.3M (Includes ratepayer groups such as Water, Wastewater, Building and LCPW)."
Infrastructure 2026 Budget Highlights: "Since 2025 roads projects have been delayed until the Roads needs study is completed, the allocation of funds not used in 2025 is carried over to the 2026 Budget." "Reduction of $684,900 in capital projects."
Can we count your visit? With your OK, we use Google Analytics to see which pages help people. It sets cookies and sends visit data to Google. Nothing loads unless you say yes. Privacy