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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Wellington North'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 Wellington North's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 49 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.
$12,047,098in development charges held at December 31, 2024, up from $9,587,555 a year earlier
Development charges are fees the Township collects from builders to pay for the roads, water and sewer pipes and other services that new homes need. By law they are held in a separate fund until they are spent on growth. At the end of 2024 the Township held $12,047,098 of them, up from $9,587,555 a year earlier (an increase of $2,459,543, worked out by us). In 2024 it counted only $1,882,715 of reserve fund money as revenue, against a budget of $4,843,915, which suggests projects that were meant to use this money did not go ahead as planned.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$7,768,933annual surplus for 2024, against a budget of $6,336,941
The 2024 audited statements show an annual surplus of $7,768,933 against a budget of $6,336,941, a gap of $1,431,992 (worked out by us). Several revenue lines came in far above budget: investment income was budgeted at $547,000 and was $2,096,678, which is $1,549,678 more (worked out by us). Donations were budgeted at $1,000 and were $202,710. A gain on disposal of assets was budgeted at $30,000 and was $698,658.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$5,775,000in new debt proposed for 2026 (worked out by us from $4,725,000 and $1,050,000)
The 2026 budget presentation proposes new debt of $4,725,000 for Phase 2 of the Arthur wastewater plant and $1,050,000 for the Clarke Street reconstruction between Smith and Walton Streets, together $5,775,000 (worked out by us). At the end of 2024 the Township held $47,068,582 in cash and owed $3,506,370 in long term debt. We could not read the 2025 statements, so we do not know the 2025 figures.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$343,851change in the General Government line of the 2026 levy, from -$270,329 to $73,522
In the 2026 budget presentation, the General Government line of the tax levy goes from -$270,329 in 2025 to $73,522 in 2026, a change of $343,851. A negative number means the line brought in more than it cost. The Property line within it goes from -$69,226 to $202,756, a change of $271,982. The presentation does not say why in the slides we read.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$6,080,220salaries and benefits in 2024, up from $5,261,036 in 2023
The 2024 statements show salaries and benefits of $6,080,220, up from $5,261,036 in 2023, which is $819,184 more or about 15.6% (both worked out by us). The pension note says the Township made OMERS pension contributions for 81 staff members in 2024, against 64 in 2023.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$11,325,235total 2026 tax levy, up from $10,723,018; the Township's forecast is $12,419,364 in 2028
The 2026 budget raises the tax levy to $11,325,235 from $10,723,018, which is 5.62% more. With growth in new buildings of 2.46%, the Township says the impact on existing taxpayers is 3.16%, or $46.67 a year on a home assessed at $271,636. The Township's own forecast shows the levy at $11,875,239 in 2027 and $12,419,364 in 2028, rises of 4.86% and 4.58%.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
At the end of 2025, $4.0M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 13% of everything billed. Only 2 of 49 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $2.7M.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$8,709,5002026 capital program, against $18,535,951 requested by departments
Staff asked for capital projects worth $18,535,951 for 2026. After applying its priority framework the Township says about $9.8 million was deferred to 2027 and 2028, and the 2026 capital program is $8,709,500. The 2025 capital program was $12,670,821.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$12,047,098in development charges held at December 31, 2024, up from $9,587,555 a year earlier
Development charges are fees the Township collects from builders to pay for the roads, water and sewer pipes and other services that new homes need. By law they are held in a separate fund until they are spent on growth. At the end of 2024 the Township held $12,047,098 of them, up from $9,587,555 a year earlier (an increase of $2,459,543, worked out by us). In 2024 it counted only $1,882,715 of reserve fund money as revenue, against a budget of $4,843,915, which suggests projects that were meant to use this money did not go ahead as planned.
Why it matters
Money in this fund can only be used for growth-related projects. A large and growing balance can mean builders have paid for services that residents in new homes have not yet received.
It could be because…
Large projects such as the Arthur wastewater plant upgrade take several years, so the money is collected first and spent later.
The Township may be saving the charges for projects it has already planned and is waiting on design, approvals or provincial funding.
A busy year for new building would raise the balance even if the spending plan has not changed.
Questions you could ask
Which projects will the $12,047,098 in development charges pay for, and in which years?
Why was the 2024 draw from these funds $1,882,715 when the budget expected $4,843,915?
What was the balance at the end of 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 Wellington North?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 6, Deferred revenue, shows development charges of $9,587,555 at December 31, 2023, contributions received of $2,314,769, investment income of $414,596, revenue recognized of $(269,822), and a balance of $12,047,098 at December 31, 2024.
$7,768,933annual surplus for 2024, against a budget of $6,336,941
The 2024 audited statements show an annual surplus of $7,768,933 against a budget of $6,336,941, a gap of $1,431,992 (worked out by us). Several revenue lines came in far above budget: investment income was budgeted at $547,000 and was $2,096,678, which is $1,549,678 more (worked out by us). Donations were budgeted at $1,000 and were $202,710. A gain on disposal of assets was budgeted at $30,000 and was $698,658.
Why it matters
A surplus is not a problem by itself, but a budget that is regularly beaten by this much means taxpayers may be asked for more than the Township needed that year. Investment income is also earned on money the Township holds, so it ties to how much cash it keeps.
It could be because…
Interest rates were high in 2024, which raises income on cash balances in a way that is hard to predict.
The audited budget figures are restated to the accounting basis and exclude transfers between reserves, so they are not the same as the budget council voted.
Donations and sales of assets are one-time items that the Township cannot forecast.
Questions you could ask
How much of the 2024 surplus came from one-time items, and how much was a lasting gap between budget and actual?
Does the Township budget investment income using recent actual results, and what will 2026 use?
How was the surplus allocated: to reserves, to capital, or elsewhere?
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 Wellington North?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The Statement of Operations shows an annual surplus of $7,768,933 for 2024 actual and $6,336,941 for 2024 budget.
Note 8, Other income, shows investment income (note 5) budgeted at $547,000 with an actual of $2,096,678, donations budgeted at $1,000 with an actual of $202,710, and a gain on disposal of tangible capital assets budgeted at $30,000 with an actual of $698,658.
Note 10, Budget amounts, explains the budget figures "are presented for comparison purposes as prepared and approved by Council, reclassified to conform to the current consolidated financial statement presentation", and reconciles an approved budget of $30,476,494 to total revenues of $27,249,310.
$5,775,000in new debt proposed for 2026 (worked out by us from $4,725,000 and $1,050,000)
The 2026 budget presentation proposes new debt of $4,725,000 for Phase 2 of the Arthur wastewater plant and $1,050,000 for the Clarke Street reconstruction between Smith and Walton Streets, together $5,775,000 (worked out by us). At the end of 2024 the Township held $47,068,582 in cash and owed $3,506,370 in long term debt. We could not read the 2025 statements, so we do not know the 2025 figures.
Why it matters
Interest on new debt is paid by taxpayers and water and sewer users for years. It is fair to ask why debt is chosen over cash.
It could be because…
Most of the cash is not free to spend: it is held as development charges, other restricted funds, deferred revenue and reserve funds set aside for set purposes.
Spreading the cost of a long-lived plant over the years that people use it is a normal and fair way to pay.
The Township says the new debt stays within the provincial limit and most of the new payment is supported by development charges and user rates, not property tax.
Questions you could ask
How much of the Township's cash and reserves is free to spend on these projects, and how much is already committed?
Why borrow $4,725,000 for the Arthur wastewater plant rather than use reserves, given the balances held?
How much interest will the new debt cost over its life?
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 Wellington North?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The Debt Utilization & ARL Compliance slide says "Proposed 2026 debt: $4,725,000 (Arthur WWTP Phase 2) and $1,050,000 (Clarke St Smith-Walton)". It gives the 2025 provincial limit (ARL) as $3,477,661 and existing annual debt service as $565,252.78. It gives the new annual payment for both projects as $689,433.64, of which $125,351.57 is tax-supported and $564,082.07 is supported by development charges and rates. It says "post 2026 headroom remains ~$2.22M".
The Schedule of Accumulated Surplus shows reserve funds for capital purposes of $24,838,643 and, in Note 6, deferred revenue of $15,065,443 is the amount held for specified purposes.
$343,851change in the General Government line of the 2026 levy, from -$270,329 to $73,522
In the 2026 budget presentation, the General Government line of the tax levy goes from -$270,329 in 2025 to $73,522 in 2026, a change of $343,851. A negative number means the line brought in more than it cost. The Property line within it goes from -$69,226 to $202,756, a change of $271,982. The presentation does not say why in the slides we read.
Why it matters
This one line accounts for more than half of the $602,217 rise in the tax levy (worked out by us as 343,851 out of 602,217). Residents deserve to know whether it is a one-off or a new lasting cost.
It could be because…
The Township may be budgeting costs for buildings it owns or is selling, such as the former school it plans to demolish.
Rent or other income that was in the 2025 budget may not be expected in 2026.
Supplementary tax revenue from new buildings may be budgeted lower because it is hard to predict.
Questions you could ask
What changed in the Property line between 2025 and 2026?
Is the $343,851 swing a one-time item or a lasting cost?
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 Wellington North?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The Tax Levy Budget Overview slide shows General Government at -270,329 for the 2025 budget and 73,522 for 2026, a change of 343,851, and a total levy requirement of 11,325,235, up 602,217 from 10,723,018.
The Operating Budget Summary slide shows Property at (69,226) for 2025 and 202,756 for 2026, a change of 271,982, and "Other Revenues-Supps/Omitts/Writeoffs" at (367,708) for 2025 and (271,375) for 2026.
$6,080,220salaries and benefits in 2024, up from $5,261,036 in 2023
The 2024 statements show salaries and benefits of $6,080,220, up from $5,261,036 in 2023, which is $819,184 more or about 15.6% (both worked out by us). The pension note says the Township made OMERS pension contributions for 81 staff members in 2024, against 64 in 2023.
Why it matters
Wages are the largest part of the Township's yearly running costs, and a jump this size carries into every later budget.
It could be because…
The Township may have added part-time or seasonal staff, or moved to full-time positions for services such as the pool and recreation programs.
The wage settlements for union and non-union staff may have included catch-up increases.
The 2023 figures may have been lower because of vacancies.
Questions you could ask
How many full-time and part-time positions were added in 2024, and in which departments?
How will salaries and benefits compare with budget when the 2025 statements are read?
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 Wellington North?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Schedule 1 shows salaries and benefits of $6,080,220 for 2024 and $5,261,036 for 2023.
Note 11, Pension agreements, says contributions were made to OMERS "on behalf of 81 (2023 - 64) members of its staff", and the employer amount for 2024 was $372,901 (2023 - $357,098).
$11,325,235total 2026 tax levy, up from $10,723,018; the Township's forecast is $12,419,364 in 2028
The 2026 budget raises the tax levy to $11,325,235 from $10,723,018, which is 5.62% more. With growth in new buildings of 2.46%, the Township says the impact on existing taxpayers is 3.16%, or $46.67 a year on a home assessed at $271,636. The Township's own forecast shows the levy at $11,875,239 in 2027 and $12,419,364 in 2028, rises of 4.86% and 4.58%.
Why it matters
Residents will see most of these rises on their tax bills, and a forecast shows what the Township expects before it has decided anything.
It could be because…
The Township explains the pressures: wage increases, benefits up about 4%, insurance up about 5%, hydro up 3.7% and construction costs up 4.2%.
The 2027 and 2028 numbers are a forecast, and council can decide otherwise each year.
Part of the rise goes to capital and reserves, not to running costs.
Questions you could ask
What share of each year's rise goes to running costs and what share to capital and reserves?
What would a 2027 increase of about 3% mean for services?
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 Wellington North?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The Draft Budget Modeling slide shows an amount to be raised of 11,325,235 for 2026 and 10,723,018 for 2025, taxes on a residential assessment of 271,636.00 of $1,559.86 against $1,513.19, an increase of $46.67, and gives the 2026 proposal as 3.16%, or $46.67 a year on the average home. It lists organic growth of 2.46%.
The 2026 Budget Guidelines slide lists cost pressures: employee benefits and payroll remittances up about 4%, municipal insurance projected up 5%, hydro up 3.7% and a Construction Price Index of 4.2% (Q3 2025).
Wellington North spent $1.4M on police, fire and safety in 2019 and $2.0M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Why did the cost of police, fire and safety grow 46% in 6 years?
Police, fire and safety
Prices (inflation)
+0%+10%+20%+30%+40%+50%
+46%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Police, fire and safety
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
+4%
+1%
2021
+5%
+4%
2022
+13%
+11%
2023
+23%
+16%
2024
+34%
+18%
2025
+46%
+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 $635K a year pay for?
Why did building permits go from $10,127 to $678K?
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 Wellington North?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Police, fire and safety: 2019 $1.4M, 2020 $1.4M, 2021 $1.5M, 2022 $1.6M, 2023 $1.7M, 2024 $1.9M, 2025 $2.0M.
At the end of 2025, $4.0M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 13% of everything billed. Only 2 of 49 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $2.7M.
Why are so many property taxes unpaid?
$0$1.0M$2.0M$3.0M$4.0M
$4.0M
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Unpaid property tax at year end
2019
$1.0M
2020
$1.1M
2021
$918K
2022
$991K
2023
$1.2M
2024
$2.7M
2025
$4.0M
Why it matters
When taxes go unpaid, everyone else carries the cost, and the town may borrow to cover the gap. The Province's financial indicators treat 10% to 15% as a moderate risk and more than 15% as a high risk. Collection is the town's job, so a rising number is worth asking about.
It could be because…
The final tax bill was due late in the year, so some payments simply arrived in January.
A few large properties are in dispute or being sold for back taxes.
Hard times for residents, which the town may be handling with payment plans.
Questions you could ask
How much is more than one year overdue, and from how many properties?
Are the rules for chasing unpaid taxes applied the same way to everyone?
Has the town registered tax arrears certificates on properties about two years behind? If still unpaid a year after that, Ontario law lets the town sell the property.
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 Wellington North?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Taxes receivable: 2019 $1.0M, 2020 $1.1M, 2021 $918K, 2022 $991K, 2023 $1.2M, 2024 $2.7M, 2025 $4.0M. Of the 2025 total, $890K was from earlier years.
$8,709,5002026 capital program, against $18,535,951 requested by departments
Staff asked for capital projects worth $18,535,951 for 2026. After applying its priority framework the Township says about $9.8 million was deferred to 2027 and 2028, and the 2026 capital program is $8,709,500. The 2025 capital program was $12,670,821.
Why it matters
Deferred projects do not disappear. They compete with the new ones for the same money, and costs may rise while they wait.
It could be because…
Choosing the most urgent projects is how a budget should work, and the Township says it used a published list of tests such as condition, risk and readiness.
Some projects need design or outside funding before they can start.
The 2025 program was unusually large, so 2026 may be closer to normal.
Questions you could ask
Which deferred projects does the Township see as most urgent?
How will the $9.8 million be paid for in 2027 and 2028?
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 Wellington North?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The slide says "Departments submitted Capital Justification reports totaling $18,535,951. Following staff deliberation and application of the Township's capital prioritization framework (condition/risk, compliance, service impact, readiness, funding/ARL), ~$9.8M was deferred to 2027-2028 Capital Program initial listing". The list of deferred projects totals $9,826,450.51.
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