Questions · 7 so far
We read Schreiber's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 49 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
$364Kowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2023
At the end of 2023, $364K of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 16% of everything billed. Only 6 of 49 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $154K.
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.
July 14, 2026date of the auditor's report on the statements for the year ended December 31, 2024
The auditor signed the 2024 statements on July 14, 2026, about eighteen and a half months after the year ended. The Township's own page says the statements usually come later in the year following the year-end. On October 14, 2026 the Budgets page listed no 2025 statements and no 2026 budget.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$619,794property and business taxes owed to the Township at December 31, 2024, up from $415,509
At December 31, 2024 the Township was owed $619,794 in property and business taxes, up from $415,509 a year earlier. The amount it set aside as unlikely to be collected rose from $51,235 to $106,887.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
$957,470designated to support reserve funds at December 31, 2024, against reserves and reserve funds of $3,857,042 (worked out by us)
At December 31, 2024 the Township reported reserves of $3,751,332 and reserve funds of $105,710, which we add to $3,857,042 (worked out by us). Its note on designated assets says council has set aside $957,470 of its financial assets to support reserve funds. Total cash was $3,490,771.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$981,355decrease in cash in 2024, to $3,490,771
Cash fell from $4,472,126 to $3,490,771 in 2024. The Township spent $2,058,823 on capital assets such as roads and equipment, while its operations brought in $1,081,729. Money it was holding for grants (deferred revenue) fell by $525,934.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$954,409annual surplus in 2024, against a budgeted surplus of $174,059
The 2024 statements show an annual surplus of $954,409 against a budgeted $174,059. Federal grants came in at $490,849 against $92,187 budgeted, user fees at $344,125 against $252,270, and general government costs were lower than budgeted.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$301per home on snow ploughing, 2023
Schreiber spent about $301 per home on snow ploughing in 2023. The typical similar town spent $121. Only 7 of 49 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
$364Kowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2023
At the end of 2023, $364K of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 16% of everything billed. Only 6 of 49 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $154K.
| Year | Unpaid property tax at year end |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $268K |
| 2020 | $261K |
| 2021 | $148K |
| 2022 | $154K |
| 2023 | $364K |
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.
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 Schreiber? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Taxes receivable: 2019 $268K, 2020 $261K, 2021 $148K, 2022 $154K, 2023 $364K. Of the 2023 total, $91,743 was from earlier years.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2023 · Schedule 70, lines 0610 to 0699 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: 10.5% of taxes billed.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2023, 49 similar municipalities · Schedules 26 and 70 · archived copy
July 14, 2026date of the auditor's report on the statements for the year ended December 31, 2024
The auditor signed the 2024 statements on July 14, 2026, about eighteen and a half months after the year ended. The Township's own page says the statements usually come later in the year following the year-end. On October 14, 2026 the Budgets page listed no 2025 statements and no 2026 budget.
Statements and the budget are how residents check what the Township planned and what it spent. When they come late, that check can only happen long after the money is gone.
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 Schreiber? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The Independent Auditor's Report on the statements for the year ended December 31, 2024 is signed by Doane Grant Thornton LLP, Thunder Bay, and dated July 14, 2026. The opinion is that the statements "present fairly".
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Township of Schreiber) · Independent Auditor's Report, PDF pages 4 and 5 (printed pages 1 and 2)
The page says: "This process typically occurs later in the year following the end of the fiscal year." It lists annual budgets for 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 (By-Law 31-2025) and audited financial statements for 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. It lists no 2026 budget and no 2025 statements.
Budgets & Financial Reports page (Township of Schreiber website) · Annual Budget and Audited Financial Statements sections, checked October 14, 2026
The website's media list shows the file "2024 Audited Financial Statements" uploaded on July 16, 2026.
Media list (Township of Schreiber website) · First entry, checked October 14, 2026
$619,794property and business taxes owed to the Township at December 31, 2024, up from $415,509
At December 31, 2024 the Township was owed $619,794 in property and business taxes, up from $415,509 a year earlier. The amount it set aside as unlikely to be collected rose from $51,235 to $106,887.
Taxes that are not paid still have to be covered. Money the Township does not collect can mean less for roads, water and services, or a bigger bill for everyone else.
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 Schreiber? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 4, taxes receivable: property and business taxes receivable 619,794 (2023: 415,509); allowance for property and business tax arrears (106,887) (2023: (51,235)); net 512,907 (2023: 364,274).
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Township of Schreiber) · Note 4, PDF page 17 (printed page 14)
Taxes receivable 512,907 (2023: 364,274). Net financial assets 2,125,625 (2023: 2,457,436).
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Township of Schreiber) · Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, PDF page 6 (printed page 3)
$957,470designated to support reserve funds at December 31, 2024, against reserves and reserve funds of $3,857,042 (worked out by us)
At December 31, 2024 the Township reported reserves of $3,751,332 and reserve funds of $105,710, which we add to $3,857,042 (worked out by us). Its note on designated assets says council has set aside $957,470 of its financial assets to support reserve funds. Total cash was $3,490,771.
A reserve is money saved for a future need such as a fire truck or a road. Residents can only judge whether the savings are real if they know how much sits in the bank for them.
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 Schreiber? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Reserves: balance, end of year 3,751,332 (2023: 3,826,445). Reserve funds: balance, end of year 105,710 (2023: 93,464). Reserve transfers from current operations 702,024 and to current operations 777,137.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Township of Schreiber) · Note 14, reserves and reserve funds, PDF pages 23 and 24 (printed pages 20 and 21)
"Council has designated $957,470 [2023 - $915,899] to support reserve funds (note 14) and has restricted $551,397 [2023 - $1,077,331] to support deferred revenue and obligatory reserve funds (note 6)."
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Township of Schreiber) · Note 15, designated assets, PDF page 24 (printed page 21)
Cash 3,490,771 (2023: 4,472,126). Total financial assets 4,722,321.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Township of Schreiber) · Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, PDF page 6 (printed page 3)
$981,355decrease in cash in 2024, to $3,490,771
Cash fell from $4,472,126 to $3,490,771 in 2024. The Township spent $2,058,823 on capital assets such as roads and equipment, while its operations brought in $1,081,729. Money it was holding for grants (deferred revenue) fell by $525,934.
Cash is what pays the bills. A fall of nearly a million dollars in a township this size is worth explaining, even if the money went into things residents can see.
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 Schreiber? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Cash provided by operating transactions 1,081,729. Acquisition of tangible capital assets (2,058,823). Cash used in capital transactions (2,017,014). Debt principal repayments (46,070). Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (981,355). Opening cash 4,472,126. Closing cash 3,490,771. Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue (525,934).
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Township of Schreiber) · Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, PDF page 10 (printed page 7)
The reconciliation of the approved fiscal plan lists capital items of 1,856,223.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Township of Schreiber) · Note 16, budget figures, PDF page 25 (printed page 22)
$954,409annual surplus in 2024, against a budgeted surplus of $174,059
The 2024 statements show an annual surplus of $954,409 against a budgeted $174,059. Federal grants came in at $490,849 against $92,187 budgeted, user fees at $344,125 against $252,270, and general government costs were lower than budgeted.
A surplus bigger than planned can mean revenue or costs differed from plan, or a budget that may have been set cautiously. Residents set their tax rate from the 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 Schreiber? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Government of Canada: budget 92,187, actual 490,849. Province of Ontario: budget 1,803,711, actual 1,631,857. User fees and service charges: budget 252,270, actual 344,125. Total revenues: budget 5,873,773, actual 6,233,551.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Township of Schreiber) · Consolidated Statements of Operations, PDF page 7 (printed page 4)
General government: budget 1,253,777, actual 1,099,970. Total expenses: budget 5,699,714, actual 5,272,968. Annual surplus: budget 174,059, actual 954,409.
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Township of Schreiber) · Consolidated Statements of Operations (continued), PDF page 8 (printed page 5)
Note 16 says the fiscal plan "has been adjusted to be presented on a consistent basis as actual results" and reconciles the approved fiscal plan (revenue 7,231,649) to the fiscal plan per the financial statements (revenue 5,873,773).
Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 (Township of Schreiber) · Note 16, budget figures, PDF page 25 (printed page 22)
$301per home on snow ploughing, 2023
Schreiber spent about $301 per home on snow ploughing in 2023. The typical similar town spent $121. Only 7 of 49 similar towns spent more.
Spending more than neighbours is not wrong by itself. It might buy better service. But it is the first place to look for costs that could be lower, such as contracts that were not competitively bid.
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 Schreiber? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Snow ploughing per home: Schreiber $301; typical similar town $121; ranked 8th highest of 50.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2023, 49 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy