Questions · 9 so far
We read White River's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 42 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
$707Kowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2024
At the end of 2024, $707K of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 38% of everything billed. Only 1 of 42 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $612K.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$3,552per home on long-term debt, 2024
White River spent about $3,552 per home on long-term debt in 2024. The typical similar town spent $464. Only 2 of 42 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.
2 yearsof qualified audit opinions over the bark pile site (2023 and 2024)
The auditors' opinion on the 2024 statements, and on the 2023 statements, comes with a warning (a qualified opinion). The Township has not recorded a liability for the bark pile site because no environmental assessment has been done, so the cost of any cleanup is not in the numbers. In March 2026 council approved a closure plan for the site at an estimated $22,250 before HST.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
July 7, 2026date of the auditors' report on the year ended December 31, 2024
The auditors signed their report on the 2024 statements on July 7, 2026, and the report on the 2023 statements on May 12, 2025. That is well over a year after each year ended. Council's agenda for July 8, 2026 lists a delegation on the 2024 financials. We did not find 2025 statements on the Township's site.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$826,172allowance against taxes receivable at December 31, 2024 (worked out by us: about 46% of $1,809,269 in taxation revenue)
The 2024 balance sheet shows taxes receivable of $707,393 after an allowance of $826,172, up from $746,172 the year before. The allowance is money the Township does not expect to collect. By our own working out, it is about 46 per cent of the year's taxation revenue of $1,809,269.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
$1,693,524estimated landfill closure and post-closure liability at December 31, 2024
The 2024 statements record a landfill closure and post-closure liability of $1,693,524. The Township estimates closure costs of about $148,822 in 2025 and $766,542 in 2040, plus yearly monitoring. In January 2026, council members told the Minister of Infrastructure about the need for funding for the water treatment plant, landfill and lagoon expansion.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$992,270actual annual surplus in 2024, against a budget of $42,691
The 2024 statements show a budgeted annual surplus of $42,691 and an actual surplus of $992,270. Total expenditures were $3,537,772 against a budget of $4,368,633. The biggest gap was recreation and cultural services, budgeted at $914,848 and spent at $465,575.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$1,881,686capital purchases in 2024, against $570,988 budgeted (about 3.3 times, worked out by us)
The 2024 statements show acquisition of tangible capital assets (buildings, equipment, roads, water systems) of $1,881,686 against a budget figure of $570,988. By our own working out, that is about 3.3 times the budget.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
2023the only council pay report we found on the Township's site
The Town Council page links a council remuneration report for 2023. We did not find one for 2024 or 2025. The 2023 file is a picture of a page with no readable text, so we have not copied any pay figures from it.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$707Kowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2024
At the end of 2024, $707K of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 38% of everything billed. Only 1 of 42 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $612K.
| Year | Unpaid property tax at year end |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $756K |
| 2020 | $627K |
| 2021 | $634K |
| 2022 | $852K |
| 2023 | $612K |
| 2024 | $707K |
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.
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 White River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Taxes receivable: 2019 $756K, 2020 $627K, 2021 $634K, 2022 $852K, 2023 $612K, 2024 $707K. Of the 2024 total, $633K was from earlier years.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 70, lines 0610 to 0699 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: 11.4% of taxes billed.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 42 similar municipalities · Schedules 26 and 70 · archived copy
$3,552per home on long-term debt, 2024
White River spent about $3,552 per home on long-term debt in 2024. The typical similar town spent $464. Only 2 of 42 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 White River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Long-term debt per home: White River $3,552; typical similar town $464; ranked 3rd highest of 43.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 42 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy
2 yearsof qualified audit opinions over the bark pile site (2023 and 2024)
The auditors' opinion on the 2024 statements, and on the 2023 statements, comes with a warning (a qualified opinion). The Township has not recorded a liability for the bark pile site because no environmental assessment has been done, so the cost of any cleanup is not in the numbers. In March 2026 council approved a closure plan for the site at an estimated $22,250 before HST.
A qualified opinion means the auditors say the statements are fair except for one named gap. Until the cleanup cost is estimated, nobody can tell how much the Township may owe for the site.
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 White River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The 2024 auditors' report says: "The Township has not recognized a liability related to the bark pile site because an environmental assessment has not been completed and the costs of any required remediation have not been estimated." It adds that the opinion on the 2023 statements "was modified for the same reason."
Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Independent Auditors' Report, Basis of Qualified Opinion, printed page 1
The 2023 auditors' report has a Qualified Opinion and says the Township "has not recognized the liability of the bark pile site".
Financial Statements, December 31, 2023 · Independent Auditors' Report, Basis of Qualified Opinion, printed page 1
Resolution No. 2026-52 approves the Closure Plan for White River Bark Pile Site and ECA Compliance issues and says the project has an estimated cost of $22,250 excluding HST or provisional items.
Council minutes, March 25, 2026 · item 9.1, Resolution No. 2026-52, page 2 to 3
July 7, 2026date of the auditors' report on the year ended December 31, 2024
The auditors signed their report on the 2024 statements on July 7, 2026, and the report on the 2023 statements on May 12, 2025. That is well over a year after each year ended. Council's agenda for July 8, 2026 lists a delegation on the 2024 financials. We did not find 2025 statements on the Township's site.
Residents rely on audited statements to see the Township's finances. The older the statements are when they are signed, the less useful they are for judging current decisions.
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 White River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The auditors' report on the 2024 statements is dated July 7, 2026, signed in Sault Ste. Marie.
Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Independent Auditors' Report, printed page 2
The auditors' report on the 2023 statements is dated May 12, 2025.
Financial Statements, December 31, 2023 · Independent Auditors' Report, printed page 2
Item 4 of the July 8, 2026 agenda lists a delegation on the "2024 Financials".
Council agenda, July 8, 2026 · item 4, Delegations
$826,172allowance against taxes receivable at December 31, 2024 (worked out by us: about 46% of $1,809,269 in taxation revenue)
The 2024 balance sheet shows taxes receivable of $707,393 after an allowance of $826,172, up from $746,172 the year before. The allowance is money the Township does not expect to collect. By our own working out, it is about 46 per cent of the year's taxation revenue of $1,809,269.
Unpaid taxes owed to the Township are a sign of how many property owners cannot or do not pay. A large allowance means the Township is setting aside a lot against uncollected bills.
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 White River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The statement of financial position reads: "Taxes receivable (allowance $826,172)" 707,393 for 2024 and 612,271 for 2023.
Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, printed page 3
Note 1 says the Municipality has established an allowance for tax appeals and other items in the amount of $ 826,171 (2023 - $ 746,171 ).
Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Note 1, Taxation and Related Revenue, printed page 9
The statement of operations shows Taxation, net 1,809,269 for 2024 actual.
Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus, printed page 4
The 2023 statement of financial position reads: "Taxes receivable (allowance $746,172)".
Financial Statements, December 31, 2023 · Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, printed page 3
$1,693,524estimated landfill closure and post-closure liability at December 31, 2024
The 2024 statements record a landfill closure and post-closure liability of $1,693,524. The Township estimates closure costs of about $148,822 in 2025 and $766,542 in 2040, plus yearly monitoring. In January 2026, council members told the Minister of Infrastructure about the need for funding for the water treatment plant, landfill and lagoon expansion.
A liability on paper still has to be paid for eventually. A small township of 557 residents (as reported to the Province for 2023 and 2024; the statements say "more than 645 citizens", the figure reported for 2019 to 2022) has few ways to raise that money besides grants and 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 White River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 6 says the estimated liability of $1,693,524 (2023 - $1,675,647) is the present value of estimated future spending, with closure costs of approximately $148,822 in 2025 and $766,542 in 2040, and monitoring of approximately $27,420 per year.
Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Note 6, Asset Retirement Obligations, Landfill Closure and Post-Closure, printed page 13
The mayor's council report says a delegation spoke to the Minister of Infrastructure on the Water Treatment Plant, Landfill and Lagoon expansion, and that the minister encouraged them to submit applications for funding.
Council minutes, January 28, 2026 · item 7.7, Council reports, page 2
Note 13, Segmented information: the Municipality "provides a wide range of services to more than 645 citizens."
Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Note 13, Segmented Information - Service Bundle, PDF page 18 (printed page 17)
Population reported to the Province: 645 for 2019 to 2022, and 557 for 2023 and 2024.
Financial Information Return, 2019 to 2024 (as built into this site) · population, 2023 and 2024 (src/data/ontario/towns/white-river.json, retrieved October 1, 2026) · archived copy
$992,270actual annual surplus in 2024, against a budget of $42,691
The 2024 statements show a budgeted annual surplus of $42,691 and an actual surplus of $992,270. Total expenditures were $3,537,772 against a budget of $4,368,633. The biggest gap was recreation and cultural services, budgeted at $914,848 and spent at $465,575.
A budget that is far from the results makes it harder for residents to know what council planned and what happened.
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 White River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The statement shows Annual Surplus of 42,691 (budget 2024), 992,270 (actual 2024) and 832,273 (actual 2023), and Total Expenditures of 4,368,633 (budget) and 3,537,772 (actual).
Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus, printed page 4
Recreation and cultural services shows 914,848 budget and 465,575 actual for 2024.
Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus, printed page 4
Note 1, Budget Figures, says budget detail is "on a projected-oriented basis" and "may not be comparable with current year's actual expenditures."
Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Note 1, Budget Figures, printed page 9
$1,881,686capital purchases in 2024, against $570,988 budgeted (about 3.3 times, worked out by us)
The 2024 statements show acquisition of tangible capital assets (buildings, equipment, roads, water systems) of $1,881,686 against a budget figure of $570,988. By our own working out, that is about 3.3 times the budget.
Capital projects are where a small township spends its largest sums, so residents may want to know how they were approved and paid for.
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 White River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The statement of changes in net financial assets shows Acquisition of tangible capital assets (570,988) for the 2024 budget and (1,881,686) for 2024 actual.
Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Consolidated Statement of Changes in Net Financial Assets, printed page 6
Note 11 shows a Capital Budget of 570,988 approved by council.
Financial Statements, December 31, 2024 · Note 11, Budget Reconciliation, printed page 14
2023the only council pay report we found on the Township's site
The Town Council page links a council remuneration report for 2023. We did not find one for 2024 or 2025. The 2023 file is a picture of a page with no readable text, so we have not copied any pay figures from it.
Ontario councils publish a yearly statement of what members are paid and reimbursed. Residents can only check pay if the report is posted and can be 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 White River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The page says: "To view the Council Remuneration for 2023 click here." No later year is linked on that page.
Town Council page · text below the list of council members