On September 16, the North Hatley municipal administration gave a presentation to the public on its finances and achievements for 2021 to 2025. Obviously, the document provided to the public seems to me to emphasize achievements rather than sound financial management. Quite frankly, the presentation is partisan rather than in the public interest. Unfortunately, the municipal administration shows significant signs of a lack of financial rigor, as illustrated by the following examples:
1- Existing invoices or invoices sent more than one year after the date of issue
- The invoices from the intermunicipal agreement for which the Township of Hatley pays half the costs were sent several years late or were simply never sent to the Township of Hatley.
Références :
2- 2024 financial statements more than 3 months overdue (June 30th)
- Financial reports must be submitted to the Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAMH) by May 15 at the latest.
Référence : Gemini - Currently, as of September 20, 2025, the 2024 financial reports for the municipality of North Hatley are not available at the ministry. To my understanding, this contravenes the Municipal Code of Quebec (CMQ).
3- Each household pays $3,379 per year in labor costs.
- There are 319 households in North Hatley to pay (2025) in employee salaries.
- Les salaires coûtent 1 077 974$ par année.
- $1,077,974 ÷ 319 = $3,379 per household per year.
- The salaries of elected officials, which total $112,686 in 2023, must be added.
Référence : Présentation des rapports financiers 2024 NH – Sept 16 Presentation v3.1.pdf
4- Administrative costs have nearly doubled
- Administrative expenses rose from $481,906 in 2016 to $870,423 in 2025 (budget).
- Administrative fees increased from $15.28 per $100 spent to $26.12 per $100 spent.
- A 70.9% increase in 7 years.
Reference : https://www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca/documentsfinanciersweb/Rapport-financier-2023-et-autres-45050.pdf
5- 2024: the year with the lowest municipal debt repayment recorded since 2016
- In 2024, the municipality repaid only $61,337 of the municipal debt.
- On average, the municipality repaid more than $600,000 per year on its debt. However, in 2024, this figure will be only $61,337, the lowest amount recorded since 2016.
6- The payroll for North Hatley employees has more than doubled in seven years.
- The payroll for municipal employees rose from $356,521 in 2016 to $837,966 in 2023 before payroll taxes.
Reference : https://www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca/documentsfinanciersweb/Rapport-financier-2023-et-autres-45050.pdf
7- The number of full-time employees has increased by 61%, rising from 7 to 11.3 since 2016.
- In 2016, the municipality of North Hatley had seven full-time employees.
- In 2023, the municipality of North Hatley has 11.3 full-time employees.
- In 2023, municipal employee compensation totaled $837,966, for a total of $1,004,331 including payroll taxes.
Reference : https://www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca/documentsfinanciersweb/Rapport-financier-2023-et-autres-45050.pdf
8- The municipality of significant subsidies that it has not yet obtained
- The municipality is seeking significant subsidies for its projects, at least one of which, worth $2,000,000, has not yet been secured.
- According to the city council meeting on August 11, the grant for the demolition and reconstruction of the Pleasant View Beach building was still pending. If this is the case, it is another $3,000,000 grant that has not yet been obtained.
- If so, out of a total of $6.5 million in subsidies, $5 million has not yet been obtained.
Référence : Présentation des rapports financiers 2024 NH – Sept 16 Presentation v3.1.pdf
9- The municipality promotes the donations it has received.
- Unfortunately, donations are earmarked for specific projects that are not essential to the proper functioning of the municipality.
- Donations are not being used to pay bills or reduce debt at this time.
- The refrigerated ice rink has not yet been built.
- The anonymous donation of $122,000 for a master plan serves the municipal administration very well in view of its re-election, with a presentation of the master plan in the middle of the election campaign.
10- The municipality reports income without reporting expenses.
- Showing income always looks good. However, if you don’t show your expenses, it means absolutely nothing! Sometimes, you even have to stop generating income because it generates too many expenses that lead to losses.
Basic analysis of marina revenues
17 berths leased out of 47 berths at the North Hatley marina, representing a 36% occupancy rate.
17 docks x $2,100 = $35,700 in dock rental income.
$10,000 in income from Location des 4 Lacs for managing boat rentals.
In my book, that comes to $45,700. But let’s say we really did make $64,490 in revenue, as the municipality claims.
We bought the docks for $200,000 in 2024:
- Do we have a loan for this amount?
- How much of this debt has been repaid? (possible amortization)
We bought the small boats for $20,000:
- Do we have a loan for this amount?
- How much has been repaid on this debt?
What were the costs:
- Maintenance and repair of the marina building
- Purchase and maintenance of equipment.
How much profit remains after subtracting expenses?
Basic Analysis of Pleasant View Beach Revenue
$27,604 in revenue – $68,000 in lifeguard salaries = -$40,396
What were the costs:
- Maintenance of the beach building.
- Maintenance of the beach building.
How much profit remains after subtracting expenses?
Basic analysis of CPE rental income
We generate $3,500 in rent with the CPE, but we pay $3,000 for premises during our renovations since we cannot occupy the space we have rented. I have not found the municipality’s moving and relocation costs. In my opinion, moving a municipal office is more expensive than a residential move. We also had to install internet, telephones, etc.
CPE rent = $3,500 – $3,000 Temporary rent = $500
What were the costs:
- Move twice rather than once!
- Setup (internet, phone, security) twice rather than once!
How much profit remains after subtracting expenses?
By the way, when will the work on City Hall be completed?
Conclusion
Based on my quick analysis, the current municipal administration of the village of North Hatley shows a glaring lack of rigor in financial management. The proof is that the presentation on September 16th was weak in concrete financial results, but full of achievements, revenues without expenses, subsidies not obtained, and donations for specific projects that are not essential to proper functioning. Presenting revenues without presenting expenditures is absurd, and presenting grants that have not yet been obtained is misleading. There is a lot of smoke and mirrors, but little concrete information. In addition, the presentation is totally partisan, coming just before the election was called on September 19, two days after the presentation.
On that note, happy voting on November 2!
Reference: Finances and achievements 2021-2025
