News welcome as provincial funding was under threat
TEHKUMMAH—Tehkummah Township Mayor John Deforge had the opportunity to provide some positive news concerning its long awaited financial audited statements for 2021 and 2022 from an accounting firm in Sudbury.
“I now have it in writing from MNP (the accounting firm) that we will be receiving our 2021 audited financial statements by Monday (of this week) and the 2022 statements by Friday (of this week), so we are on our way,” stated Mayor Deforge last Friday.
Mayor Deforge told The Expositor earlier that the government had indicated they would be cutting some of the township funding if they did’t receive the completed audited statements.
However, as long as the township receives the completed audited statements, the government will continue all funding normally provided to the township.
Mayor Deforge had told this newspaper previously that MNP had two people in the township office mid-year (in 2023) to finish and complete the returns (for 2021 and 2022). MNP auditors were there for two weeks and the township had expected the statements soon afterward, but it did not take place. He noted as well there is nothing wrong with the township finances, they (MNP) have said there are no discrepancies or problems with the township finances.
He also said the township had already paid a substantial amount to MNP for the audited statements so they could not change accounting companies.
Mayor Deforge said council had put off its council meeting for July (usually the first Tuesday of the month) until July 16 to have everything hopefully in place. At its most recent meeting, council had passed a motion to set its budget this year with a six percent increase.
Council passed a motion directing the deputy-clerk administrator to prepare the necessary documentation in order to have the proposed budget adopted at the next council meeting.
