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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Trent Lakes'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 Trent Lakes' financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 39 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.
$6,712,996spent on transportation services in 2025, against a budget of $5,764,601
The audited statements show transportation services (roads, bridges, winter control and street lighting) spending $6,712,996 in 2025 against a budget of $5,764,601, a gap of about $948,395 (worked out by us). Spending on materials, wear on assets and a new loan's interest all grew from 2024. The Municipality as a whole spent only a little more than it budgeted, so other areas came in under.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$2,963,649owed on a 4.46% loan at the end of 2025, while cash on hand was $14,238,805
At the end of 2025 the Municipality held $14,238,805 in cash and owed $2,963,649 on a 30-year loan from Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation (OILC) at 4.46%. It paid $129,300 in interest on that loan in 2025. Its investment income was $450,850 in 2025, down from $824,769 in 2024.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$7,605,295total cost of the joint fire and roads facility agreements, plus HST
In 2025 the Municipality signed agreements to build a joint fire and roads facility at a total cost of $7,605,295 plus HST. Only $343,603 plus HST had been spent by the end of 2025. The Municipality planned to buy $7,664,283 of capital assets in 2025 but bought $2,279,936, so most of that money was not spent. The 2026 budget deck says some of the building will be paid for by borrowing and reserves.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$270,328the 2026 O.P.P. bill is lower than the calculated amount because of the Province's cap
The Ontario Provincial Police (O.P.P.) bill for 2026 would have gone up 27% to $2,144,668. The Province capped the increase at 11%, so the 2026 bill is $1,874,340. The Municipality says it does not know whether future increases will be capped.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
Trent Lakes spent $2.8M on roads and snow in 2019 and $4.6M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 4 of 39 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$1,477,398unspent Canada Community-Building Fund balance at the end of 2025
The Canada Community-Building Fund is federal money paid to towns for local infrastructure. Trent Lakes received $210,878 from it in 2025 and used none, so the unspent balance rose to $1,477,398. In 2024 it used $243,000. Development charges (fees on new building) show a similar pattern: $82,866 used in 2025 against $1,001,589 in 2024.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$6,052,496salaries and benefits in 2025, up from $5,532,418 in 2024
Salaries and benefits were $6,052,496 in 2025 against $5,532,418 in 2024, a rise of about $520,078 or 9.4% (worked out by us). They came in under the 2025 budget of $6,276,227. For 2026, the Municipality lists wage increases under a new CUPE contract and a compensation review.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
0requests for advice and complaints to the Integrity Commissioner in 2025
The Integrity Commissioner's reports say there were three requests for advice in 2024 and none in 2025, and no complaints in either year. Advice cost $988.75 in 2024 and $0.00 in 2025. Council members can ask the Commissioner for advice before acting, which the Commissioner encourages.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$6,712,996spent on transportation services in 2025, against a budget of $5,764,601
The audited statements show transportation services (roads, bridges, winter control and street lighting) spending $6,712,996 in 2025 against a budget of $5,764,601, a gap of about $948,395 (worked out by us). Spending on materials, wear on assets and a new loan's interest all grew from 2024. The Municipality as a whole spent only a little more than it budgeted, so other areas came in under.
Why it matters
Roads are the biggest single service the Municipality pays for. A gap this size, in a year when total spending was close to the budget, means other lines were under budget. Residents can ask whether the roads budget was set too low or the work grew.
It could be because…
Amortization (a yearly, non-cash charge for wear on roads, vehicles and buildings) is part of the gap, and it is an accounting figure rather than cash spent that year.
Interest on the new loan was charged to this service for the first time, and may not have been in the budget for this line.
Fuel, gravel and vehicle repair costs rose, as the Municipality says they did for 2026.
Winter or storm work in 2025 was heavier than planned.
Questions you could ask
What caused transportation services to come in above budget in 2025, and which lines under budget made up for it?
Was the interest on the new loan, and the higher amortization, planned in the 2025 roads budget?
Will council see a budget-to-actual report for roads during the 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 Trent Lakes?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The statement of operations shows transportation services at a budget of 5,764,601 for 2025, actual spending of 6,712,996 in 2025 and 5,190,539 in 2024. Total expenses were 16,078,360 budgeted and 16,289,594 actual.
The 2025 segment schedule's transportation column shows salaries and benefits of 2,009,652, interest charges of 129,300, materials of 2,384,720, contracted services of 46,504 and amortization of 2,088,260, for total expenses of 6,712,996.
The 2024 segment schedule's transportation column shows salaries and benefits of 1,747,151, materials of 1,611,419, contracted services of 87,441 and amortization of 1,744,528, for total expenses of 5,190,539, and no interest charges.
For the 2026 budget, the Municipality lists "Increased costs to replace equipment and rolling stock. Vehicle maintenance and fuel cost increases" among its budget impacts. This is the only related explanation we found, and it is about 2026, not 2025.
$2,963,649owed on a 4.46% loan at the end of 2025, while cash on hand was $14,238,805
At the end of 2025 the Municipality held $14,238,805 in cash and owed $2,963,649 on a 30-year loan from Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation (OILC) at 4.46%. It paid $129,300 in interest on that loan in 2025. Its investment income was $450,850 in 2025, down from $824,769 in 2024.
Why it matters
Borrowing costs money, and so does holding cash. Residents can ask how the two were weighed, and what the loan paid for.
It could be because…
Much of the cash is set aside in reserves for the new fire and public works building and other projects, so it is not free to spend.
A 30-year loan fixes the cost of a building over its life, and council may have chosen not to use reserves that are needed later.
Interest rates the Municipality can earn on cash may be close to or above the loan rate at times, depending on how the cash is invested.
Questions you could ask
What was the $3,000,000 borrowed for, and which council decision approved it?
Why was the loan taken when large reserves were on hand, and how much of the cash is already promised to projects?
How does council decide when to borrow and when to use reserves?
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 Trent Lakes?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The statement of financial position shows cash of 14,238,805 and long term debt of 2,963,649 at December 31, 2025 (2024: 14,301,508 cash and 3,000,000 debt).
Note 4 describes a debenture issued to the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation (OILC), repayable in monthly blended instalments of $15,129, interest at 4.46% per annum, due March 17, 2055. Interest paid in 2025 was $129,300 (2024 - $Nil).
Note 8(b) lists unfunded capital of 2,830,564 for the Dedicated Mechanic's Facility at the end of 2025 (2,949,650 in 2024). The note does not say which loan or project the debenture paid for.
The 2024 statements say "At December 31, 2024 the amount was recorded as an advance from OILC. It was converted to a 30 year amortizing debenture on March 17, 2025." The balance was 3,000,000.
$7,605,295total cost of the joint fire and roads facility agreements, plus HST
In 2025 the Municipality signed agreements to build a joint fire and roads facility at a total cost of $7,605,295 plus HST. Only $343,603 plus HST had been spent by the end of 2025. The Municipality planned to buy $7,664,283 of capital assets in 2025 but bought $2,279,936, so most of that money was not spent. The 2026 budget deck says some of the building will be paid for by borrowing and reserves.
Why it matters
This is a very large project for a municipality whose property tax revenue was about $12 million in 2025. How much comes from reserves, how much from new debt and how much from taxes shapes bills and debt payments for decades.
It could be because…
Reserves built up in earlier years (the "future acquisition of capital assets" reserve) were set aside for exactly this kind of building.
Construction started late in 2025, so little was spent in the first year.
Council may choose to borrow part of the cost so that future users share it.
Questions you could ask
How much of the $7,605,295 will come from reserves, how much from new borrowing and how much from the tax levy?
What will the yearly loan payments be, and over how many years?
Where is the project's budget, schedule and spending to date reported to the public?
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 Trent Lakes?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 17 says during 2025 the Municipality entered into agreements for construction of a joint fire and roads facility including engineering. The total cost for the agreements was $7,605,295 plus HST. Total costs incurred to December 31, 2025 were $343,603 plus HST.
The 2026 budget deck names "New Buckhorn Fire Hall and Public Works Building" beside the increase in the total 2026 municipal budget, and says "The balance of the budget is funded through grants, fees, borrowing and reserves." Another slide says "Non-Tax Portion is higher due to borrowing and reserve use".
$270,328the 2026 O.P.P. bill is lower than the calculated amount because of the Province's cap
The Ontario Provincial Police (O.P.P.) bill for 2026 would have gone up 27% to $2,144,668. The Province capped the increase at 11%, so the 2026 bill is $1,874,340. The Municipality says it does not know whether future increases will be capped.
Why it matters
Policing is a large part of the tax levy, and the Municipality cannot control the bill. If the cap ends, the gap of $270,328 in 2026 alone could land on taxpayers in a later year.
It could be because…
The Province may keep or phase out the cap gradually.
Other municipalities face the same issue, and the province-wide answer may change the Municipality's options.
Questions you could ask
Does the Municipality set money aside each year in case the O.P.P. billing cap ends?
What would the tax effect be if the 2027 bill is the full calculated amount?
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 Trent Lakes?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The 2026 budget deck says the O.P.P. calculated billing for 2026 "was $2,144,668 or $272.49 per household. Would have resulted in an increase of 27% or $456,073 for Trent Lakes", that the "Increase [was] capped at 11% by Province for a 2026 total billing of $1,874,340 or $259.10 per household", and that the "Capped payable is $270,328 lower than calculated amount. Future billing increases and whether they will be capped is currently unknown".
Trent Lakes spent $2.8M on roads and snow in 2019 and $4.6M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 4 of 39 similar towns had faster growth here.
Why did the cost of roads and snow grow 62% in 6 years?
Roads and snow
Prices (inflation)
−20%+0%+20%+40%+60%+80%
+62%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Roads and snow
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
−8%
+1%
2021
+5%
+4%
2022
+14%
+11%
2023
+22%
+16%
2024
+22%
+18%
2025
+62%
+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 $1.8M a year pay for?
Why did snow ploughing go from $579K to $3.8M?
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 Trent Lakes?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
$1,477,398unspent Canada Community-Building Fund balance at the end of 2025
The Canada Community-Building Fund is federal money paid to towns for local infrastructure. Trent Lakes received $210,878 from it in 2025 and used none, so the unspent balance rose to $1,477,398. In 2024 it used $243,000. Development charges (fees on new building) show a similar pattern: $82,866 used in 2025 against $1,001,589 in 2024.
Why it matters
Money that sits in these funds is meant for specific infrastructure. Residents can ask when it will be used and on what.
It could be because…
The Municipality's own policy is to count this money as revenue only when the related spending happens, and 2025 capital spending was low, so little was drawn.
The balance may be saved for the new fire and public works building.
Fund rules limit what the money can pay for.
Questions you could ask
What projects is the $1,477,398 in the Canada Community-Building Fund balance planned for, and when?
Does the Municipality publish a yearly plan for how it uses this fund?
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 Trent Lakes?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 3 shows the Canada Community-Building Fund balance at 1,477,398 at the end of 2025 (1,219,046 in 2024), with 210,878 received in 2025 and a transfer to operations of nil, against 243,000 in 2024. Development charges earned were 82,866 in 2025 and 1,001,589 in 2024.
The accounting policy says "Canada Community-Building Fund and development charges are recognized in the period in which the related expenditures are recorded."
$6,052,496salaries and benefits in 2025, up from $5,532,418 in 2024
Salaries and benefits were $6,052,496 in 2025 against $5,532,418 in 2024, a rise of about $520,078 or 9.4% (worked out by us). They came in under the 2025 budget of $6,276,227. For 2026, the Municipality lists wage increases under a new CUPE contract and a compensation review.
Why it matters
Staff costs are the largest single type of spending. Residents can ask how much of the rise is wage rates, how much is more hours or positions, and what is planned for the future.
It could be because…
Wages rose under the union contract and the compensation review the Municipality describes.
More hours, seasonal work or overtime in roads and fire services.
Pension (OMERS) contributions rose with pay.
Questions you could ask
How much of the 2025 rise came from wage rates and how much from more positions or hours?
How many full-time equivalent positions did the Municipality have in 2024 and 2025?
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 Trent Lakes?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 10 shows salaries and benefits of 6,276,227 budgeted for 2025, 6,052,496 actual in 2025 and 5,532,418 in 2024.
The 2026 budget deck lists "Wage increases under new CUPE contract and compensation review" among its 2026 budget impacts. It does not explain the 2025 rise.
0requests for advice and complaints to the Integrity Commissioner in 2025
The Integrity Commissioner's reports say there were three requests for advice in 2024 and none in 2025, and no complaints in either year. Advice cost $988.75 in 2024 and $0.00 in 2025. Council members can ask the Commissioner for advice before acting, which the Commissioner encourages.
Why it matters
The Integrity Commissioner is the main outside check on council conduct. No complaints can mean a council that follows the rules, or it can mean residents do not know the process.
It could be because…
No member had a question or a concern, which is a good sign.
Members may get advice elsewhere, for example from the clerk or the Municipality's lawyer.
The 2026 election year, and the end of the term, may shape how much council uses the Commissioner.
Questions you could ask
Does council receive training on the code of conduct and the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, and how often?
Where can a resident find the steps for making a complaint to the Integrity Commissioner?
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 Trent Lakes?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The 2025 report says "We received no requests for advice in 2025", "There were no complaints submitted to the Integrity Commissioner for the Municipality of Trent Lakes", and that costs for advice were $0.00 and costs for complaints were $0.00.
The 2024 report says "We received three requests for advice in 2024", there were no complaints, and costs for advice were $988.75 and for complaints $0.
Trent Lakes spent about $661 per home on snow ploughing in 2025. The typical similar town spent $151. None of the 39 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 Trent Lakes?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Snow ploughing per home: Trent Lakes $661; typical similar town $151; ranked 1st highest of 40.
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