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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Zorra'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 · 11 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Zorra's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 46 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.
$2,394,631increase in total reserves during 2025 (worked out by us)
Reserves are money a council sets aside in savings accounts for later costs. Total reserves rose from $8,541,790 to $10,936,421 in 2025, a rise of $2,394,631 (worked out by us). The reserve for replacing capital (roads, bridges, buildings, vehicles) rose from $5,021,281 to $7,028,191. At the same time, the statements show the Township bought $3,046,245 of capital assets against a budgeted $4,465,149, and cash rose by $1,401,553.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$2,457,648drains receivable at December 31, 2025, up from $1,448,441
The statements list "Drains receivable", money the Township expects to collect for municipal drainage work. It rose from $1,448,441 to $2,457,648 in 2025, an increase of $1,009,207 (worked out by us). We did not find a note in the statements that explains the increase or says how it will be collected.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$1,407,1002026 budget for policing services, after $1,478,974 in 2025
Policing (the contract with the Ontario Provincial Police) is one of the largest single lines. Its budget rose from $1,243,287 in 2024 to $1,478,974 in 2025, a rise of $235,687 (worked out by us), then falls to $1,407,100 in the final 2026 budget. The Township's draft budget report says Council did not lower the 2025 budget when the province gave relief, and instead moved the relief to a reserve to fund later adjustments.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
Zorra spent $1.0M on running the town office in 2019 and $1.9M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 6 of 46 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
Zorra spent $3.3M on roads and snow in 2019 and $4.9M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 5 of 46 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$2,702,951gap between budgeted and actual spending in 2025 (worked out by us); $2,499,531 of it is amortization
The audited statements for 2025 print a budget column beside the actual results. Total spending was budgeted at $11,846,790 and came in at $14,549,741, a gap of $2,702,951 (worked out by us). The Township says it does not put amortization (the yearly write-down of what roads, buildings and equipment are worth as they wear out) in its budget, but the statements do count it. Amortization was $2,499,531, which explains most of the gap. About $203,420 is left after taking it out (worked out by us). Transportation (roads and bridges) shows the largest line gap: $4,759,261 budgeted and $6,701,687 actual.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$9,332,125net long-term liabilities at December 31, 2025, down from $10,218,982
At the end of 2025 the Township's financial assets were greater than its liabilities: net financial assets of $2,848,201, after net debt of $(176,839) a year earlier. Long-term debt fell from $10,218,982 to $9,332,125. The notes list repayments of $865,853 due in 2026 and $644,162 in 2027, and interest paid on long-term debt was $436,344 in 2025.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$23,8502026 budget for general insurance under financial expenses, down from $32,000
The final 2026 budget shows general insurance falling in many departments. General insurance under financial expenses goes from $32,000 to $23,850. Fire insurance goes from $38,260 to $28,500. The building department's insurance line goes from $24,270 to $18,100. The Township's draft budget report lists "insurance savings" and says part of the savings is going into an insurance reserve.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
The 2026 budget for council is $156,535, up from $146,536 in 2025. Council honorariums (pay) are budgeted at $121,782. Conference costs go from $5,000 to $9,000. Separately, the elections budget goes from $16,850 to $25,000, with voters' supplies going from $1,850 to $30,000. An Ontario municipal election is held on October 26, 2026. We did not find a published statement of council pay on the Township's site, so we could not check what members were paid.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$3,146,055value of the Township's investment in ERTH at December 31, 2025
The Township owns 5.41% of ERTH Corporation. The investment is worth $3,146,055 in the statements: a promissory note (a loan to ERTH) of $815,000 at 7.25%, and equity of $2,331,055. In 2025 the Township received interest of $59,088 and its share of a dividend of $55,714, together $114,802 (worked out by us). The 2026 budget counts on $108,000 from interest and dividends.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$2,394,631increase in total reserves during 2025 (worked out by us)
Reserves are money a council sets aside in savings accounts for later costs. Total reserves rose from $8,541,790 to $10,936,421 in 2025, a rise of $2,394,631 (worked out by us). The reserve for replacing capital (roads, bridges, buildings, vehicles) rose from $5,021,281 to $7,028,191. At the same time, the statements show the Township bought $3,046,245 of capital assets against a budgeted $4,465,149, and cash rose by $1,401,553.
Why it matters
Residents pay taxes to cover current costs and to save for replacing things. Saving is good planning, but money that sits while planned projects wait can mean taxes were higher than they had to be, or that projects are late. The question is mainly about timing.
It could be because…
Some of the planned projects were started but not finished. Capital work in progress rose from $812,416 to $1,161,222, so the money may be committed.
Grants, developer payments or sales proceeds arrived and were put in reserves until needed.
The Township is saving on purpose for large later costs such as bridges and fleet replacement.
Questions you could ask
Which 2025 capital projects were budgeted but not finished, and when will they be?
What is the Township's target for its capital replacement reserve, and how does $7,028,191 compare with it?
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 Zorra?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 9, Accumulated surplus. Reserves "for capital replacement" 7,028,191 (2024: 5,021,281). "Total reserves" 10,936,421 (2024: 8,541,790). Reserve "for tax rate stabilization" 867,505 in both years.
Statement of change in net financial assets. "Acquisition of tangible capital assets": budget (4,465,149), actual (3,046,245) for 2025; 2024 actual (12,354,239).
Statement of financial position: capital work in progress 1,161,222 (2024: 812,416). Cash 8,868,548 (2024: 7,466,995). Statement of cash flows: net change in cash 1,401,553.
$2,457,648drains receivable at December 31, 2025, up from $1,448,441
The statements list "Drains receivable", money the Township expects to collect for municipal drainage work. It rose from $1,448,441 to $2,457,648 in 2025, an increase of $1,009,207 (worked out by us). We did not find a note in the statements that explains the increase or says how it will be collected.
Why it matters
When the Township pays for drainage work first and collects later, it carries the cost in the meantime. A growing balance is worth understanding because it ties up cash and depends on property owners paying their share.
It could be because…
Several large drainage projects were finished late in 2025 and have not yet been billed or paid.
Owners may repay over several years, which is normal for drainage charges.
Part of the balance may be loans that the Township makes to owners, which are paid back over time.
Questions you could ask
Which drainage projects make up the balance, and what are the repayment terms?
How much of the balance is past its due date?
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 Zorra?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
$1,407,1002026 budget for policing services, after $1,478,974 in 2025
Policing (the contract with the Ontario Provincial Police) is one of the largest single lines. Its budget rose from $1,243,287 in 2024 to $1,478,974 in 2025, a rise of $235,687 (worked out by us), then falls to $1,407,100 in the final 2026 budget. The Township's draft budget report says Council did not lower the 2025 budget when the province gave relief, and instead moved the relief to a reserve to fund later adjustments.
Why it matters
Policing is paid from property taxes and the Township cannot easily change the bill. Residents may want to know how the contract is set and what the reserve is for.
It could be because…
The provincial police bill rose with new contract rates and was later adjusted.
Keeping the relief in a reserve is a way to cover a future bill that corrects the estimate.
Questions you could ask
How much provincial relief was moved to a reserve, and what is the balance now?
When does the Township expect the final reconciliation of its policing bill?
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 Zorra?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The draft budget report explains the 2025 policing line: "Council did not reduce the 2025 budget for the provincial relief but rather, transferred the relief to reserve to fund future reconciliation adjustments." We quote the words only, not the draft amounts.
Zorra spent $1.0M on running the town office in 2019 and $1.9M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 6 of 46 similar towns had faster growth here.
Why did the cost of running the town office grow 79% in 6 years?
Running the town office
Prices (inflation)
+0%+20%+40%+60%+80%
+79%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Running the town office
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
+2%
+1%
2021
+14%
+4%
2022
+32%
+11%
2023
+44%
+16%
2024
+64%
+18%
2025
+79%
+21%
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
What did the extra $819K a year pay for?
Why did senior management go from $918K to $1.7M?
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 Zorra?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Running the town office: 2019 $1.0M, 2020 $1.1M, 2021 $1.2M, 2022 $1.4M, 2023 $1.5M, 2024 $1.7M, 2025 $1.9M.
Zorra spent $3.3M on roads and snow in 2019 and $4.9M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 5 of 46 similar towns had faster growth here.
Why did the cost of roads and snow grow 49% in 6 years?
Roads and snow
Prices (inflation)
−20%+0%+20%+40%+60%
+49%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Roads and snow
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
−13%
+1%
2021
−8%
+4%
2022
−0%
+11%
2023
+28%
+16%
2024
+30%
+18%
2025
+49%
+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 $1.6M a year pay for?
Why did paved roads go from $494K to $1.2M?
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 Zorra?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
$2,702,951gap between budgeted and actual spending in 2025 (worked out by us); $2,499,531 of it is amortization
The audited statements for 2025 print a budget column beside the actual results. Total spending was budgeted at $11,846,790 and came in at $14,549,741, a gap of $2,702,951 (worked out by us). The Township says it does not put amortization (the yearly write-down of what roads, buildings and equipment are worth as they wear out) in its budget, but the statements do count it. Amortization was $2,499,531, which explains most of the gap. About $203,420 is left after taking it out (worked out by us). Transportation (roads and bridges) shows the largest line gap: $4,759,261 budgeted and $6,701,687 actual.
Why it matters
A budget column is the promise a council makes to taxpayers. When the statements show a gap, it helps to know how much is bookkeeping (a cost that is counted but not paid in cash that year) and how much is real extra spending. The Township has explained the main part, so this is context, not an alarm.
It could be because…
The budget is set on a cash basis and leaves out amortization on purpose, as Ontario Regulation 284/09 allows. The Township reports this to Council each year.
Winter road work, repairs or equipment costs can run over the budget in one year and under it in the next.
The statements count some capital-related costs differently from the budget, so the two columns are not built the same way.
Questions you could ask
Of the gap between budgeted and actual transportation spending, how much is amortization and how much is extra cash spent?
Why was the amortization estimate for 2025 about $375,570 lower than the figure in the statements (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 Zorra?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Statement of operations, 2025. Total expenditures: budget 11,846,790, actual 14,549,741 (2024 actual 13,269,985). Transportation services: budget 4,759,261, actual 6,701,687 (2024 actual 6,025,131).
The Township's treasurer told Council: "At this time the Township does not budget amortization expense but instead reports amortization separately." The same report estimated 2025 amortization at "approximately $2,123,961".
$9,332,125net long-term liabilities at December 31, 2025, down from $10,218,982
At the end of 2025 the Township's financial assets were greater than its liabilities: net financial assets of $2,848,201, after net debt of $(176,839) a year earlier. Long-term debt fell from $10,218,982 to $9,332,125. The notes list repayments of $865,853 due in 2026 and $644,162 in 2027, and interest paid on long-term debt was $436,344 in 2025.
Why it matters
Debt is borrowed money that taxpayers repay with interest. A falling balance and a positive net position are good signs. We include this as context so residents can see the whole picture, not only the questions.
It could be because…
Planned repayments are working as designed, with older loans ending.
Any new borrowing for the 2026 capital plan, which totals $8,532,761 in the final budget, would change the picture.
Questions you could ask
Does the 2026 capital plan of $8,532,761 rely on new borrowing, and how much?
What is the Township's own limit for how much debt it will carry?
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 Zorra?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
$23,8502026 budget for general insurance under financial expenses, down from $32,000
The final 2026 budget shows general insurance falling in many departments. General insurance under financial expenses goes from $32,000 to $23,850. Fire insurance goes from $38,260 to $28,500. The building department's insurance line goes from $24,270 to $18,100. The Township's draft budget report lists "insurance savings" and says part of the savings is going into an insurance reserve.
Why it matters
Insurance protects the Township from large claims. A lower premium saves money if the cover is the same. It is worth confirming that the cover did not shrink.
It could be because…
The Township changed insurer or broker, or its group program priced better.
The cover or the deductibles changed.
A one-time credit was applied in the year.
Questions you could ask
Did the cover, limits or deductibles change with the lower premium?
Was the insurance bought through a competitive process, and when does the policy renew?
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 Zorra?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The Township's draft budget report lists "Insurance savings." among its base budget changes, and a "Financial-Transfer to Insurance Reserve (utilizing partial savings in policy)". We quote the explanation only; draft amounts changed in the final budget.
The 2026 budget for council is $156,535, up from $146,536 in 2025. Council honorariums (pay) are budgeted at $121,782. Conference costs go from $5,000 to $9,000. Separately, the elections budget goes from $16,850 to $25,000, with voters' supplies going from $1,850 to $30,000. An Ontario municipal election is held on October 26, 2026. We did not find a published statement of council pay on the Township's site, so we could not check what members were paid.
Why it matters
Council sets its own budget. The amounts are small next to the levy of $12,829,962, but residents should be able to see them and the reasons.
It could be because…
Elections cost money mainly in election years, so the line rises and then falls back.
Conference costs may rise in a year when a new council takes office, in November 2026, and needs training.
The honorarium rise (1.70%) is small and may follow a pay policy.
Questions you could ask
What is the pay policy for members of council, and where is the yearly statement of pay and expenses posted?
What do the conference and membership lines pay 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 Zorra?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
$3,146,055value of the Township's investment in ERTH at December 31, 2025
The Township owns 5.41% of ERTH Corporation. The investment is worth $3,146,055 in the statements: a promissory note (a loan to ERTH) of $815,000 at 7.25%, and equity of $2,331,055. In 2025 the Township received interest of $59,088 and its share of a dividend of $55,714, together $114,802 (worked out by us). The 2026 budget counts on $108,000 from interest and dividends.
Why it matters
The Township's money is tied up in a business. Residents may want to know what it earns, how risky it is, and who speaks for the Township at ERTH.
It could be because…
The loan and shares give a steady return that helps hold taxes down.
The Township may hold the shares for local-control reasons, together with other nearby municipalities.
Questions you could ask
What is the plan for the $815,000 note, which has no set term?
Who represents the Township at ERTH's shareholder meetings?
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 Zorra?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 10: the Township owns 5.41% of ERTH Corporation. Promissory note receivable 815,000; equity 2,331,055; total 3,146,055 (2024: 2,976,988). The note bears interest at 7.25%. Interest received in 2025 was $59,088. ERTH declared a dividend of $1,030,000 in 2025 of which the Township's portion is $55,714.
Zorra spent about $268 per home on snow ploughing in 2025. The typical similar town spent $130. Only 5 of 46 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 Zorra?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Snow ploughing per home: Zorra $268; typical similar town $130; ranked 6th highest of 47.
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