Questions · 10 so far
We read Stirling-Rawdon's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 65 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
$1.7Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2024
At the end of 2024, $1.7M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 17% of everything billed. None of the 65 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $1.5M.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 4 sources
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
14½ monthsfrom December 31, 2024 to the date the auditor signed the 2024 statements (March 19, 2026), worked out by us
Every year a town must produce financial statements that an outside auditor has checked. The auditor signed the 2021 statements on November 10, 2023 and the 2022 statements on November 16, 2023. The 2023 statements were signed on December 5, 2024. The 2024 statements were signed on March 19, 2026, and council approved a revised version on July 7, 2026. In May 2026 the town’s staff still listed finishing the audits as a next step, and said it was working with the auditors on both 2024 and 2025. All four audit reports we read say the statements “present fairly”, so the problem is timing, not the numbers. The 2024 statements are in council’s July 7, 2026 package, but the town’s budget and financial statements page lists only 2021 to 2023.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 7 sources
$52,410,000the town’s own 2024 estimate for work on 32 bridges and large culverts
In its 2024 budget presentation the Township said its 2023 bridge inspections found 32 bridges and large culverts needing about $52,410,000 of major repair or replacement. About $8,980,000 of that was replacement within one to five years. The town said doing the five-year part would take an average of $1,796,000 a year, or a 27.79% increase in the tax levy. The whole 2025 tax levy was $7,158,249. At the end of 2025 the town’s list of savings shows $13,941.25 in its capital works reserve and $65,687.29 in its roads reserve. The 2026 budget moves one bridge replacement ($460,000) to 2027 “due to risk of failure” and another ($800,000) to 2028. On February 17, 2026 council took a culvert project on Stirling-Marmora Road out of the 2026 budget.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 6 sources
$4,000,000loan in the 2026 budget for a $15 million water, sewer and road project
The 2026 budget includes a rebuild of Belleville Road, East Front Street and North Street, with water and sewer lines. The town calls it a $15 million project with a $10.8 million provincial grant. The budget shows a $4,000,000 loan for most of the rest, so the project adds nothing to the 2026 tax levy. The loan has not been priced yet. In February the CAO said a report on financing would come to council later. Using the 4.4% rate and 20 years that the town’s own consultant used for its debt estimates, a $4,000,000 loan would cost about $305,000 a year (our arithmetic). The town says 1% of its tax levy is $71,582, so that would be roughly 4% of the levy, unless water and sewer rates pay part of it. Council hired an engineer for the project on June 16, 2026 for $378,333.91.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 9 sources
+37%net cost of general administration, 2025 budget to 2026 budget
“General administration” pays for the office staff, computers, insurance and the municipal building. The 2026 budget puts its net cost at $1,086,602, which is $291,902 (37%) more than the $794,700 budgeted for 2025. In 2025 it actually came in at $727,926.94. Spending alone was $911,973 in 2025 and is budgeted at $1,217,102 for 2026. The town says the reason is changes in the number of office staff in 2025, plus higher computer leasing costs. It lists wages and benefits as the first of four reasons for the 2026 tax increase. It does not say how many positions were added or what contract help costs.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
+15%town property tax, 2023 to 2024
In 2024, Stirling-Rawdon collected $919K more in its own property tax than in 2023. That is a 15% jump, while prices went up about 2.4%. Only 5 of 65 similar towns raised theirs by more. Almost all of it came from a higher tax rate (up 13% for homes); the value of homes on the tax roll grew only 1.6%.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 11 sources
$2.2Min savings at the end of 2024
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Stirling-Rawdon had $2.2M saved at the end of 2024, down from $3.1M in 2019. That is 23% of one year's spending. Only 1 of 65 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 6 sources
$2,726per home on long-term debt, 2024
Stirling-Rawdon spent about $2,726 per home on long-term debt in 2024. The typical similar town spent $643. Only 6 of 65 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 7 sources
+49%roads and snow, 2019 to 2024
Stirling-Rawdon spent $2.3M on roads and snow in 2019 and $3.4M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 9 of 65 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 7 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
+23%the mayor’s yearly council pay, 2023 to 2025 (councillors +13%, deputy mayor +30%)
Council members are paid a yearly amount called an indemnity. The mayor received $16,272.88 in 2023 and $19,999.98 in 2025. The deputy mayor went from $13,818.13 to $18,000.06, and two councillors from $13,271.18 to $15,000.18. The town’s pay policy says council pay rises each year with the cost-of-living increase for non-union staff. That does not obviously explain two years of 13% to 30% increases. We did not find the council statement for 2024, so we cannot see in which year the change happened or which decision caused it.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$1.7Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2024
At the end of 2024, $1.7M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 17% of everything billed. None of the 65 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $1.5M.
| Year | Unpaid property tax at year end |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $1.1M |
| 2020 | $1.0M |
| 2021 | $1.1M |
| 2022 | $1.3M |
| 2023 | $1.5M |
| 2024 | $1.7M |
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 Stirling-Rawdon? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Taxes receivable: 2019 $1.1M, 2020 $1.0M, 2021 $1.1M, 2022 $1.3M, 2023 $1.5M, 2024 $1.7M. Of the 2024 total, $425K was from earlier years.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 70, lines 0610 to 0699 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: 8.2% of taxes billed.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 65 similar municipalities · Schedules 26 and 70 · archived copy
Taxes receivable (billed but not yet paid) were $1,695,952 at the end of 2024, up from $1,466,660 a year earlier. Penalties and interest on taxes earned were $190,905 against a budget of $170,000.
2024 consolidated financial statements, in the council package of July 7, 2026 · statement of financial position, page 102 of 208; statement of operations, page 103 of 208
The town’s 2026 budget notes: “General revenues also include interest and penalties on taxes. This estimate has been increased from $170,000 to $190,000 due to increasing tax arrears.” We did not find an explanation of why arrears are rising.
2026 Budget booklet (Township of Stirling-Rawdon, February 4, 2026) · page 7 of 91
14½ monthsfrom December 31, 2024 to the date the auditor signed the 2024 statements (March 19, 2026), worked out by us
Every year a town must produce financial statements that an outside auditor has checked. The auditor signed the 2021 statements on November 10, 2023 and the 2022 statements on November 16, 2023. The 2023 statements were signed on December 5, 2024. The 2024 statements were signed on March 19, 2026, and council approved a revised version on July 7, 2026. In May 2026 the town’s staff still listed finishing the audits as a next step, and said it was working with the auditors on both 2024 and 2025. All four audit reports we read say the statements “present fairly”, so the problem is timing, not the numbers. The 2024 statements are in council’s July 7, 2026 package, but the town’s budget and financial statements page lists only 2021 to 2023.
Audited statements are how residents, lenders and the Province know the town’s numbers are right. When they arrive more than a year late, the town sets its next budget without knowing how the last year ended. For example, the town said on February 12, 2026 that the final amount of capital spending not yet paid for in earlier budgets “is not available”, because the 2024 reports were not finished. The 2026 budget was approved five days later, on February 17, 2026, a month before the auditor signed the 2024 statements.
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 Stirling-Rawdon? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: The auditor’s findings reports and the 2025 year-end results, with wording you can copy.
The auditor’s report on the 2021 statements (Baker Tilly KDN LLP, clean opinion) is dated November 10, 2023.
2021 audited financial statements (Township of Stirling-Rawdon) · page 5 (Independent Auditor’s Report)
The auditor’s report on the 2022 statements is dated November 16, 2023.
2022 audited financial statements (Township of Stirling-Rawdon) · page 5 (Independent Auditor’s Report)
The auditor’s report on the 2023 statements is dated December 5, 2024. The draft was presented to the Standing Committees meeting on December 3, 2024.
2023 audited financial statements (Township of Stirling-Rawdon) · page 5 (Independent Auditor’s Report); presentation in the December 16, 2024 council package, page 20 of 131
The management report and auditor’s report on the 2024 statements are both dated March 19, 2026, and the opinion is clean (“present fairly”). Council received the draft on March 17, 2026. On July 7, 2026 it approved a revised version, which the CAO’s report says reflects “minor year-end adjustments resulting from reserve transfers”. The copy in the July package is stamped “Draft June 24, 2026”.
2024 consolidated financial statements, in the council package of July 7, 2026 · pages 95 to 101 of 208
The CAO’s May 2026 report lists “Ongoing work with auditors (Baker Tilly) on 2024 and 2025 year-end audits and financial statement preparation” and, under next steps, “Complete outstanding financial audits and present financial statements”. It also mentions “Collaboration with the Contract Treasurer and finance staff to improve financial processes and reporting”.
CAO report CAO-26-086, in the May 5, 2026 council package · pages 52 to 55 of 63
On February 12, 2026 the CAO wrote: “With the finalization of the 2024 financial reports and the work being completed by staff to prepare for the 2025 year end, this final unfinanced capital amount is not available.”
2026 Budget update (Township of Stirling-Rawdon, February 17, 2026) · page 6 of 8
The town’s budget and financial statements page lists audited financial statements for 2023, 2022 and 2021 only. The Province’s file for the town’s 2024 financial return shows a last-updated date of July 24, 2026 (the 2022 and 2023 returns show January 22, 2024 and February 24, 2025).
Township of Stirling-Rawdon, Budget and Financial Statements page; Province of Ontario FIR open data · section “Audited Financial Statements”; FIR dates from the Province’s file as we downloaded it
$52,410,000the town’s own 2024 estimate for work on 32 bridges and large culverts
In its 2024 budget presentation the Township said its 2023 bridge inspections found 32 bridges and large culverts needing about $52,410,000 of major repair or replacement. About $8,980,000 of that was replacement within one to five years. The town said doing the five-year part would take an average of $1,796,000 a year, or a 27.79% increase in the tax levy. The whole 2025 tax levy was $7,158,249. At the end of 2025 the town’s list of savings shows $13,941.25 in its capital works reserve and $65,687.29 in its roads reserve. The 2026 budget moves one bridge replacement ($460,000) to 2027 “due to risk of failure” and another ($800,000) to 2028. On February 17, 2026 council took a culvert project on Stirling-Marmora Road out of the 2026 budget.
Bridges cannot be patched forever. A bridge that fails closes a road, and farm and emergency vehicles may have to detour. The town has been open about the size of the problem. What residents cannot see is how, and in what order, it expects to pay for it.
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 Stirling-Rawdon? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
“2023 OSIM Bridge Inspection Reports indicate 32 bridges/large culvert structures, with an estimated $52,410,000 of significant maintenance, rehabilitation or replacement. Within 1 to 5 years we have $8,980,000 worth of bridges/large structures requiring replacement. To do the recommended replacements over the next five years we would need an average $1,796,000 per year or 27.79% tax levy increase.”
2024 Budget presentation (Township of Stirling-Rawdon) · page 7 of 17
The 2025 tax levy was $7,158,249, up from $6,463,134.55 in 2024. The 2025 budget includes buying three prefabricated bridge structures for installation in later years.
2025 Budget overview (Township of Stirling-Rawdon) · pages 2 and 3 of 6
A September 2025 staff report says the bridge on Wellman’s Road North “is failing and should be replaced as soon as possible”, and so it was installed that year. The three bridges cost an estimated $510,550: $170,175 from taxes and $340,400 “to be financed from debt as it was unfinanced in the 2025 budget”.
Staff report in the September 15, 2025 council package · pages 16 and 17 of 75
Items delayed in the 2026 budget: “Harolds Bridge replacement for $460,000. This will be necessary to do in 2027 due to risk of failure.” and “Henry Street Bridge replacement for $800,000 scheduled for 2028.”
2026 Budget booklet (Township of Stirling-Rawdon, February 4, 2026) · page 26 of 91
On February 17, 2026 council directed staff to remove “the Stirling-Marmora Road culvert replacement project in the amount of $392,575” from the 2026 budget.
Special council minutes, February 17, 2026, in the March 3, 2026 council package · page 13 of 133
Savings at the end of 2025, from the town’s own list: Reserve - Capital Works $13,941.25; Reserve - Roads $65,687.29; All reserves together were $3,198,773.53, of which $1,485,193.01 belongs to the shared building inspection service.
2026 Budget update (Township of Stirling-Rawdon, February 17, 2026) · page 5 of 8
$4,000,000loan in the 2026 budget for a $15 million water, sewer and road project
The 2026 budget includes a rebuild of Belleville Road, East Front Street and North Street, with water and sewer lines. The town calls it a $15 million project with a $10.8 million provincial grant. The budget shows a $4,000,000 loan for most of the rest, so the project adds nothing to the 2026 tax levy. The loan has not been priced yet. In February the CAO said a report on financing would come to council later. Using the 4.4% rate and 20 years that the town’s own consultant used for its debt estimates, a $4,000,000 loan would cost about $305,000 a year (our arithmetic). The town says 1% of its tax levy is $71,582, so that would be roughly 4% of the levy, unless water and sewer rates pay part of it. Council hired an engineer for the project on June 16, 2026 for $378,333.91.
The town already plans to pay $1,517,585 in 2026 on loans and leases, and council authorized a $3.39 million loan in May 2024 for the downtown project. A new loan on top of that is the kind of decision whose cost shows up later, in tax and water bills. Residents should be able to see the interest rate, the yearly payment and who pays it before the loan is signed.
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 Stirling-Rawdon? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: How the Belleville Road project will be financed, with wording you can copy.
The 2026 capital list shows for this project: Provincial Grant - HWSW Project (10,827,000); Loan for HWSW Project (4,000,000); Consulting 1,000,000; Contract 13,827,000, all marked “Belleville Rd, North Road”. The grant and loan together equal the cost, so the project is net zero in the 2026 budget.
2026 Budget booklet (Township of Stirling-Rawdon, February 4, 2026) · page 26 of 91
“An analysis of the proposed debt for the $15 million Infrastructure project being funded from the ICIP HWSW funding will also be included so Council can make some informed decisions regarding long term financing for the Township.”
2026 Budget update (Township of Stirling-Rawdon, February 17, 2026) · page 6 of 8
The water and sewer budget report says the reconstruction “is part of the funding from the province for a total project of $15 million with a grant of $10.8 million”. It says water and sewer systems are self-funded and “There is no impact on the Township tax rates”.
Water and Wastewater Budget 2026, in the February 17, 2026 council package · pages 173 and 179 of 307
On February 3, 2026 council voted to proceed with Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (Health and Safety Water Stream) funding for the “Rehabilitation of Belleville Road / East Front Street / North Street” and directed staff to prepare a by-law for a transfer payment agreement with the Province.
Council minutes, February 3, 2026, in the February 17, 2026 council package · item 11.4, page 33 of 307
On June 16, 2026 council awarded the engineering contract for Belleville Road and North Street reconstruction to Jewell Engineering for $378,333.91, net of HST rebate.
Council minutes, June 16, 2026, in the July 7, 2026 council package · item 7.1, pages 34 and 35 of 208
The town’s debt table for 2026 to 2034 totals $1,517,585 of payments in 2026, $1,308,110 in 2027 and $1,212,129 in 2028. It does not include this new loan.
2026 Budget update (Township of Stirling-Rawdon, February 17, 2026) · page 7 of 8
The town’s consultant projects that by 2035, debt costs on $12.0M of new water and sewer debt “(plus existing debt) will equal $1.7 million or 59% of the ARL” (the Province’s annual repayment limit). We could not tell whether that estimate includes this loan.
Water and Wastewater Rate Study, Watson & Associates, in the February 17, 2026 council package · page 15 of 307 (slide 10) and page 132 of 307
"The 2025 tax levy was $7,158,249. A 1% increase in the tax levy is $71,582."
2026 Budget booklet (Township of Stirling-Rawdon, February 4, 2026) · Final Total Tax Levy, PDF page 43 (printed page 43)
May 6, 2024 minutes, Resolution #15, Carried: "That By-law 23-24 being a by-law to authorize the borrowing upon amortizing debentures in the principal amount of $3,393,673.78 towards the cost of the Downtown Infrastructure Update - Henry Street, West Front Street, North Street and Mill Street be read and passed this 6th day of May, 2024."
Regular Council package, May 21, 2024 (includes the May 6, 2024 minutes) · item 7.2 of the May 6 minutes, page 9 of 92
+37%net cost of general administration, 2025 budget to 2026 budget
“General administration” pays for the office staff, computers, insurance and the municipal building. The 2026 budget puts its net cost at $1,086,602, which is $291,902 (37%) more than the $794,700 budgeted for 2025. In 2025 it actually came in at $727,926.94. Spending alone was $911,973 in 2025 and is budgeted at $1,217,102 for 2026. The town says the reason is changes in the number of office staff in 2025, plus higher computer leasing costs. It lists wages and benefits as the first of four reasons for the 2026 tax increase. It does not say how many positions were added or what contract help costs.
Office salaries repeat every year once added. When one part of the budget grows by a third in a year, residents can fairly ask what they are getting for it, and how it compares with what they see on roads and in services.
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 Stirling-Rawdon? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Office staffing and contract help, with wording you can copy.
Total Administration Expenditures: 2024 budget 838,350; 2024 actual 778,155; 2025 budget 853,300; 2025 actual 911,973; 2026 budget 1,217,102. Net General Administration: 772,550; 660,510.93; 794,700; 727,926.94; 1,086,602. The change shown is 291,902, or 37%.
2026 Budget booklet (Township of Stirling-Rawdon, February 4, 2026) · page 9 of 91
The town’s notes on that page: “Changes in the staffing complement in 2025 for administration resulting in increased wages and benefit costs are the reason for the increase in this portion of the budget.” and “Increased computer leasing costs.”
2026 Budget booklet (Township of Stirling-Rawdon, February 4, 2026) · page 9 of 91
The summary of 2026 tax increases lists Wages & Benefits $291,902, No prior year surplus 200,000, OMPF Increase 42,100, and Public Works Capital 557,610.
2026 Budget booklet (Township of Stirling-Rawdon, February 4, 2026) · page 43 of 91
The treasurer’s statement says: “In 2026 the Township is struggling mostly with increased wage and benefit costs, debt repayment from previous years capital.”
2026 Budget booklet (Township of Stirling-Rawdon, February 4, 2026) · page 4 of 91
The CAO’s May 2026 report lists recruitment for a clerk, a finance clerk, a winter patrol labourer, a summer student and a water and wastewater operator, and a new three-year CUPE collective agreement ratified in October 2025.
CAO report CAO-26-086, in the May 5, 2026 council package · pages 52 and 53 of 63
+15%town property tax, 2023 to 2024
In 2024, Stirling-Rawdon collected $919K more in its own property tax than in 2023. That is a 15% jump, while prices went up about 2.4%. Only 5 of 65 similar towns raised theirs by more. Almost all of it came from a higher tax rate (up 13% for homes); the value of homes on the tax roll grew only 1.6%.
| Year | Town property tax |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $4.9M |
| 2020 | $5.3M |
| 2021 | $5.5M |
| 2022 | $5.5M |
| 2023 | $6.1M |
| 2024 | $7.0M |
A big one-year jump usually means something changed: a new cost, a service that grew, savings being rebuilt, or a problem from earlier years being paid for now. Residents should be able to see exactly which. Spread across every home, it is about $443 more 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 Stirling-Rawdon? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Town property tax: $6,064,732 in 2023, $6,983,512 in 2024.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 10, line 9940 · archived copy
Typical increase among 65 similar Ontario towns: 7.6%. Stirling-Rawdon ranks 6th highest.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 65 similar municipalities · Schedule 10, line 9940 · archived copy
Residential tax rate (town share): 1.113% in 2023, 1.254% in 2024. Residential assessment: $436M to $443M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 22, residential (RT) · archived copy
Prices (inflation) rose 2.4% over the same year.
The town’s own numbers: the 2023 tax levy (the amount raised from property tax for the town’s own use) was $5,628,847.72, up 9.9% from $5,121,642.85 in 2022.
2023 Budget overview, public meeting (Township of Stirling-Rawdon) · page 2 of 19
The 2024 levy was $6,463,134.55, which is $834,286.83 or 14.8% more than 2023 (our arithmetic). The town named the pressures: OPP policing $697,878, insurance $279,110, debt payments from taxes $396,000 (“Funding Debt Payments represents 6.13% of the tax levy”), and a two-ton truck and plow $121,000.
2024 Budget presentation (Township of Stirling-Rawdon) · pages 5 and 6 of 17
The town also explained a loss of revenue: “In 2023 we had $2,650,000 in revenue for Transportation Services and in 2024 we are only able to include $779,474, which is a decrease of $1,870,526.” It adds that “we also brought significant dollars in from Reserves, Gas Tax and Development Charges to offset the expenditures in 2023 that we are not able to use in 2024.”
2024 Budget presentation (Township of Stirling-Rawdon) · page 6 of 17
The Province held property values at their old amounts for another year. The town’s taxable assessment grew only 2.57% in 2024 ($599,655,430 to $615,055,430).
2024 Budget presentation (Township of Stirling-Rawdon) · page 8 of 17
The draft budget council saw on February 13, 2024 had a levy increase of about 16.3%, a tax rate increase of about 14.16%, “$375 per year or $7 per week on an average assessment of $200,000”. The final levy was lower.
Finance and Personnel Committee minutes, February 13, 2024, in the February 20, 2024 council package · pages 17 and 18 of 50
The following years: the 2025 levy was $7,158,249 (+10.8%, a tax rate increase of 7.87%, or $334.80 more on an average assessment of $266,972). On February 17, 2026 council approved a 2026 general levy of $7,635,526, which is 6.7% more than 2025 (our arithmetic). The 2026 levy is 49% above the 2022 levy.
2025 Budget overview; special council minutes of February 17, 2026 · 2025 overview pages 2 and 6 of 6; 2026 levy from the minutes, page 13 of 133 of the March 3, 2026 package (https://stirling-rawdon.civicweb.net/document/69988/Regular%20Council%20-%2003%20Mar%202026.pdf?handle=2134FD88F799434EA93DEF783D4A5985)
The treasurer’s statement for the 2026 budget: “This budget also presents higher tax rate as previous year tax rates were not increased enough in each budget year to cover ongoing costs related to infrastructure needs”. It also says the Province’s OMPF grant (a yearly grant to rural towns) is $1,094,900 for 2026 against $1,559,700 in 2020, and that the town estimates it has “lost a total of over $7 million in OMPF funding in the past 15 years.”
2026 Budget booklet (Township of Stirling-Rawdon, February 4, 2026) · pages 4 and 7 of 91
$2.2Min savings at the end of 2024
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Stirling-Rawdon had $2.2M saved at the end of 2024, down from $3.1M in 2019. That is 23% of one year's spending. Only 1 of 65 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
| Year | Savings (reserves) |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $3.1M |
| 2020 | $3.3M |
| 2021 | $4.0M |
| 2022 | $3.5M |
| 2023 | $2.8M |
| 2024 | $2.2M |
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 Stirling-Rawdon? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Savings (reserves and reserve funds): 2019 $3.1M, 2020 $3.3M, 2021 $4.0M, 2022 $3.5M, 2023 $2.8M, 2024 $2.2M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 70, line 6420 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: savings equal to 92% of a year's spending. Stirling-Rawdon: 23%.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 65 similar municipalities · Schedules 40 and 70 · archived copy
The town’s own list of savings at the end of 2025 totals $3,198,773.53. Of that, $1,485,193.01 is the building inspection reserve (a service shared with six other municipalities), $400,050.00 is the working fund, $383,817.27 is for fire, $96,078.30 is gas tax money, $65,687.29 is for roads and $13,941.25 for capital works. Development charges, which can be used only for growth projects, are listed separately at $1,353,652.07.
2026 Budget update (Township of Stirling-Rawdon, February 17, 2026) · page 5 of 8
The treasurer’s statement for the 2026 budget: “This budget is attempting to build reserves to pay for future capital needs rather than borrowing.” A full long-term capital plan “will be presented in the next few months”.
2026 Budget booklet (Township of Stirling-Rawdon, February 4, 2026) · page 4 of 91
The audited 2024 statements show reserves of $526,167 and reserve funds for future capital of $2,533,745 at the end of 2024, and note that long-term debt of $660,998 is “supporting operations”.
2024 consolidated financial statements, in the council package of July 7, 2026 · note 10, page 116 of 208
For scale, the town’s own estimate for bridge and culvert work is $52,410,000 (see the question about bridges).
2024 Budget presentation (Township of Stirling-Rawdon) · page 7 of 17
$2,726per home on long-term debt, 2024
Stirling-Rawdon spent about $2,726 per home on long-term debt in 2024. The typical similar town spent $643. Only 6 of 65 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 Stirling-Rawdon? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Equipment leases and the bank loan, with wording you can copy.
Long-term debt per home: Stirling-Rawdon $2,726; typical similar town $643; ranked 7th highest of 66.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 65 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy
The audited 2024 statements list the debt: Infrastructure Ontario loans at 2.05% (due September 2026), 2.45% (due May 2027) and 4.83% (due May 2034, for the downtown project); a Bank of Montreal term loan at 6.27% (due November 2028); and three equipment leases new in 2024 at 6.11% (BMO, due July 2030), 6.37% (Meridian, due October 2027) and 7.62% (PNC, due January 2027). Leases total $1,143,830 of the $5,653,925. Interest charges were $275,776 in 2024 against $65,677 in 2023.
2024 consolidated financial statements, in the council package of July 7, 2026 · note 5, pages 112 and 113 of 208
The auditors’ note says the yearly payments “are within the annual debt repayment limit prescribed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.”
2024 consolidated financial statements, in the council package of July 7, 2026 · note 5(b), page 112 of 208
The downtown project loan: council passed By-law 23-24 on May 6, 2024 to borrow $3,393,673.78 for the Downtown Infrastructure Update (Henry Street, West Front Street, North Street and Mill Street) from Infrastructure Ontario at 4.83% over 10 years.
Council package of May 6, 2024, By-law 23-24 · pages 72 to 99 of 106
The 2024 budget presentation put debt payments from taxes at $396,000, “6.13% of the tax levy”. The 2023 presentation listed municipal debt payments of $551,650 and said the town’s annual repayment limit was $1,508,861, with $957,211 of repayments still available. The 2026 table totals $1,517,585 of debt and lease payments for 2026. The limit is recalculated each year, so those figures are not directly comparable.
2024 and 2023 budget presentations; 2026 budget update · 2024 page 5 of 17; 2023 page 19 of 19 (https://media-001-ca.cdn.govstack.com/stirlingrawdon-002-ca/media/0efjzahm/budget-overview-public-meeting.pdf); 2026 update page 7 of 8 (https://media-001-ca.cdn.govstack.com/stirlingrawdon-002-ca/media/ei4fcj5m/township-of-stirling-rawdon-2026-budget-february-17-2026-additional-information.pdf)
The town’s debt table lists a loan called “Administration and Police” at 6.27% over 5 years ($832,868.85 borrowed, last payment in 2028), the same rate as the bank term loan in the audited statements. The 2026 budget says the police budget includes “the annual repayment of the Police loan that was incurred due to the disbandment of the Stirling-Rawdon police services”.
2026 Budget booklet (Township of Stirling-Rawdon, February 4, 2026) · page 16 of 91; the loan table is on page 7 of the February 17, 2026 update (https://media-001-ca.cdn.govstack.com/stirlingrawdon-002-ca/media/ei4fcj5m/township-of-stirling-rawdon-2026-budget-february-17-2026-additional-information.pdf)
Equipment leases: the 2025 budget says leasing of “the large trucks” raised 2025 operating costs, and that in 2024 “our lease included the two graders and the excavator”. In May 2026 council approved paying out the 2022 grader lease for $241,535.
2025 Budget overview; staff report PUB-26-084 in the May 5, 2026 council package · 2025 overview page 3 of 6; PUB-26-084 on pages 40 and 41 of 63 (https://stirling-rawdon.civicweb.net/document/72685/Regular%20Council%20-%2005%20May%202026.pdf?handle=5F810636B7C44FA99DD1A762BC2A68FE)
+49%roads and snow, 2019 to 2024
Stirling-Rawdon spent $2.3M on roads and snow in 2019 and $3.4M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 9 of 65 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Roads and snow | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | −3% | +1% |
| 2021 | −1% | +4% |
| 2022 | +30% | +11% |
| 2023 | +40% | +16% |
| 2024 | +49% | +18% |
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
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.
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 Stirling-Rawdon? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Roads and snow: 2019 $2.3M, 2020 $2.2M, 2021 $2.2M, 2022 $2.9M, 2023 $3.2M, 2024 $3.4M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Paved roads, from $1.3M to $2.3M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 30%. Stirling-Rawdon ranks 10th of 66.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 65 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
The town explains that part of the cost is equipment leases: “Operating costs have increased in 2025 due to leasing of the large trucks. In 2024 we didn’t budget for the lease of the new trucks, as the timeline was unknown. We have now received both trucks and therefore lease payments have commenced. In 2024 our lease included the two graders and the excavator.”
2025 Budget overview (Township of Stirling-Rawdon) · page 3 of 6
In the Province’s return, the interest ($120,114) and “rents and financial” ($159,162) on paved roads are counted inside the cost of roads in 2024. The downtown rebuild loan and equipment lease costs therefore sit inside this number.
Province of Ontario, Financial Information Return, 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40, line 0611 (roads - paved) · archived copy
Spending on transportation services in the audited statements, which includes depreciation, was $4,338,111 in 2024 and $4,030,338 in 2023. The net book value of roads and streetlights rose from $9,432,302 to $13,370,091 in 2024, mostly when $3,218,618 of finished construction was moved into roads.
2024 consolidated financial statements, in the council package of July 7, 2026 · statement of operations, page 103 of 208; note 9, page 115 of 208; schedule of tangible capital assets, page 121 of 208
For 2026 the town says public works wages rise “due to the new CUPE contract for wages and benefits, however the majority of the costs are for increased capital.”
2026 Budget booklet (Township of Stirling-Rawdon, February 4, 2026) · page 24 of 91
+23%the mayor’s yearly council pay, 2023 to 2025 (councillors +13%, deputy mayor +30%)
Council members are paid a yearly amount called an indemnity. The mayor received $16,272.88 in 2023 and $19,999.98 in 2025. The deputy mayor went from $13,818.13 to $18,000.06, and two councillors from $13,271.18 to $15,000.18. The town’s pay policy says council pay rises each year with the cost-of-living increase for non-union staff. That does not obviously explain two years of 13% to 30% increases. We did not find the council statement for 2024, so we cannot see in which year the change happened or which decision caused it.
Council sets its own pay. Because of that, the reasons and the vote should be easy to find. Council’s total cost line also rose from $120,293 in 2024 to $138,026 in 2025, a 14.7% increase.
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 Stirling-Rawdon? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
2023: Robert Mullin (Mayor) council indemnity $16,272.88, total $22,824.01. Jeremy Solmes (Deputy Mayor) $13,818.13, total $18,693.96. Caroline Smith and Don Stewart $13,271.18 each, total $21,235.23 each.
Council Statement of Remuneration and Expenses for 2023 · page 1
2025: Mayor Bob Mullin remuneration $19,999.98, total $29,561.58. Deputy Mayor Jeremy Solmes $18,000.06, total $23,236.06. Councillors Caroline Smith and Don Stewart $15,000.18 each, totals $22,568.78 and $23,786.80. All council and committee payments for 2025 total $119,541.09. The report says they were paid under By-law 65-24.
Staff report TRE-26-038 and 2025 Council and Committee Remuneration, in the March 17, 2026 council package · pages 171 to 173 of 323
“Council member annual wages increased year over year based on the Cost of Living increase that is approved for Non-union staff.”
Non-Union Compensation Administration Policy HR-02-2025-12, in the January 13, 2026 council package · page 224 of 241
Net Council Expenditures: 2024 budget 125,210; 2024 actual 120,293; 2025 budget 139,700; 2025 actual 138,026; 2026 budget 151,037 (includes $30,000 for the 2026 election, $20,000 of it from a reserve).
2026 Budget booklet (Township of Stirling-Rawdon, February 4, 2026) · page 8 of 91
By-law 65-24, as printed in the December 16, 2024 council package, is titled “A by-law to appoint certain officers in and for the Corporation of the Township of Stirling-Rawdon for the year 2025”. We could not see in it where council’s own pay is set; Schedule B was not in the package.
By-law 65-24, in the December 16, 2024 council package · page 130 of 131