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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Timmins'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 · 9 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Timmins' financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 8 similar Ontario places. 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.
$59,986,112owed on long-term loans at the end of 2024, up from $38,697,926
Long-term liabilities are the money the City owes on loans it will repay over years. At the end of 2024 the City owed $59,986,112, up from $38,697,926 a year before (about 55% more, worked out by us). The rise comes from a $24,000,000 construction loan from Infrastructure Ontario, which is the Province's lending agency, for the new Golden Manor long-term care home. The statements say the City has agreed to borrow up to $75,749,732 for the project, which they put at $130.0 million in all. Net debt (what the City owes minus the financial assets it holds) went from $49,373,165 to $79,095,089. The 2026 budget says the Finance department's main priority is watching cash flow because of the Golden Manor build and the Connecting Link road rebuilding.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 5 sources
January 23, 2026date of the auditor's report on the year ended December 31, 2024
A city's audited financial statements are the yearly report card on its money, checked by an outside auditor. The auditor, KPMG LLP, dated its report on the 2024 statements January 23, 2026, which is about 13 months after the year ended on December 31, 2024 (worked out by us). On October 5, 2026 the City's page of consolidated financial statements listed 2024 as its newest. We did not find a council report that explains the timing. The posted copy of the 2023 statements is a scan with no text, and the page with the auditor's signature prints "(date)" where a date should be.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$171,469,813expenses in 2024, against a budget of $141,804,180
In its statements the City sets the budget next to what happened. For 2024 the budget showed expenses of $141,804,180. The audited result was $171,469,813, which is $29,665,633 more (worked out by us). Roads and transit (Transportation services) were $39,126,251 against $27,388,429. Water, waste water and garbage (Environmental services) were $34,649,605 against $23,520,354. Before government money for building projects, the budget showed a surplus of $32,466,338 and the result was a deficit of $53,387. Government transfers for operating were also lower than budget, at $30,772,870 against $38,483,767.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$(39,009,262)General revenue fund at the end of 2024, from $(22,902,969)
The accumulated surplus is the City's total net worth on paper. Most of it ($419,484,641) is roads, pipes and buildings. The statements split the rest into funds. The "General revenue fund", which is the everyday operating account, was negative $39,009,262 at the end of 2024, from negative $22,902,969, a drop of $16,106,293 (worked out by us). Reserves, which are money Council sets aside for later, fell from $41,919,533 in 2023 to $39,642,678 in 2024, a fall of $2,276,855 (worked out by us).
Found by reading the city's own documents · 2 sources
5.55%increase in the municipal levy in 2026, against 4.95% for the total levy
The levy is the total tax the City collects. The budget notes for the Unclassified accounts say a transfer from tax stabilization of $1,000,000 was used "to bring the budget to under a 5% increase". The City's page on the 2026 budget says Council approved a 2026 tax levy of $101,244,561, "a 4.95% levy increase". The April 2026 tax rates report gives three lines: the municipal levy up 5.55%, the education levy up 0%, and the total levy up 4.95%.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
8 daysfor public comment on the new City-owned corporation (March 11 to 18, 2026), with three submissions
A Municipal Services Corporation is a company the City owns that can hold land and run projects at arm's length. On March 10, 2026 Council received a business case for one and told staff to prepare to set it up. The business case says it would own and run City projects and assets, starting with the Melrose Heights housing subdivision. The public could comment from March 11 to 18, 2026 and three submissions came in. On June 2, 2026 a by-law to create it was on the agenda.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 1 source
Places keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Timmins had $44.1M saved at the end of 2024, up from $34.6M in 2019. That is 30% of one year's spending. None of the 8 similar places had less, compared with what they spend.
Found automatically from the city's financial reports · 2 sources
$19,560.30billed by the Integrity Commissioner for July 9, 2024 to July 8, 2025, plus the cost of the second complaint to come
The Integrity Commissioner is an outside office the City hires to check that members of council follow the Code of Conduct. Its annual letter of March 5, 2026 covers July 9, 2024 to July 8, 2025. Two formal complaints were investigated. In the first, "the Councillor had contravened the Code" and a report recommended "a reprimand and suspend the Councillor's remuneration for a period of 30 days". The second was not upheld. Billings for the period totalled $19,560.30, and the billings for the second complaint "will be noted in the next Annual Report".
Found by reading the city's own documents · 1 source
$59,986,112owed on long-term loans at the end of 2024, up from $38,697,926
Long-term liabilities are the money the City owes on loans it will repay over years. At the end of 2024 the City owed $59,986,112, up from $38,697,926 a year before (about 55% more, worked out by us). The rise comes from a $24,000,000 construction loan from Infrastructure Ontario, which is the Province's lending agency, for the new Golden Manor long-term care home. The statements say the City has agreed to borrow up to $75,749,732 for the project, which they put at $130.0 million in all. Net debt (what the City owes minus the financial assets it holds) went from $49,373,165 to $79,095,089. The 2026 budget says the Finance department's main priority is watching cash flow because of the Golden Manor build and the Connecting Link road rebuilding.
Why it matters
Borrowing for a care home is a normal thing for a city to do, and the statements say the payments fit within the Province's yearly limit. But the debt is growing fast, and the last audited year, 2024, is more than a year old. Residents have not been shown how much of the $75,749,732 has been borrowed since, or what it will cost each year.
It could be because…
The $24,000,000 is an interest-only construction loan. The statements say it will be refinanced with a long-term debenture (a fixed loan) when the building is finished, so a large part of the 2027 figure is a planned switch, not a repayment out of taxes.
The statements say the $130.0 million will be paid from a mix of grants, debt, fundraising and City money, so borrowing may be only part of it.
The statements say the payments fit within the annual debt repayment limit set by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Two of the older loans are paid from waste water charges, and one is recovered from another board (CDSSAB), not from the tax levy.
Questions you could ask
How much of the $75,749,732 Infrastructure Ontario agreement has been drawn since December 31, 2024, and what is the forecast total cost of Golden Manor now?
How much of the $130.0 million is expected from grants and fundraising, and how much from the tax levy and from borrowing?
What will the yearly payments on the refinanced loan be, and which budget pays them?
How much room is left under the annual repayment limit after the Golden Manor loan and the Connecting Link work?
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 Timmins?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 12, long-term liabilities: "Construction loan payable to Infrastructure Ontario (v)" 24,000,000 (2023: nil). Item v: "incurred to finance the Golden Manor capital project. Upon completion, the construction loan will be refinanced through a debenture payable to Infrastructure Ontario. The construction loan is interest only and bears interest at the variable interest rate defined in the financing agreement with Infrastructure Ontario. The effective interest rate was 4.44% at December 31, 2024."
Note 12 b): "The annual principal and interest payments required to service these liabilities are within the annual debt repayments limit prescribed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing." Principal payments required: 2025 $2,833,815; 2026 2,930,608; 2027 27,046,991; 2028 2,326,583.
Note 19 a), Golden Manor Redevelopment Project: "a new 192-bed long-term care facility". "The total forecasted cost of the redevelopment project is $130.0 million, to be funded through a combination of grants, debt financing, fundraising and municipal contributions." The City "has entered into a financing agreement with Infrastructure Ontario for debt financing in the amount of $75,749,732, of which $24,000,000 has been advanced as at December 31, 2024."
Financial Services highlights for 2026: "The department's main priority remains monitoring cash flows due to the significant expenses that are occurring from the GM redevelopment and the Connecting Link reconstruction. We will be closely monitoring interest rates to secure the most favorable interest rates for the GM redevelopment project." And: "With a significant amount of capital projects being planned in the future, managing the City's debt limits will be a focus for our department."
2026 Council Budget Package · Budget highlights, Financial Services, PDF pages 114 and 115 (printed pages 110 and 111)
January 23, 2026date of the auditor's report on the year ended December 31, 2024
A city's audited financial statements are the yearly report card on its money, checked by an outside auditor. The auditor, KPMG LLP, dated its report on the 2024 statements January 23, 2026, which is about 13 months after the year ended on December 31, 2024 (worked out by us). On October 5, 2026 the City's page of consolidated financial statements listed 2024 as its newest. We did not find a council report that explains the timing. The posted copy of the 2023 statements is a scan with no text, and the page with the auditor's signature prints "(date)" where a date should be.
Why it matters
The statements are the only independent check on what the City owes and owns. While the newest one covers a year that ended almost 22 months ago (worked out by us), residents can't see what the large Golden Manor and Connecting Link projects did to the City's finances in 2025.
It could be because…
A large building project, new accounting rules for asset retirement obligations, and a change in the audit schedule can all delay an audit.
The 2025 audit may be nearly done and not yet posted.
The auditor's report on the 2023 statements may have been dated in the original signed copy, and the posted scan may have been made from a draft.
Questions you could ask
When will the audited 2025 statements be signed and posted?
Why was the 2024 audit report signed in January 2026, and what does the City do to keep it from happening again?
Can the City post a signed and dated copy of the 2023 auditor's report?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Timmins?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Independent Auditor's Report, signed "Chartered Professional Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants, Sudbury, Canada, January 23, 2026". Opinion: the statements "present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Entity as at December 31, 2024".
The Consolidated Financial Statements page lists: "2024 Consolidated Financial Statements", then 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018. No 2025 statements are listed.
The posted 2023 statements: the auditor's report ends with the line "Chartered Professional Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants, Sudbury, Canada" and then "(date)". The file has no text layer, so we read the page as an image.
$171,469,813expenses in 2024, against a budget of $141,804,180
In its statements the City sets the budget next to what happened. For 2024 the budget showed expenses of $141,804,180. The audited result was $171,469,813, which is $29,665,633 more (worked out by us). Roads and transit (Transportation services) were $39,126,251 against $27,388,429. Water, waste water and garbage (Environmental services) were $34,649,605 against $23,520,354. Before government money for building projects, the budget showed a surplus of $32,466,338 and the result was a deficit of $53,387. Government transfers for operating were also lower than budget, at $30,772,870 against $38,483,767.
Why it matters
A budget is the promise to taxpayers about what the year will cost. When the result is this far from the promise, it matters whether the gap is a difference in how the two are counted or a real overspend. The statements do say the budget was not set up the same way as the actuals, but they don't list a figure for amortization (the yearly wear on buildings, roads and pipes), which was $22,780,632 in the actual expenses.
It could be because…
The statements say the budget "was prepared on a modified accrual basis" and the actuals on full accrual. Amortization of $22,780,632 is in the actual expenses, and the note's list of adjustments does not mention it, so part of the gap may be only a counting difference. We have not confirmed that.
Some operating costs may have been paid for by government grants that came in as capital transfers, not operating transfers, which would explain part of the lower operating transfers.
Winter road costs and the Connecting Link detours were named as pressures in the City's own 2026 budget notes.
Questions you could ask
Does the 2024 budget of $141,804,180 for expenses include amortization, and if not, how much did expenses exceed budget once it is taken out?
Why were Transportation services and Environmental services each about $11 million over their budgets?
Why were government transfers for operating $7,710,897 below budget (worked out by us)?
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 Timmins?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Statement of operations, 2024: "Government transfers" budget 38,483,767, actual 30,772,870. Total revenues: budget 174,270,518, actual 171,416,426. Expenses: "Transportation services" budget 27,388,429, actual 39,126,251. "Environmental services" budget 23,520,354, actual 34,649,605. Total expenses: budget 141,804,180, actual 171,469,813. "Annual surplus (deficit) before the undernoted" budget 32,466,338, actual (53,387).
Note 21, Budget information: "The budget was not prepared on a basis consistent with that used to report actual results (public sector accounting standards). The budget was prepared on a modified accrual basis while public sector accounting standards require full accrual basis." Adjustments listed: budget surplus approved by Council 2,182,762; transfer to reserves 270,000; capital expenditures 55,735,594; transfer from reserves 7,216,838; "Budgeted annual surplus as per financial statements" 50,971,518.
Note 25, segmented information, 2024: "Amortization of tangible capital assets" 22,780,632 across the segments; total expenses by segment 171,165,987 before an increase in the asset retirement obligation of 303,826.
$(39,009,262)General revenue fund at the end of 2024, from $(22,902,969)
The accumulated surplus is the City's total net worth on paper. Most of it ($419,484,641) is roads, pipes and buildings. The statements split the rest into funds. The "General revenue fund", which is the everyday operating account, was negative $39,009,262 at the end of 2024, from negative $22,902,969, a drop of $16,106,293 (worked out by us). Reserves, which are money Council sets aside for later, fell from $41,919,533 in 2023 to $39,642,678 in 2024, a fall of $2,276,855 (worked out by us).
Why it matters
A negative balance in the operating fund means the City has spent, or committed, more than it has raised for those purposes so far, and will fill the gap from later taxes, borrowing or reserves. Residents can't tell from the statements how much of it is Golden Manor work paid ahead of grants or borrowing, and how much is everyday spending.
It could be because…
Money spent on capital projects before grants, borrowing or reserve transfers arrive shows up as a negative here, and is later filled in.
The statements list employee benefits payable and asset retirement obligations as unfunded, which also push the total surplus down, and those are set out on separate lines.
The balance may be a bookkeeping result of how the City moves money between funds at year end.
Questions you could ask
What caused the $16,106,293 fall in the General revenue fund in 2024, and how much of it relates to Golden Manor spending ahead of grants and borrowing?
What is the plan, and the dates, for bringing the General revenue fund back to zero?
Why did reserves fall in a year with a $26,162,838 annual 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 Timmins?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Statement of financial position: "Tangible capital assets (note 16)" 461,563,606 (2023: 405,525,778). Note 16: "Assets under construction" net book value 62,948,609 (2023: 24,999,992), with additions of 42,120,338 in 2024.
5.55%increase in the municipal levy in 2026, against 4.95% for the total levy
The levy is the total tax the City collects. The budget notes for the Unclassified accounts say a transfer from tax stabilization of $1,000,000 was used "to bring the budget to under a 5% increase". The City's page on the 2026 budget says Council approved a 2026 tax levy of $101,244,561, "a 4.95% levy increase". The April 2026 tax rates report gives three lines: the municipal levy up 5.55%, the education levy up 0%, and the total levy up 4.95%.
Why it matters
Residents are told the increase is under 5%. That is true for the total levy, because the school (education) levy did not change, but the part the City itself raises went up 5.55%.
It could be because…
The 4.95% total includes the education levy, which the Province sets and which was unchanged, so it looks smaller than the City's own part.
Using a reserve to soften an increase is a normal budget tool, and the budget notes say it in plain words.
Questions you could ask
Which measure should residents use for the 2026 increase: the 4.95% on the City's page or the 5.55% for the municipal levy?
What changed between the Mayor's January statement and the April tax rates report?
How much of the tax stabilization reserve is left after the $1,000,000 transfer, and will it be needed again in 2027?
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 Timmins?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Financial Services and Unclassified highlights: "Revenues include a budgeted amount for a WSIB refund received in late 2025 that will be deferred to 2026 and a transfer from tax stabilization of $1,000,000 to bring the budget to under a 5% increase."
2026 Council Budget Package · Budget highlights, Financial Services, Cost Drivers, PDF page 115 (printed page 111)
"April 14, 2026 - City Council has approved the 2026 tax levy at $101.2 million, which represents a 4.95% levy increase from 2025. Quick Facts: 2026 Tax Levy: $101,244,561. Residential Tax Rate increase: 4.67%. Commercial Tax Rate increase: 4.09%."
Levy table: "MUNICIPAL LEVY 90,801,522 86,026,728 4,774,794 5.55%"; "EDUCATION LEVY 10,443,039 10,443,039 0 0%"; "TOTAL LEVY 101,244,561 96,469,767 4,774,794 4.95%".
8 daysfor public comment on the new City-owned corporation (March 11 to 18, 2026), with three submissions
A Municipal Services Corporation is a company the City owns that can hold land and run projects at arm's length. On March 10, 2026 Council received a business case for one and told staff to prepare to set it up. The business case says it would own and run City projects and assets, starting with the Melrose Heights housing subdivision. The public could comment from March 11 to 18, 2026 and three submissions came in. On June 2, 2026 a by-law to create it was on the agenda.
Why it matters
Once land and projects are moved into a company, they are no longer in the City's own budget pages. The business case says the company cannot bind the City unless Council allows it. It does not say whether the company can borrow, or how its debts would show in the City's statements. The council term ends November 14, 2026.
It could be because…
The business case says the law requires the City to use such a company as the developer of the subdivision, and limits it to economic development services.
The June report says the company's members were widened from a few councillors to the whole of Council "to ensure greater transparency" and that it will have to ask Council for approval on named matters.
A company can be a way to manage hard land deals faster, with annual reports to Council.
Questions you could ask
Can the Municipal Services Corporation borrow money or guarantee loans, and what Council vote would be needed?
Which City lands and assets are planned to move into it, and at what value?
How will its debts, land and sales show in the City's audited statements and budget 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 Timmins?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Administrative report, City of Timmins Municipal Services Corporation, Shareholder Declaration: "a period of public consultation occurred from March 11-18, 2026, and three (3) submissions were received". "the proposed members ... were expanded from a subset of Council to the entire Council to ensure greater transparency". Next steps include "establishing a transfer policy for Council approval, and engaging the City auditor in identifying the value of any transferred asset." The report is dated May 28, 2026.
Places keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Timmins had $44.1M saved at the end of 2024, up from $34.6M in 2019. That is 30% of one year's spending. None of the 8 similar places had less, compared with what they spend.
Does Timmins have enough saved for repairs and emergencies?
$0$10M$20M$30M$40M$50M
$44.1M
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Savings (reserves)
2019
$34.6M
2020
$38.4M
2021
$41.6M
2022
$46.6M
2023
$45.8M
2024
$44.1M
Why it matters
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.
It could be because…
The city spent savings on purpose, on projects that were planned and saved up for.
Some savings were used to match grant money, which brings in more than it costs.
The city has a plan to rebuild its savings.
Questions you could ask
Does the city have a written reserve policy with a target amount?
What were the savings spent on between 2019 and 2024?
What is the plan to rebuild them, and by when?
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 Timmins?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
$19,560.30billed by the Integrity Commissioner for July 9, 2024 to July 8, 2025, plus the cost of the second complaint to come
The Integrity Commissioner is an outside office the City hires to check that members of council follow the Code of Conduct. Its annual letter of March 5, 2026 covers July 9, 2024 to July 8, 2025. Two formal complaints were investigated. In the first, "the Councillor had contravened the Code" and a report recommended "a reprimand and suspend the Councillor's remuneration for a period of 30 days". The second was not upheld. Billings for the period totalled $19,560.30, and the billings for the second complaint "will be noted in the next Annual Report".
Why it matters
The letter does not name the councillor or say what Council did with the recommendation. We did not find the report itself. Residents are choosing a council on October 26, 2026, and the conduct findings are part of the record they could weigh.
It could be because…
Council may have dealt with the report in a meeting we did not read, and published it in the minutes.
Complaints are often handled in private until a report is made public, and the City's practice may be to publish only the annual letter.
The unreported cost of the second complaint may be small.
Questions you could ask
What did Council decide on the first complaint's recommended reprimand and 30-day suspension, and on what date?
Where are the Integrity Commissioner's reports on single complaints posted?
What was billed for the second complaint?
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 Timmins?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Annual Report letter, March 5, 2026: "During this operating period, two formal complaints were received and investigated." "With respect to the first complaint, it was determined that the Councillor had contravened the Code. A report was issued recommending that Council impose a reprimand and suspend the Councillor's remuneration for a period of 30 days." "the billings for the operating period commencing July 9, 2024 and ending July 8, 2025, totaled $19,560.30."
Timmins spent about $487 per home on snow ploughing in 2024. The typical similar city spent $122. None of the 8 similar places 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 places 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 places?
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 Timmins?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Snow ploughing per home: Timmins $487; typical similar city $122; ranked 1st highest of 9.
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