Questions · 13 so far
We read The Nation's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 44 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
+13%town property tax, 2024 to 2025
In 2025, The Nation collected $1.9M more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 13% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. Only 2 of 44 similar towns raised theirs by more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$342per home on council, 2025
The Nation spent about $342 per home on council in 2025. The typical similar town spent $50. Only 1 of 44 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
$6,780per home on long-term debt, 2025
The Nation spent about $6,780 per home on long-term debt in 2025. The typical similar town spent $1,163. None of the 44 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
$26,420,624total spending budget printed in both the 2024 and the 2025 statements
A town's statement of operations puts its budget next to what it actually spent. In the 2025 statements, the budget for each of six kinds of spending is exactly the same as the budget printed in the 2024 statements: $2,921,549 for general government, $628,465 for planning and development, and $26,420,624 in total. The revenue budget did change, from $23,850,397 in the 2024 statements to $29,423,593 in the 2025 statements, and the town's 2025 budget book says the tax levy went up by $1,404,602, so a changed spending budget would be expected too. Until the town says which budget that column shows, we cannot tell whether lines such as planning and development ($1,820,863 spent in 2025 against $628,465 'budget') were over budget or not. We did not use any spending-against-budget comparison as a finding.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$39,061,213owed in long-term loans at December 31, 2025
At the end of 2025 The Nation owed $39,061,213 in long-term loans. A loan 'renews' when its fixed interest rate ends and a new rate is set. The sports complex loan ($9,807,865 at 5.770%) renews in 2026, and the two Limoges water and sewer loans ($11,689,910 and $9,410,175, both at 4.812%) renew in 2028. Interest on long-term debt was $2,141,751 in 2025, up from $1,955,856 in 2024 (about 7.7% of all spending, worked out by us). The town says its 'annual repayment limit', the most the province lets it commit each year to loan payments, is 'limited due to three large loans taken on in 2023', so new borrowing must be 'very strategic and cautious'. The 2026 budget still plans two new borrowings (a water project and the vehicle fleet). The town's table showing its current debts and its remaining room is a picture in the budget book, so we could not read it.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 6 sources
$755,390'financial expenses' for the Sports Complex in the 2026 budget
The 2026 budget expects the Sports Complex to earn $320,000 and to cost $542,904 to run. Separately it lists "Financial expenses (Sports complex)" of $755,390 (2025: $778,177). Counting all three, the complex costs about $978,294 more than it earns in 2026 (worked out by us: 320,000 less 542,904 less 755,390). The loan the statements label "Complexe" has monthly payments of $32,241, which is $386,892 a year (worked out by us), about half of the financial expenses line. The budget does not say what else is in that line. The whole recreation department needs $2,346,123 from taxes in 2026.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$8,000,000drawn on a demand loan for pumping station 11, against $14,031,789 in term deposits
At December 31, 2025 The Nation had drawn $8,000,000 of a $10,740,356 temporary loan for the sanitary pumping station 11. The note says it "is repayable on demand" and carries a floating rate set by Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation. The same statements list $14,031,789 of term deposits (a savings product that pays interest for a set time), most of it $12,930,669 at 2.25% with no specific maturity date. The town bought $9,029,221 of term deposits in 2025 and ended the year with $2,015,927 in cash. The statements do not say how the temporary loan will be turned into long-term debt or what it will cost.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
+77%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2025
The Nation spent $1.7M on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $3.0M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 5 of 44 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$8.0Min temporary loans, end of 2025
At the end of 2025, The Nation owed $8.0M on temporary loans. That is like putting 23% of a year's income on a line of credit. This is short-term borrowing for building projects, which is normal while waiting for a grant or a long-term loan. Only 2 of 44 similar towns had any temporary loans at the end of 2025.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
$7,617,500annual surplus in 2025, against a budgeted $6,257,584
A surplus is what is left when a year's revenue is more than its spending. The statements show 2025 revenue of $31,977,762 against a budget of $29,423,593. User charges (fees for water, sewer, garbage, ice and halls) were $11,808,263 against $9,715,616. Assets given to the town, such as roads and pipes built by developers, were counted at $680,822 against $10,000 budgeted. The statements explain that the budget is built on a different accounting basis, so part of any gap is accounting and not cash. The town did not break down the rest in the pages we read. For 2024 the statements planned a deficit of $242,327 and showed a surplus of $605,584.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$7.6 millionyearly infrastructure funding gap, per the 2026 budget book
The town says it fell behind on costs: over eight years taxes rose 12% while the cost of projects rose by more than 50%. It raised the 2025 municipal levy (the total property tax it collects for its own services) by $1,404,602, to $16,345,943, which was $222.19 more for a home assessed at $300,000. For 2026 it plans a further $741,820, or 4.58% above the revenue neutral rate, which is $61.17 more for the same home. The 2025 Asset Management Plan found a $7.6 million yearly gap between what is needed and what is funded, and the town plans to close it over 15 years for tax-funded assets and 20 years for rate-funded ones. Taxation revenue in the statements rose from $14,501,975 in 2024 to $16,391,447 in 2025 (about 13%, worked out by us).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$10,000difference between the two 2026 capital totals in the same budget book (worked out by us)
The 2026 budget book says in its text that capital investments for 2026 total $16,396,988. The capital table near the back shows a total of $16,406,988. The two differ by $10,000 (worked out by us). The pages with the summary tables in the middle of the book are pictures, so we could not check which line the difference comes from.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
December 10, 2025date the 2026 Mayor's budget was to be deemed adopted
Since May 1, 2025 the province has given The Nation 'Strong Mayor Powers'. The 2026 budget is called the Mayor's budget: it was submitted on November 10, 2025 and 'deemed adopted, if proposed amendments are not vetoed' on December 10, 2025. The cover of the final budget is dated 12.12.2025, two days after that. The budget says the powers let the mayor propose and adopt the budget and veto council decisions that conflict with it. We did not read council minutes, so we do not know whether council proposed amendments or whether any were vetoed.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
+13%town property tax, 2024 to 2025
In 2025, The Nation collected $1.9M more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 13% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. Only 2 of 44 similar towns raised theirs by more.
| Year | Town property tax |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $11.5M |
| 2020 | $12.2M |
| 2021 | $12.5M |
| 2022 | $13.1M |
| 2023 | $13.9M |
| 2024 | $14.7M |
| 2025 | $16.5M |
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 $322 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 The Nation? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Town property tax: $14,683,346 in 2024, $16,539,888 in 2025.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 10, line 9940 · archived copy
Typical increase among 44 similar Ontario towns: 7.1%. The Nation ranks 3rd highest.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 44 similar municipalities · Schedule 10, line 9940 · archived copy
Prices (inflation) rose 2.1% over the same year.
$342per home on council, 2025
The Nation spent about $342 per home on council in 2025. The typical similar town spent $50. Only 1 of 44 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 The Nation? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Council per home: The Nation $342; typical similar town $50; ranked 2nd highest of 45.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 44 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy
$6,780per home on long-term debt, 2025
The Nation spent about $6,780 per home on long-term debt in 2025. The typical similar town spent $1,163. None of the 44 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 The Nation? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Long-term debt per home: The Nation $6,780; typical similar town $1,163; ranked 1st highest of 45.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 44 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy
$26,420,624total spending budget printed in both the 2024 and the 2025 statements
A town's statement of operations puts its budget next to what it actually spent. In the 2025 statements, the budget for each of six kinds of spending is exactly the same as the budget printed in the 2024 statements: $2,921,549 for general government, $628,465 for planning and development, and $26,420,624 in total. The revenue budget did change, from $23,850,397 in the 2024 statements to $29,423,593 in the 2025 statements, and the town's 2025 budget book says the tax levy went up by $1,404,602, so a changed spending budget would be expected too. Until the town says which budget that column shows, we cannot tell whether lines such as planning and development ($1,820,863 spent in 2025 against $628,465 'budget') were over budget or not. We did not use any spending-against-budget comparison as a finding.
The budget column is how residents and council check whether money was spent as promised. If it holds last year's numbers, the comparison tells readers nothing, and the auditor's statements would carry a table that does not match the budget council adopted.
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 The Nation? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Statement of operations, 2025 "Budget" column, expenses: General government 2,921,549; Protection services 3,818,363; Transportation services 6,920,951; Environmental services 8,123,655; Recreation and cultural services 4,007,641; Planning and development 628,465; total 26,420,624. Revenues, budget: total 29,423,593. Actual 2025 planning and development: 1,820,863. (Printed in French and English side by side.)
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2025 (The Nation Municipality) · Consolidated Statement of Operations, PDF page 8
Statement of operations, 2024 "Budget" column, expenses: General government 2,921,549; Protection services 3,818,363; Transportation services 6,920,951; Environmental services 8,123,655; Recreation and cultural services 4,007,641; Planning and development 628,465; total 26,420,624. Revenues, budget: total 23,850,397.
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2024 (The Nation Municipality) · Consolidated Statement of Operations, PDF page 8
Note 13, Budget, 2025: "Capital expenses" 9,839,950, reconciling to a "Budget surplus per consolidated statement of operations" of 6,257,584.
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2025 (The Nation Municipality) · Note 13, PDF page 26
Note 13, Budget, 2024: "Capital expenses" 7,033,874, reconciling to a "Budget loss per consolidated statement of operations" of (242,327).
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2024 (The Nation Municipality) · Note 13, PDF page 26
"The municipal tax levy for 2025 will see an increase of $1,404,602 over prior year for a total levy of $16,345,943."
2025 Budget book (The Nation Municipality) · Property taxes, PDF page 13
$39,061,213owed in long-term loans at December 31, 2025
At the end of 2025 The Nation owed $39,061,213 in long-term loans. A loan 'renews' when its fixed interest rate ends and a new rate is set. The sports complex loan ($9,807,865 at 5.770%) renews in 2026, and the two Limoges water and sewer loans ($11,689,910 and $9,410,175, both at 4.812%) renew in 2028. Interest on long-term debt was $2,141,751 in 2025, up from $1,955,856 in 2024 (about 7.7% of all spending, worked out by us). The town says its 'annual repayment limit', the most the province lets it commit each year to loan payments, is 'limited due to three large loans taken on in 2023', so new borrowing must be 'very strategic and cautious'. The 2026 budget still plans two new borrowings (a water project and the vehicle fleet). The town's table showing its current debts and its remaining room is a picture in the budget book, so we could not read it.
Loan payments come first, before roads and recreation. A higher interest rate at renewal, or little room left under the limit, would mean either higher user fees and taxes or fewer projects.
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 The Nation? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Annual repayment limit worksheet for 2026, with wording you can copy.
Note 6, Net Long-Term Liabilities: total 39,061,213 (2024: 40,873,849). "Loan, 5.770%, payable by monthly instalments of $32,241, principal and interest, renewable in 2026. (Complexe)" 9,807,865. "Loan, 4.812% ... renewable in 2028. (Limoges water)" 11,689,910. "Loan, 4.812% ... renewable in 2028. (Limoges sewer)" 9,410,175.
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2025 (The Nation Municipality) · Note 6, PDF pages 18 and 19
Note 6 principal payments: 2026 $1,848,959; 2027 $1,974,530; 2028 $2,056,753; 2029 $2,106,706; 2030 $2,088,906; thereafter $28,985,359.
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2025 (The Nation Municipality) · Note 6, PDF page 19
Note 9, Expenses by Object: "Interest on long-term debt" 2,141,751 (2024: 1,955,856); total expenses 27,795,590.
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2025 (The Nation Municipality) · Note 9, PDF page 23
"With interest rates still high at the time of budget preparation as well as our ARL becoming limited due to three large loans taken on in 2023, the use of debt must be very strategic and cautious."
Final Mayor's Budget 2026 (The Nation Municipality) · Debt and the ARL, PDF page 15
"In 2026, 58% of debt repayments will be covered by specific user fees rather than taxpayers." "In 2026, two projects are proposed for borrowing: a water infrastructure initiative and fleet. The debt tied to water will be repaid through future connections rather than by current users." (Quoted from the English side of the bilingual page.)
Final Mayor's Budget 2026 (The Nation Municipality) · Debt, PDF page 16
2026 capital investments table, total row: budgeted cost 16,406,988; "L-T DEBT" column (3,892,000); "FROM TAXES" 1,871,395.
Final Mayor's Budget 2026 (The Nation Municipality) · 2026 Capital Investments, PDF page 54
$755,390'financial expenses' for the Sports Complex in the 2026 budget
The 2026 budget expects the Sports Complex to earn $320,000 and to cost $542,904 to run. Separately it lists "Financial expenses (Sports complex)" of $755,390 (2025: $778,177). Counting all three, the complex costs about $978,294 more than it earns in 2026 (worked out by us: 320,000 less 542,904 less 755,390). The loan the statements label "Complexe" has monthly payments of $32,241, which is $386,892 a year (worked out by us), about half of the financial expenses line. The budget does not say what else is in that line. The whole recreation department needs $2,346,123 from taxes in 2026.
Residents pay for the complex through taxes, so they can reasonably ask what it costs after loan payments, and why the budget line is larger than the loan payments the statements show.
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 The Nation? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: What is in the Sports Complex's financial expenses, with wording you can copy.
Parks and recreation operating budget, 2025 and 2026 budget: Sports Complex revenue 289,000 and 320,000; "Sports Complex" expenses 506,766 and 542,904; "Financial expenses (Sports complex)" 778,177 and 755,390. "Tax impact" for operations: $2,346,123.
Final Mayor's Budget 2026 (The Nation Municipality) · Parks and Recreation, operating budget details, PDF page 44
Note 6: "Loan, 5.770%, payable by monthly instalments of $32,241, principal and interest, renewable in 2026. (Complexe)" balance 9,807,865 (2024: 10,009,481).
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2025 (The Nation Municipality) · Note 6, PDF page 18
$8,000,000drawn on a demand loan for pumping station 11, against $14,031,789 in term deposits
At December 31, 2025 The Nation had drawn $8,000,000 of a $10,740,356 temporary loan for the sanitary pumping station 11. The note says it "is repayable on demand" and carries a floating rate set by Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation. The same statements list $14,031,789 of term deposits (a savings product that pays interest for a set time), most of it $12,930,669 at 2.25% with no specific maturity date. The town bought $9,029,221 of term deposits in 2025 and ended the year with $2,015,927 in cash. The statements do not say how the temporary loan will be turned into long-term debt or what it will cost.
A loan repayable on demand has to be refinanced or repaid at the lender's choice, and borrowing at a floating rate while savings earn 2.25% could cost more than it earns. Residents are owed a plain account of the plan.
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 The Nation? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Financing plan for pumping station 11, with wording you can copy.
Note 1, Temporary Loans: "The Municipality has an authorized temporary loan of $10,740,356 for the construction of the sanitary pumping station 11. This loan is repayable on demand or can be converted into a long-term loan ... Interest is calculated at the floating annual rate as determined by OILC ... As of December 31, 2025, the amount received is $8,000,000."
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2025 (The Nation Municipality) · Note 1, PDF page 14
Note 2, Term deposits: 12,930,669 at 2.25%, 650,120 at 2.00%, 451,000 at 2.80% maturing December 2, 2026; total 14,031,789 (2024: 5,453,568).
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2025 (The Nation Municipality) · Note 2, PDF page 14
Statement of cash flows: "Redemption (purchase) of term deposits" (9,029,221); "Increase of temporary loans" 8,000,000; "Cash, end of year" $ 2,015,927.
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2025 (The Nation Municipality) · Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, PDF page 10
Note 12, Accumulated Surplus: reserves and reserve funds total 19,016,061 (2024: 16,074,201).
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2025 (The Nation Municipality) · Note 12, PDF page 25
Note 5, Deferred Revenue: total 4,275,542 (2024: 3,599,151), including development charges 2,808,002.
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2025 (The Nation Municipality) · Note 5, PDF page 17
+77%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2025
The Nation spent $1.7M on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $3.0M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 5 of 44 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Parks, arena and library | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | −14% | +1% |
| 2021 | −20% | +4% |
| 2022 | −1% | +11% |
| 2023 | +79% | +16% |
| 2024 | +98% | +18% |
| 2025 | +77% | +21% |
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 The Nation? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Parks, arena and library: 2019 $1.7M, 2020 $1.4M, 2021 $1.3M, 2022 $1.7M, 2023 $3.0M, 2024 $3.3M, 2025 $3.0M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Arena and buildings, from $1.3M to $2.6M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 67%. The Nation ranks 6th of 45.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 44 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
$8.0Min temporary loans, end of 2025
At the end of 2025, The Nation owed $8.0M on temporary loans. That is like putting 23% of a year's income on a line of credit. This is short-term borrowing for building projects, which is normal while waiting for a grant or a long-term loan. Only 2 of 44 similar towns had any temporary loans at the end of 2025.
| Year | Temporary loans |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $0 |
| 2020 | $4.5M |
| 2021 | $6.7M |
| 2022 | $25.4M |
| 2023 | $0 |
| 2024 | $0 |
| 2025 | $8.0M |
Short-term loans usually cost more interest and can be called in. If they roll over year after year, the town is really carrying debt that does not show up as long-term debt.
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 The Nation? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Temporary loans: 2019 $0, 2020 $4.5M, 2021 $6.7M, 2022 $25.4M, 2023 $0, 2024 $0, 2025 $8.0M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 70, line 2099 · archived copy
$7,617,500annual surplus in 2025, against a budgeted $6,257,584
A surplus is what is left when a year's revenue is more than its spending. The statements show 2025 revenue of $31,977,762 against a budget of $29,423,593. User charges (fees for water, sewer, garbage, ice and halls) were $11,808,263 against $9,715,616. Assets given to the town, such as roads and pipes built by developers, were counted at $680,822 against $10,000 budgeted. The statements explain that the budget is built on a different accounting basis, so part of any gap is accounting and not cash. The town did not break down the rest in the pages we read. For 2024 the statements planned a deficit of $242,327 and showed a surplus of $605,584.
A surplus far above budget can mean taxes and fees were set higher than needed, or that money arrives in one-off lumps (grants, donated assets). The town has explained part of it, so we raise this as context.
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 The Nation? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Statement of operations, 2025: revenues total budget 29,423,593, actual 31,977,762 (2024 actual 26,917,811); user charges budget 9,715,616, actual 11,808,263; "Annual surplus" budget 6,257,584, actual 7,617,500 (2024 actual 605,584).
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2025 (The Nation Municipality) · Consolidated Statement of Operations, PDF page 8
Note 7, Other Revenues: "Contributed tangible capital assets" budget 10,000, actual 680,822 (2024: 16,128); donations budget 263,640, actual 440,479.
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2025 (The Nation Municipality) · Note 7, PDF page 20
Note 13: "The Financial Plan (Budget) By-Law adopted by municipal Council was not prepared on a basis consistent with that used to report actual results (Public Sector Accounting Board)."
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2025 (The Nation Municipality) · Note 13, PDF page 26
Statement of operations, 2024: "Annual surplus (deficit)" budget (242,327), actual 605,584 (2023 actual 2,747,917).
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2024 (The Nation Municipality) · Consolidated Statement of Operations, PDF page 8
$7.6 millionyearly infrastructure funding gap, per the 2026 budget book
The town says it fell behind on costs: over eight years taxes rose 12% while the cost of projects rose by more than 50%. It raised the 2025 municipal levy (the total property tax it collects for its own services) by $1,404,602, to $16,345,943, which was $222.19 more for a home assessed at $300,000. For 2026 it plans a further $741,820, or 4.58% above the revenue neutral rate, which is $61.17 more for the same home. The 2025 Asset Management Plan found a $7.6 million yearly gap between what is needed and what is funded, and the town plans to close it over 15 years for tax-funded assets and 20 years for rate-funded ones. Taxation revenue in the statements rose from $14,501,975 in 2024 to $16,391,447 in 2025 (about 13%, worked out by us).
Residents will be asked for steady increases for many years. The town has published its reasons, but the total path over 15 to 20 years has to be put together from several pages.
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 The Nation? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
"This plan proposed a scenario which involved a gradual increase in funding to close the $7.6 million annual funding gap over a 15-year period for tax funded assets and a 20-year period for rate funded assets." Rates shown: tax funded assets 2.2% per year for 15 years; water rates 3.1% per year for 20 years; wastewater rates 4.09% per year for 20 years.
Final Mayor's Budget 2026 (The Nation Municipality) · 2025 Asset Management Plan, PDF pages 9 and 10
"The 2026 budget includes estimates which reflect an overall levy increase of $741,820 for operations and capital ... an increase of 4.58% over the revenue neutral rate." "For an average residential assessment of $300,000, this increase means an additional $61.17 per year in taxes."
Final Mayor's Budget 2026 (The Nation Municipality) · Proposed 2026 Residential Tax Rate, PDF page 12
"Over the past eight years, inflation (as measured by the Consumer Price Index) has increased by approximately 24% and the cost of projects ... has risen by more than 50%. However, during this same period, The Nation only increased taxes by 12%."
2025 Budget book (The Nation Municipality) · Taxation and Revenues, PDF page 12
"The municipal tax levy for 2025 will see an increase of $1,404,602 over prior year for a total levy of $16,345,943. For a residential property assessed at $300,000, this represents an annual municipal property tax increase of $222.19."
2025 Budget book (The Nation Municipality) · Property taxes, PDF page 13
Statement of operations: Taxation 2025 actual 16,391,447, 2024 actual 14,501,975.
Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2025 (The Nation Municipality) · Consolidated Statement of Operations, PDF page 8
$10,000difference between the two 2026 capital totals in the same budget book (worked out by us)
The 2026 budget book says in its text that capital investments for 2026 total $16,396,988. The capital table near the back shows a total of $16,406,988. The two differ by $10,000 (worked out by us). The pages with the summary tables in the middle of the book are pictures, so we could not check which line the difference comes from.
A small gap in the headline capital figure is unlikely to matter by itself, but residents rely on the book's headline numbers, and the budget is meant to balance exactly.
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 The Nation? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
"Capital investments for 2026 total $16,396,988."
Final Mayor's Budget 2026 (The Nation Municipality) · Capital Investments, PDF page 14
2026 Capital Investments table, total row: budgeted cost 16,406,988.
Final Mayor's Budget 2026 (The Nation Municipality) · 2026 Capital Investments, PDF page 54
December 10, 2025date the 2026 Mayor's budget was to be deemed adopted
Since May 1, 2025 the province has given The Nation 'Strong Mayor Powers'. The 2026 budget is called the Mayor's budget: it was submitted on November 10, 2025 and 'deemed adopted, if proposed amendments are not vetoed' on December 10, 2025. The cover of the final budget is dated 12.12.2025, two days after that. The budget says the powers let the mayor propose and adopt the budget and veto council decisions that conflict with it. We did not read council minutes, so we do not know whether council proposed amendments or whether any were vetoed.
The budget sets taxes for the year. Residents should be able to see what council changed, and which version took effect.
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 The Nation? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Key dates: "Public budget request session - Sept 8, 2025"; "Mayor's Budget - submitted on Nov 10, 2025"; "Deemed adopted, if proposed amendments are not vetoed - December 10, 2025".
Final Mayor's Budget 2026 (The Nation Municipality) · Key Dates, PDF page 2
Cover, English side: "FINAL MAYOR'S BUDGET 2026" and below it "(12.12.2025)".
Final Mayor's Budget 2026 (The Nation Municipality) · Cover, PDF page 1
"As of May 1, 2025, The Nation Municipality was given Strong Mayor Powers by the Province under O. Reg 530/22." "The Mayor can also veto council decisions that conflict with the approved budget."
Final Mayor's Budget 2026 (The Nation Municipality) · Strong Mayor Powers, PDF pages 7 and 8