Questions Raised in the Town Hall Meeting of January 27, 2026

Steve LeBlanc · January 27, 2026

Here is the statement I read to council and those that attended recently:

I’d like to raise the issue of Reserves and Surpluses and the financial impact both of these matters have on the residents of Arcadia.

I want to preface this by stating the information I am citing was gathered from publicly available documents.

If anything below is patently incorrect, I invite clarification or correction. I can certainly email these questions to the office, so as to avoid any allegations of misinformation through social media, as council has suggested is occurring.

These are questions I have, as a concerned resident of Arcadia. Please allow me to ask all of my questions before responding.

Regarding RESERVES:

Based on my research, I have noted that per the 2024 approved audit, Arcadia had reserves as follows:

$500,036 (Operational) $2,302,515 (Capital) = $2,839,966
With the following amounts transferred to reserves:

2024	Adopted 2025	Budget 2026
$200,000.00	$250,000.00	$247,000.00 (assume operational)
$93,000.00	$193,155.00	$398,679.21(assume capital)
$293,000 (5.4%)	$443,155 (8.6%)	$645,679.21 (11.9%)

Per the minutes of the Special meeting of December 30, 2025:

“It was moved by Councilor Black and seconded by Deputy Mayor Sharpe to transfer the 2025 surplus in the amount of four hundred and thirty-five thousand, nine hundred and seventeen dollars and no cents ($435,917.00) from the Arcadia General Operating account ending in 97-13 to the Arcadia Capital Reserve account ending in 70-18. With all in favour, the motion was carried”

Adding the 2025/ 2026 budgeted reserve amounts to the 2024 audit numbers Arcadia has potential reserves as of the end of 2026, of approximately: General Operating Reserves: $997,036.00 Capital Reserve: $2,931,587.00 Total Reserves $3,928,623.00 (projected to the end of 2026) Reserve transfers from the 2025 operating budget accounts for 8.6% of the total budget for 2025 ….11.9% of the total budget for 2026. ($645,679.21)

Regarding SURPLUSES:

The following previous surplus amounts were noted: 2023 - $ 80,317.00 (1.8% of 2023 budget) 2024 - $137,147.00 (2.5% of the 2024 budget

In 2025 per minutes of the December 30, 2025 meeting, the sum of $435,917.00 representing a projected surplus projected per the Dec 30, 2025 minutes. That’s 8.5% of 2025 total budget.

The total verified and projected surpluses From 2023 to 2015 equals $653,391.00 With $645,679.21 budgeted in 2026 to be transferred into reserves – could that $645,679.21 be considered a “surplus” of sorts?

It is after all not monies slated for general day-to-day operating expenses, but rather a transfer to reserves, not intended to be used for day-to-day expenses incurred.

QUESTION: Am I correct in that the approved audit for 2025 will likely not reflect a surplus of $435,917.00, given those monies were transferred to reserves prior to year end and as such, will show as an expenditure in the surplus calculation?
QUESTION: With the forthcoming 2025 audit reflecting any surplus/ deficits, based on actual 2025 expenditures, versus monies budgeted of $5,151,702, less the reserve transfer of $435,917.00, is this the same scenario as above, that the transferred amount of $435,917.00 will show as an expenditure in the surplus calculation?

Regarding DEBT:

As of 2024 audit, Arcadia was carrying a debt of $1,910,000 Debt repayment amounts are In 2023 : $325,802 (6% of the 2023 budget)
For 2024 : $481,531(8.9% of the 2024 budget)
For 2025 : $ 381,445 (7.4% of the 2025 budget)
For 2026 $ 305,916 (5.37% of the 2026 budget)
That totals $1,494,694 over 4 years in debt repayment cost

From the 2024 audit We see the following loans:
loan matures on September 20, 2042 - (3.1% interest) - $1,047,000
loan matures on December 12, 2032 - (2.6% interest - $189,000
loan matures on May 14, 2034. - (2.1% interest) - $389.000
loan matures on June 21, 2038. - (5.115% interest) - $285,000

There is no information as to how long the municipality has been paying on these debts. At the rate we are paying now, by 2030, we may very well have spent over $1.5 million conservatively; if not more, on debt repayment.

The Province has continually raised assessment rates on residents over the past many years, meaning increased revenues for the municipality.

Even with the assessment freeze of 2026, council has found an additional $300,000 in monies for the 2026 budget – part of which is the $137,000 surplus of 2024 that should have been returned to residents, and further: council is budgeting in the 2026 budget $645,679.21 (11.9% of the 2026 budget) to be moved into reserves.

To me, this reserve transfer is somewhat akin to a surplus, as it is monies budgeted over and above typical general day to day operating expense, that ultimately aren’t used and transferred to reserves, as was the $435,000 transferred on December 30, 2025.

Imagine if that surplus was returned to residents and there was no transfer to reserves in the 2026 budget; just think how that $780,000 could affect the mill rate?

We elect council to be good stewards of our hard-earned money.

We, as residents, have been subjected to increased demands year after year to contribute more; yet there seems to be little in the way of efforts to alleviate these demands.

We are constantly told that everything is getting more expensive and there simply isn’t money available to reduce the mill rate.

From the December 15, 2025 council meeting minutes:
Questions:

• Councilor Mennier: Was there any consideration for a minor tax break for any of the wards?
• Councilor Black: Consideration was given for a minor tax break for each of the wards. One ward was considered for a larger tax break, but it was unfair if one ward benefits over the other wards. With the delay in fiscal reform and surprise of the assessment freeze, we did not want to lower tax rates this year and then increase again next year if necessary.
All those in favour: Deputy Mayor Sharpe, Councilor Black, Councilor Mennier
All those against: Councilor Gahan-MaGee
Motion was carried.

As noted earlier, despite the assessment freeze for 2026, council found an extra $300,000 in monies for the budget and in regards to 2027, there has been no indications of any assessment freeze.

In my own informal research regarding assessments by the Province for 2026, for the Village of Gagetown, it appears that assessed values have increased 5 – 8% - in - with those increased values likely carrying over to 2027. This does not consider any potential increase in assessed values for 2027.

The blame of an assessment freeze not allowing for a tax reduction seems suspect, given past surpluses and transfers of significant amounts of money from the operating budget of years gone by $217,734 in surpluses for 2023 and 2024 and transfers into reserves of:
$443,155 in 2025 (8.6%) and $645,679.21(11.9%) in 2026

We are living in very tumultuous, uncertain times. Most everyone will attest that everything costs significantly more, with costs skyrocketing every year, including provincial home assessments.

For the residents of Arcadia, living on a below average income; stated at $34,000 per year with many being seniors, living on fixed incomes, who simply cannot afford any more increase in costs- They need relief.

Arcadia is nothing but a name, without all the residents of each of the six wards. It’s these 3800 hard-working residents that are the lifeblood of this community.

I am a firm believer in good stewardship of what you own and what you are responsible for in life.

Good stewardship means complete transparency to your residents, both financially and ideologically, while responding to the needs of every one of those hard-working residents.

QUESTION: Why is council maintaining the tax rate year after year, while the Province continually increases property assessments yearly, for the sole reason to seemingly stockpile millions in reserves for what I am guessing is some contemplated future project?
QUESTION: Why isn’t council doing absolutely everything in their power to alleviate these financial burdens, versus ongoing, increased spending? This would mean careful examinations of all expenditures and thoughtful decisions as to whether those expenditures are truly necessary and for the benefit of not Arcadia, but of its residents.
QUESTION: Why isn’t council returning surpluses to residents in the form of a mill rate reduction? Council confirmed; at least in the 2026 budget deliberations, that there was room for a tax reduction and chose not to reduce taxes. Further, in 2026 they are transferring significant funds of taxpayers monies $645,679.21 to be exact, to reserves which represents 11.9% of the 2026 budget. A 2026 budget reduced by not transferring $645,679.21 could likely mean a tax rate reduction.
QUESTION: Why is council incurring ongoing costs for debt repayment of approximately $1,494,694 since 2023, on a 1.9-million-dollar debt, with costs ongoing until at least 2042, while having and having close to $4 million dollars in reserves with I assume, ongoing transfer of significant amounts into reserves? Would it not be prudent to address the debt before considering future significant expenditures that possible could add to the Debt?
QUESTION: Why is council maintaining a construction trailer, with no washroom, as municipal offices going on 4 years now, costing taxpayers approximately $40,000 per year, the amounts attributed to buildings in the budget; so far over $120,000 since 2023, when 9 minutes down the road is a building perfectly suitable for council’s purposes, as it was, up to mid-2023 when used by the Cambridge Narrows village council.
QUESTION: With a general election 5 months away: Is it prudent to consider hiring new employees? Is it prudent to consider dispatching Requests for Proposals on major projects that could cost in excess of $100,000 if not more? Should these decisions be left for whomever is elected Mayor and Council after the May elections?

As a taxpayer, the money I’ve spoken about in this document is our money.
Your views are important and must be considered by council when they make decisions regarding our money. I urge all residents who have any concerns to voice your concerns to your ward councilor, email the municipal office, attend council meetings where you will have the time to voice your concerns, as well as attending these town hall meetings. With the general election in May, this is your opportunity, as a resident of Arcadia, to register your concerns and elect the people you believe will genuinely listen to your concerns and represent said concerns as a member of council or Mayor.

Only you can affect change. Please get out and vote!