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Not the full picture. Built from public records, which leave things out.Built automaticallyDetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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
Built automatically. These pages come only from Warwick's yearly report to the Province. Nobody has read this town's budget or meeting minutes for this site yet.

Questions · 6 so far

Things worth asking about

These questions come automatically from Warwick's yearly financial reports to the Province, compared with 50 similar Ontario towns. Nobody has read this town's budget or minutes for this site yet, so there may be good explanations we have not seen.

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.
Needs an answer

Needs an answer

These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.

Needs an answerRising costs

Why did the cost of running the town office grow 72% in 5 years?

+72%running the town office, 2019 to 2024

Warwick spent $933K on running the town office in 2019 and $1.6M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 5 of 50 similar towns had faster growth here.

Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources

Needs an answerRising costs

Why did the cost of parks, arena and library grow 130% in 5 years?

+130%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2024

Warwick spent $951K on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $2.2M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 4 of 50 similar towns had faster growth here.

Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources

Worth asking

Worth asking

There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.

Good to know

Good to know

Background that helps make sense of the rest.

Each question in full

Needs an answerFound automatically from financial reports

Why did the cost of running the town office grow 72% in 5 years?

+72%running the town office, 2019 to 2024

Warwick spent $933K on running the town office in 2019 and $1.6M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 5 of 50 similar towns had faster growth here.

Why did the cost of running the town office grow 72% in 5 years?
+72%
Show as a table
YearRunning the town officePrices (inflation)
2019+0%+0%
2020−4%+1%
2021+27%+4%
2022+38%+11%
2023+64%+16%
2024+72%+18%

Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.

Why it matters

Money spent running the office is money not spent on roads, water or safety. When office costs grow much faster than the services people see, it is fair to ask what the extra money is buying.

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

  1. What did the extra $675K a year pay for?
  2. Why did senior management go from $397K to $1.5M?
  3. 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. Your town office can tell you how to reach council.

Speak for Warwick? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. Running the town office: 2019 $933K, 2020 $897K, 2021 $1.2M, 2022 $1.3M, 2023 $1.5M, 2024 $1.6M.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy

  2. Biggest driver: Senior management, from $397K to $1.5M.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy

  3. Typical growth among similar towns: 41%. Warwick ranks 6th of 51.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 50 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy

↑ All questions

Needs an answerFound automatically from financial reports

Why did the cost of parks, arena and library grow 130% in 5 years?

+130%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2024

Warwick spent $951K on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $2.2M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 4 of 50 similar towns had faster growth here.

Why did the cost of parks, arena and library grow 130% in 5 years?
+130%
Show as a table
YearParks, arena and libraryPrices (inflation)
2019+0%+0%
2020−10%+1%
2021−10%+4%
2022+21%+11%
2023+54%+16%
2024+130%+18%

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

  1. What did the extra $1.2M a year pay for?
  2. Why did arena and buildings go from $809K to $2.0M?
  3. 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. Your town office can tell you how to reach council.

Speak for Warwick? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. Parks, arena and library: 2019 $951K, 2020 $858K, 2021 $854K, 2022 $1.2M, 2023 $1.5M, 2024 $2.2M.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy

  2. Biggest driver: Arena and buildings, from $809K to $2.0M.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy

  3. Typical growth among similar towns: 42%. Warwick ranks 5th of 51.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 50 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy

↑ All questions

Needs an answerFound automatically from financial reports

Why does Warwick spend more than most similar towns on long-term debt?

$6,811per home on long-term debt, 2024

Warwick spent about $6,811 per home on long-term debt in 2024. The typical similar town spent $301. Only 1 of 50 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

  1. What makes this cost higher here than in similar towns?
  2. 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. Your town office can tell you how to reach council.

Speak for Warwick? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. Long-term debt per home: Warwick $6,811; typical similar town $301; ranked 2nd highest of 51.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 50 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy

↑ All questions

Worth askingFound automatically from financial reports

Why did the cost of water, sewers and garbage grow 49% in 5 years?

+49%water, sewers and garbage, 2019 to 2024

Warwick spent $1.1M on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $1.6M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time.

Why did the cost of water, sewers and garbage grow 49% in 5 years?
+49%
Show as a table
YearWater, sewers and garbagePrices (inflation)
2019+0%+0%
2020+1%+1%
2021+7%+4%
2022+2%+11%
2023+16%+16%
2024+49%+18%

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

  1. What did the extra $528K a year pay for?
  2. Why did garbage pickup go from $100K to $273K?
  3. 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. Your town office can tell you how to reach council.

Speak for Warwick? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. Water, sewers and garbage: 2019 $1.1M, 2020 $1.1M, 2021 $1.2M, 2022 $1.1M, 2023 $1.3M, 2024 $1.6M.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy

  2. Biggest driver: Garbage pickup, from $100K to $273K.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy

↑ All questions

Good to knowFound automatically from financial reports

Why does Warwick spend more than most similar towns on garbage, dump and recycling?

$365per home on garbage, dump and recycling, 2024

Warwick spent about $365 per home on garbage, dump and recycling in 2024. The typical similar town spent $208. Only 5 of 50 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

  1. What makes this cost higher here than in similar towns?
  2. 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. Your town office can tell you how to reach council.

Speak for Warwick? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. Garbage, dump and recycling per home: Warwick $365; typical similar town $208; ranked 6th highest of 51.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 50 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy

↑ All questions

Good to knowFound automatically from financial reports

Why does Warwick spend more than most similar towns on snow ploughing?

$217per home on snow ploughing, 2024

Warwick spent about $217 per home on snow ploughing in 2024. The typical similar town spent $101. Only 5 of 50 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

  1. What makes this cost higher here than in similar towns?
  2. 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. Your town office can tell you how to reach council.

Speak for Warwick? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.

The evidence

  1. Snow ploughing per home: Warwick $217; typical similar town $101; ranked 6th highest of 51.

    Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 50 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy

↑ All questions