Questions · 8 so far
We read Rideau Lakes' financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 90 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
$3.7Min savings at the end of 2024
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Rideau Lakes had $3.7M saved at the end of 2024, up from $1.9M in 2019. That is 25% of one year's spending. None of the 90 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
$6,820,840owed in long-term liabilities at December 31, 2024, up from $4,648,821 a year earlier
Long-term liabilities (money the Township has borrowed and still owes) were $4,648,821 at the end of 2023 and $6,820,840 at the end of 2024. That is $2,172,019 more, or about 47% (worked out by us). The statements say the Township took on $3,528,000 of new debt and repaid $1,355,981. A $1,600,000 interim loan from Ontario Infrastructure Corporation is part of the total. The Township's net debt (what it owes minus its cash and money owed to it) also grew, from $4,177,729 to $5,265,634.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$2,574,139asset retirement obligation at December 31, 2024, listed as unfunded
An asset retirement obligation is a bill the Township already knows will come: closing landfills, removing asbestos from six buildings and sealing three wells. The statements list it at $2,574,139 at the end of 2024, of which $2,211,402 is for landfills. The statements call it "unfunded" and take it off the Township's equity (its net worth) as a negative amount. They also show $3,558,816 in reserves (savings Council has set aside), but none of the reserves listed is named for this bill.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$61,1002025 year-to-date legal fees in corporate services administration, against an approved budget of $12,000
The 2026 budget book prints, beside each line, the 2025 approved budget and the 2025 "YTD Actuals" (spending so far, as the Township labels it). In corporate services administration, legal fees were approved at $12,000 and show $61,100. Other professional fees were approved at $20,000 and show $52,475. In treasury, audit fees were approved at $40,000 and show $65,483. The year before, the 2025 budget book shows $10,844 for legal fees, $30,503 for other professional fees and $41,892 for audit fees.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
32complaints received from October 17, 2024 to December 31, 2025, with fees of $50,262.40
An Integrity Commissioner is an outside person who checks whether members of council follow the Code of Conduct and the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. The commissioner's annual report covers October 17, 2024 to December 31, 2025. In that time the commissioner received 32 complaints: 30 under the Code of Conduct and 2 under the conflict of interest law. The report says 21 Code of Conduct complaints were investigated and 19 of those ended in a finding of a contravention. The bill for the period was $50,262.40.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
6recommendations made to Council in the March 25, 2026 closed meeting report
Councils may only meet in private for a short list of reasons, and they must say in public, in general terms, what the private part is about. A closed meeting investigator reviewed a request about council's closed meetings. The report is dated March 25, 2026. It found that on January 5, 2026 Council's closed session on "Board Operations" broke the open meeting rule: the description was too broad, part of the discussion did not qualify to be private, and a vote was taken in private. It found that a 2023 committee meeting did not break the rule.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
$388,5242025 year-to-date winter control materials, North Crosby patrol, against $275,000 approved
The North Crosby patrol is one of the Township's road crews. Its line for "Winter Control - Materials" (such as salt and sand) was approved at $345,000 for 2024 and the 2024 actual was $170,604. For 2025 the approved amount was cut to $275,000, and the 2025 year-to-date actual is $388,524.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$554,254year-end budget surplus for 2024, from the statements' own reconciliation
The Township's budget is built a different way from its audited statements, so the statements include a table that lines the two up. It shows a "year-end surplus" of $554,254 on the budget basis, because revenue came in at $26,007,540 against a budget of $25,629,453 and capital projects cost less than planned.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$3.7Min savings at the end of 2024
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Rideau Lakes had $3.7M saved at the end of 2024, up from $1.9M in 2019. That is 25% of one year's spending. None of the 90 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
| Year | Savings (reserves) |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $1.9M |
| 2020 | $1.7M |
| 2021 | $2.0M |
| 2022 | $2.4M |
| 2023 | $3.0M |
| 2024 | $3.7M |
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.
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 Rideau Lakes? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Savings (reserves and reserve funds): 2019 $1.9M, 2020 $1.7M, 2021 $2.0M, 2022 $2.4M, 2023 $3.0M, 2024 $3.7M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 70, line 6420 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: savings equal to 97% of a year's spending. Rideau Lakes: 25%.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 90 similar municipalities · Schedules 40 and 70 · archived copy
$6,820,840owed in long-term liabilities at December 31, 2024, up from $4,648,821 a year earlier
Long-term liabilities (money the Township has borrowed and still owes) were $4,648,821 at the end of 2023 and $6,820,840 at the end of 2024. That is $2,172,019 more, or about 47% (worked out by us). The statements say the Township took on $3,528,000 of new debt and repaid $1,355,981. A $1,600,000 interim loan from Ontario Infrastructure Corporation is part of the total. The Township's net debt (what it owes minus its cash and money owed to it) also grew, from $4,177,729 to $5,265,634.
Borrowing spreads the cost of roads, vehicles and buildings over many years, which can be fair. It also means future taxpayers pay interest, and more of each year's tax money goes to repaying loans instead of services. 2025 alone has $2,625,534 of principal coming due.
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 Rideau Lakes? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 5, long-term liabilities: total $6,820,840 (2023 - $4,648,821). It lists "Township interim financing with Ontario Infrastructure Corporation, interest rate is monthly construction rate, matures in 2029" of 1,600,000. The principal payments due in 2025 are $2,576,355 for the Township and $2,625,534 in total.
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2024 (KPMG LLP) · Note 5(a) and 5(b), PDF page 20 (printed page 14)
Note 14, budget figures: "Proceeds of long-term debt" budget $ (3,466,600), actual $ (3,528,000). "Repayment of long-term debt" budget 1,344,847, actual 1,355,981.
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2024 (KPMG LLP) · Note 14, PDF page 31 (printed page 25)
Note 5(c) and (d): "Interest expense on long-term liabilities in 2024 amounted to $148,756 (2023 - $121,354)." The statements add that the payments are "within the annual debt repayment limit prescribed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing."
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2024 (KPMG LLP) · Note 5(c) and 5(d), PDF page 21 (printed page 15)
Statement of financial position: "Net debt" (5,265,634) at December 31, 2024 and (4,177,729) at December 31, 2023.
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2024 (KPMG LLP) · Statement of financial position, PDF page 7 (printed page 1)
$2,574,139asset retirement obligation at December 31, 2024, listed as unfunded
An asset retirement obligation is a bill the Township already knows will come: closing landfills, removing asbestos from six buildings and sealing three wells. The statements list it at $2,574,139 at the end of 2024, of which $2,211,402 is for landfills. The statements call it "unfunded" and take it off the Township's equity (its net worth) as a negative amount. They also show $3,558,816 in reserves (savings Council has set aside), but none of the reserves listed is named for this bill.
A bill with no savings behind it will, sooner or later, be paid from taxes or borrowing. Landfill care runs for at least 25 years after closure, so a plan matters more than a single year's number. The estimate also moved: the landfill part fell by $950,000 in 2024, and residents should know why.
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 Rideau Lakes? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 8(a): "The estimated total landfill closure costs are calculated to be $2,211,402 (2023 - $3,161,402) and are included in liabilities under asset retirement obligations." It says a 2019 provincial order required the Portland landfill site to be closed, and the Township also has four inactive sites (Delta, Elgin, Hartsgravel Road and Westport).
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2024 (KPMG LLP) · Note 8(a), PDF page 22 (printed page 16)
Note 8 table: landfill 3,161,402 opening, "Liabilities settled during year" (950,000), closing 2,211,402; asbestos 193,737; well decommissioning 169,000; total closing liability, December 31, 2024 $ 2,574,139 (2023 - 3,524,139).
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2024 (KPMG LLP) · Note 8(b) and (c) and continuity table, PDF page 23 (printed page 17)
Note 6, municipal equity: "Unfunded asset retirement obligation" (2,574,139) (2023 - (3,524,139)); "Reserves (Schedule 1)" 3,558,816; "Reserve funds (Schedule 1)" 134,000.
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2024 (KPMG LLP) · Note 6, PDF page 21 (printed page 15)
Note 8(a): the Portland closure plan involves "covering the site with a clap cap ... and ongoing annual monitoring for a minimum of 25 years."
Township of Rideau Lakes 2024 Consolidated Financial Statements · Note 8(a), PDF page 22 (printed page 16)
$61,1002025 year-to-date legal fees in corporate services administration, against an approved budget of $12,000
The 2026 budget book prints, beside each line, the 2025 approved budget and the 2025 "YTD Actuals" (spending so far, as the Township labels it). In corporate services administration, legal fees were approved at $12,000 and show $61,100. Other professional fees were approved at $20,000 and show $52,475. In treasury, audit fees were approved at $40,000 and show $65,483. The year before, the 2025 budget book shows $10,844 for legal fees, $30,503 for other professional fees and $41,892 for audit fees.
Legal and professional bills can be large and one-time, but a line that runs several times over its budget is a sign the budget did not expect something. Residents can ask what the money bought and whether the budget will expect it again.
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 Rideau Lakes? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
2026 budget book, 120 Corporate Services Administration: "Legal Fees" 12,000 approved for 2025, 2025 YTD actuals 61,100. "Other Professional Fees" 20,000 approved for 2025, 2025 YTD actuals 52,475.
Township of Rideau Lakes, 2026 Operating Budget (posted as the 2026 Budget) · PDF page 2, accounts 1-5-120-7316 and 1-5-120-7317
2026 budget book, 125 Treasury: "Audit Fees" 40,000 approved for 2025, 2025 YTD actuals 65,483.
Township of Rideau Lakes, 2026 Operating Budget (posted as the 2026 Budget) · PDF page 9, account 1-5-125-7315
2025 budget book: 120 Corporate Services Administration "Legal Fees" 12,000, 2024 YTD actuals 10,844; "Other Professional Fees" 20,000, 2024 YTD actuals 30,503. 125 Treasury "Audit Fees" 40,000, 2024 YTD actuals 41,892.
2025 Tax Rates and Annual Budget (2025 Operating Budget) · PDF pages 5 and 15, accounts 1-5-120-7316, 1-5-120-7317 and 1-5-125-7315
32complaints received from October 17, 2024 to December 31, 2025, with fees of $50,262.40
An Integrity Commissioner is an outside person who checks whether members of council follow the Code of Conduct and the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. The commissioner's annual report covers October 17, 2024 to December 31, 2025. In that time the commissioner received 32 complaints: 30 under the Code of Conduct and 2 under the conflict of interest law. The report says 21 Code of Conduct complaints were investigated and 19 of those ended in a finding of a contravention. The bill for the period was $50,262.40.
A high number of complaints about a nine-person council in a short time can mean real problems with how members work together, or a complaint process being used for other disputes. Either way, residents pay for each investigation, and an election is on October 26, 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 Rideau Lakes? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
"During this operating period, I received a total of 32 complaints. 30 of these were Code of Conduct ("COC") complaints and 2 were Municipal Conflict of Interest Act ("MCIA") complaints." Of the 30: investigation completed 21, not accepted for investigation 7, withdrawn before investigation completed 2. Of the 21, 19 had contraventions and 2 did not. Penalties recommended for the 19: apologies for 11, remuneration penalties for 4, a reprimand for 1, no penalty for 3.
Integrity Commissioner Annual Report, October 17, 2024 to December 31, 2025 (ADR Chambers, January 21, 2026) · page 2, Code of Conduct and MCIA Complaints
Fees: "the billing for Integrity Commissioner services in the October 17, 2024 to December 31, 2025 operating period totaled $50,262.40 ($44,480.00 plus $5,782.40 HST)." The report adds that the fees for some matters not yet billed "will be included in the billing total that appears in my next annual report." It also reports 2 requests for advice and 6 general inquiries.
Integrity Commissioner Annual Report, October 17, 2024 to December 31, 2025 (ADR Chambers, January 21, 2026) · pages 2 to 3, Requests for Advice and General Inquiries; Fees
6recommendations made to Council in the March 25, 2026 closed meeting report
Councils may only meet in private for a short list of reasons, and they must say in public, in general terms, what the private part is about. A closed meeting investigator reviewed a request about council's closed meetings. The report is dated March 25, 2026. It found that on January 5, 2026 Council's closed session on "Board Operations" broke the open meeting rule: the description was too broad, part of the discussion did not qualify to be private, and a vote was taken in private. It found that a 2023 committee meeting did not break the rule.
Open meetings are how residents see decisions being made. When the official who checks says a council closed a meeting without a valid reason, residents should be able to see what Council did in response. The law requires a council to pass a resolution saying how it will deal with such a report.
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 Rideau Lakes? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Conclusion, January 5, 2026 meeting: "it is my view that the Council contravened the open meeting rule in relation to parts of the January 5, 2026 Meeting." Six recommendations follow, including clear resolution language for going into closed session and holding votes in closed session only on matters that qualify. The report says that because it found contraventions, "Council is required by subsection 239.2(12) to "pass a resolution stating how [Council] intends to address the report".
Report on Closed Meeting Investigation 2026-01 (Hines Law, March 25, 2026) · section H, Conclusions & Recommendations, PDF pages 12 to 13
Analysis: the public agenda described the closed session as "Board Operations". The investigator found the resolution to go into closed session "did not comply with subsection 239(4)" because the description was overly broad, and that "the vote was not properly taken in camera" on part of the matter.
Report on Closed Meeting Investigation 2026-01 (Hines Law, March 25, 2026) · section G(1), Analysis & Decision, PDF pages 9 to 10
$388,5242025 year-to-date winter control materials, North Crosby patrol, against $275,000 approved
The North Crosby patrol is one of the Township's road crews. Its line for "Winter Control - Materials" (such as salt and sand) was approved at $345,000 for 2024 and the 2024 actual was $170,604. For 2025 the approved amount was cut to $275,000, and the 2025 year-to-date actual is $388,524.
Winter cost swings with the weather, so some difference is normal. But a budget that was set below the 2024 actual was then beaten by a wide margin, and residents may want to know whether the Township keeps a reserve for bad winters.
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 Rideau Lakes? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
2026 budget book, 301 North Crosby Patrol, "Winter Control - Materials": 2025 approved 275,000; 2025 YTD actuals 388,524.
Township of Rideau Lakes, 2026 Operating Budget (posted as the 2026 Budget) · PDF page 33, account 1-5-301-7755
2025 budget book, 301 North Crosby Patrol, "Winter Control - Materials": 2024 approved 345,000; 2024 YTD actuals 170,604.
2025 Tax Rates and Annual Budget (2025 Operating Budget) · PDF page 39, account 1-5-301-7755
$554,254year-end budget surplus for 2024, from the statements' own reconciliation
The Township's budget is built a different way from its audited statements, so the statements include a table that lines the two up. It shows a "year-end surplus" of $554,254 on the budget basis, because revenue came in at $26,007,540 against a budget of $25,629,453 and capital projects cost less than planned.
Taxes are set to match the budget. A surplus is not wrong, but a regular surplus can mean taxes are set a little higher than needed, and residents should know where the extra goes.
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 Rideau Lakes? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 14, budget figures: Revenue budget $ 25,629,453, actual $ 26,007,540. Operating expenses budget (16,710,010), actual (16,732,787). Capital projects budget (8,919,443), actual (8,720,499). "Year-end surplus/year-end budget variance" actual 554,254. "Prior year end surplus" (1,058,797) is shown as revenue included in budget but not under public sector accounting rules.
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2024 (KPMG LLP) · Note 14, PDF page 31 (printed page 25)