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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Tarbutt'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 · 11 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Tarbutt's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 19 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.
$100,000Operating cash council approved for ONE Investment funds, January 21, 2026
On January 21, 2026 council added ONE Investment funds to the Township's investment policy and approved investing $100,000 of cash from the operating bank account in a Canadian equity (stock) fund and a Canadian government bond fund, split evenly. Worked out by us: that is $50,000 in each, and about 18% of the $543,393 in cash the Township held at the end of 2025. Until then the Township's investments in the statements were guaranteed investment certificates (GICs), which pay a fixed rate. A stock fund can lose value.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
Tarbutt spent $199K on roads and snow in 2019 and $311K in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 2 of 19 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$113,541General government spending above the 2025 budget (worked out by us)
General government is the cost of running council and the Township office. The 2025 statements show it came in well above the budget and above 2024. Most of the jump in this area is in a line called contracted and general services, which nearly tripled. The statements do not say what was bought. Worked out by us: $113,541 over budget, $177,236 more than 2024, and $130,220 more in contracted and general services than in 2024.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
The audited statements show an annual deficit of $73,670 for 2025 against a budget deficit of $28,939, and the accumulated surplus fell from $3,191,645 to $3,117,975. The statements explain that the budget by-law was balanced at nil and was turned into the accounting basis for the statements. Worked out by us: spending was $14,132 over the statement budget and revenue was $30,599 under it, together $44,731.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$73,692Provincial grants below the 2025 budget (worked out by us)
Provincial grants were budgeted at $506,199 and came in at $432,507. Fees and interest and other income came in above budget. The statements explain that grants for a project are counted when the project money is spent, and the Township bought $147,698 of capital assets against a budget of $246,000, so some grant revenue may simply not have been counted yet. Worked out by us: grants $73,692 under budget, fees and user charges $46,930 over, and interest and other $38,838 over.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$579,453Total reserves and reserve funds at the end of 2025 (2024: $579,618)
Three reserve funds fell in 2025: efficiency funding from $39,728 to $19,019, legal fees from $12,192 to $2,516 and the COVID grant from $29,533 to $21,533. The general working capital reserve rose from $332,807 to $365,526, and total reserves and reserve funds stayed at $579,453 (2024: $579,618).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
On January 21, 2026 council approved quotations for the landfill's yearly report, a groundwater study and fall water sampling, at a total of $22,550.00 split 50/50 with Johnson Township. The same resolution says the Township's procurement policies should be followed going forward and that contracted work should be tendered for accountability and transparency.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
The 2024 statements print an accumulated surplus of $3,191,631 at the end of 2024. The 2025 statements print $3,191,645 for the same date, and the opening figure differs by the same amount. Worked out by us: $14.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
The 2025 budget summary says the budget included a net tax levy increase of 5%. The statements show taxation revenue of $1,234,145 against a budget of $1,239,933, up from $1,163,736 in 2024. Worked out by us: taxation grew about 6% year over year, which includes any growth in the number or value of properties. Taxes owing to the Township (taxes receivable) fell from $269,585 to $203,059.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
Tarbutt spent about $806 per home on garbage, dump and recycling in 2025. The typical similar town spent $273. None of the 19 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
$100,000Operating cash council approved for ONE Investment funds, January 21, 2026
On January 21, 2026 council added ONE Investment funds to the Township's investment policy and approved investing $100,000 of cash from the operating bank account in a Canadian equity (stock) fund and a Canadian government bond fund, split evenly. Worked out by us: that is $50,000 in each, and about 18% of the $543,393 in cash the Township held at the end of 2025. Until then the Township's investments in the statements were guaranteed investment certificates (GICs), which pay a fixed rate. A stock fund can lose value.
Why it matters
Operating cash pays the bills. Money in a stock fund can be worth less when it is needed, so residents may want to know the limits council set and how results will be reported.
It could be because…
Cash that is not needed for months, earning more than a GIC paying 2.0% to 2.7%.
A routine use of a pooled investment program that many municipalities use, adopted by council vote and by by-law.
A small, first step to test the program before putting in more.
Questions you could ask
What limit did council set on how much operating cash can sit in stock funds?
Will council see the value of these holdings in its regular reports?
How long can the money stay invested before it is needed for bills?
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 Tarbutt?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Resolution 2026-05 reads: "That Council approve the investment of $100,000 cash from the Operating bank account in ONE Investment's Canadian Equity portfolio and Canadian Government Bond portfolio, to be split evenly." It also adds ONE Investment portfolios to the investment policy as an allowable option.
At December 31, 2025 the Township held guaranteed investment certificates of $321,610 (2024 - $312,598), with maturities from May to December 2026 and interest from 2.0% to 2.7%.
Tarbutt spent $199K on roads and snow in 2019 and $311K in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 2 of 19 similar towns had faster growth here.
Why did the cost of roads and snow grow 57% in 6 years?
Roads and snow
Prices (inflation)
−20%+0%+20%+40%+60%+80%
+57%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Roads and snow
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
−13%
+1%
2021
+16%
+4%
2022
+70%
+11%
2023
+47%
+16%
2024
+47%
+18%
2025
+57%
+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 $113K a year pay for?
Why did paved roads go from $123K to $206K?
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 Tarbutt?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Tarbutt spent $112K on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $193K 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%+50%+100%+150%
+73%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Water, sewers and garbage
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
+22%
+1%
2021
+25%
+4%
2022
+136%
+11%
2023
+130%
+16%
2024
+124%
+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 $81,497 a year pay for?
Why did the dump (landfill) go from $52,901 to $167K?
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 Tarbutt?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
$113,541General government spending above the 2025 budget (worked out by us)
General government is the cost of running council and the Township office. The 2025 statements show it came in well above the budget and above 2024. Most of the jump in this area is in a line called contracted and general services, which nearly tripled. The statements do not say what was bought. Worked out by us: $113,541 over budget, $177,236 more than 2024, and $130,220 more in contracted and general services than in 2024.
Why it matters
In a township this small, one area running $113,541 over budget is a large share of a budget of about $2 million. Residents can only judge whether it was needed if the Township says what the money bought.
It could be because…
One-time work such as planning studies, the Asset Management Plan update the 2025 budget summary says was planned, or election preparation.
Professional fees the Township says it could not predict when it set the budget.
Work that used to be done in-house being bought from outside, which moves cost from one line to another.
Spending that was approved by council during the year after the budget was set.
Questions you could ask
What did the extra contracted and general services in general government in 2025 pay for?
How much of the $113,541 was approved by council during 2025, and how much was unplanned?
Will the 2026 budget set aside more for these costs?
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 Tarbutt?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The statement of operations shows general government at 2025 budget (unaudited) 490,626, 2025 actual 604,167 and 2024 actual 426,931.
Financial Statements 2025 · page 6, Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus, General government row
The segment schedules show contracted and general services in general government at $198,976 in 2025 (schedule 2) and $68,756 in 2024 (schedule 3).
Financial Statements 2025 · pages 23 and 24, Schedules 2 and 3, Contracted & general services, General Government column
The Township's own explanation of its 2025 budget says: "Other costs that significantly impact the 2025 budget, that are also outside the Municipality's control include legal and professional planning expenses. These costs could not have been anticipated and are difficult to estimate."
Amortization (a yearly write-down of the value of buildings and equipment) in general government is $6,645, and note 13 says the budget figures were adjusted for amortization and for transfers from reserves. Worked out by us: this basis difference cannot account for most of the gap.
The audited statements show an annual deficit of $73,670 for 2025 against a budget deficit of $28,939, and the accumulated surplus fell from $3,191,645 to $3,117,975. The statements explain that the budget by-law was balanced at nil and was turned into the accounting basis for the statements. Worked out by us: spending was $14,132 over the statement budget and revenue was $30,599 under it, together $44,731.
Why it matters
A small deficit is not unusual for a township this size, but it shows how thin the margin is.
It could be because…
Capital grants and spending that fall in different years, as the statements describe.
The accounting basis, which counts the yearly write-down of assets but the budget by-law did not.
Reserve money used as planned to hold the tax levy down.
Questions you could ask
Does council expect to cover the 2026 gap from reserves or from the tax levy?
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 Tarbutt?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The statement of operations shows revenues of 2,016,472 budget and 1,985,873 actual, expenditures of 2,045,411 budget and 2,059,543 actual, and an annual surplus (deficit) of (28,939) budget and (73,670) actual. Accumulated surplus, end of year is $ 3,117,975, down from $ 3,191,645.
Note 13 explains that the budget by-law was balanced at nil, and that the statement budget was reached by adding capital transactions of 246,000, less net inter-fund transfers from reserves (53,736) and amortization (221,203), giving a budget deficit per statement of operations of $ (28,939).
$73,692Provincial grants below the 2025 budget (worked out by us)
Provincial grants were budgeted at $506,199 and came in at $432,507. Fees and interest and other income came in above budget. The statements explain that grants for a project are counted when the project money is spent, and the Township bought $147,698 of capital assets against a budget of $246,000, so some grant revenue may simply not have been counted yet. Worked out by us: grants $73,692 under budget, fees and user charges $46,930 over, and interest and other $38,838 over.
Why it matters
Grants fund most capital projects. A shortfall can be timing, but it can also mean planned work has not been done.
It could be because…
Timing: grant revenue is counted as the work is done, and capital work came in under budget.
Extra interest earned on the cash and investments the Township holds.
Higher fees than expected for services the Township sells.
Questions you could ask
Which planned 2025 capital projects were not finished, and are their grants still available?
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 Tarbutt?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Provincial grants were 506,199 budget and 432,507 actual. Other municipalities were 120,000 budget and 83,419 actual. Fees and user charges were 81,150 budget and 128,080 actual. Interest and other was 41,750 budget and 80,588 actual.
Acquisition of tangible capital assets was (246,000) budget and (147,698) actual. The accounting policy says: "Conditional grant revenue is recognized to the extent the conditions imposed on it have been fulfilled."
Financial Statements 2025 · page 7, Statement of Change in Net Financial Assets; page 9, note 1 Revenue recognition
The Township's budget summary says: "Most of the capital projects planned for 2025 will be offset by grant revenue received through various government programs."
$579,453Total reserves and reserve funds at the end of 2025 (2024: $579,618)
Three reserve funds fell in 2025: efficiency funding from $39,728 to $19,019, legal fees from $12,192 to $2,516 and the COVID grant from $29,533 to $21,533. The general working capital reserve rose from $332,807 to $365,526, and total reserves and reserve funds stayed at $579,453 (2024: $579,618).
Why it matters
Reserves are savings set aside by council. Using them is normal, but small reserves leave less room for surprises.
It could be because…
Planned draws that council approved to hold the tax increase down.
Money from restricted-purpose funds used for the purpose it was set aside for.
Questions you could ask
Did council approve each of these draws in the 2025 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 Tarbutt?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 6 shows General working capital $ 365,526 (2024: $ 332,807), Legal fees 2,516 (12,192), Efficiency funding 19,019 (39,728), COVID Grant 21,533 (29,533), and Total reserves and reserve funds 579,453 (579,618).
On January 21, 2026 council approved quotations for the landfill's yearly report, a groundwater study and fall water sampling, at a total of $22,550.00 split 50/50 with Johnson Township. The same resolution says the Township's procurement policies should be followed going forward and that contracted work should be tendered for accountability and transparency.
Why it matters
The Township's own resolution asks for tendering from now on. Residents may want to know how the next round will be bought.
It could be because…
Quotations are allowed for purchases of this size under the procurement by-law.
The resolution is a direction for future years, so nothing was missed this time.
Questions you could ask
Will the landfill's next round of work be tendered, and what is the dollar limit for quotations?
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 Tarbutt?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Resolution 2026-06 approves quotations "at a total cost of $22,550.00, to be split 50/50 with Johnson Township" and adds: "That Township procurement policies be followed going forward, and any work to be contracted out be tendered for accountability and transparency."
The 2024 statements print an accumulated surplus of $3,191,631 at the end of 2024. The 2025 statements print $3,191,645 for the same date, and the opening figure differs by the same amount. Worked out by us: $14.
Why it matters
The amount is tiny. It is worth a line because audited statements are meant to carry forward exactly.
It could be because…
A small rounding or reclassification adjustment made when the 2025 statements were prepared.
Questions you could ask
What caused the $14 difference in the 2024 opening and closing accumulated surplus?
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 Tarbutt?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The 2024 statements show Accumulated surplus, beginning of year 3,177,314 and Accumulated surplus, end of year $ 3,191,631 for 2024 actual.
The 2025 budget summary says the budget included a net tax levy increase of 5%. The statements show taxation revenue of $1,234,145 against a budget of $1,239,933, up from $1,163,736 in 2024. Worked out by us: taxation grew about 6% year over year, which includes any growth in the number or value of properties. Taxes owing to the Township (taxes receivable) fell from $269,585 to $203,059.
Why it matters
This shows the tax plan was met, and that unpaid taxes went down.
It could be because…
Growth in assessed property value on top of the 5% rate increase.
Questions you could ask
How much of the 2025 tax growth came from the rate and how much from new assessment?
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 Tarbutt?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The budget summary states: "The 2025 budget includes a net tax levy increase of 5%".
Tarbutt spent about $806 per home on garbage, dump and recycling in 2025. The typical similar town spent $273. None of the 19 similar towns spent more.
Why it matters
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.
It could be because…
Geography: more roads, more snow, a bigger area or a landfill of its own.
Accounting: some towns record the same cost in a different category.
A one-time cost in this year.
Questions you could ask
What makes this cost higher here than in similar towns?
When were the main contracts in this area last put out to competitive tender?
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 Tarbutt?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Garbage, dump and recycling per home: Tarbutt $806; typical similar town $273; ranked 1st highest of 20.
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