CBRM deputy mayor antsy over delay in audited finances for 2025-26 fiscal year

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeAtlantic CanadaCape BretonNews 'I'm trying to stay positive': CBRM deputy mayor antsy over delay in audited finances for 2025-26 fiscal year 'I always have concerns when it comes to money.' Author of the article: By Ian Nathanson Published Sep 15, 2026 5 minute read From left, municipal clerk Christa Dicks, audit committee chair Glenn Paruch and chief administrative officer Demetri Kachafanas attend last Wednesday's audit committee meeting at city hall in Sydney. "I always have concerns when it comes to money," Paruch said. PHOTO BY IAN NATHANSON /CAPE BRETON POST Article content After months of delays, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s audited financial statements for the 2024-25 fiscal year have been completed, and those for the 2025-26 fiscal year anticipated to be completed in the next couple of months. Article content The good news? Draft documents for the 2024-25 municipal finances reveal that the CBRM earned sizeable surpluses, to the tune of $4.6 million in its operating fund and $2.1 million in its water utility fund, respectively. Article content Article content Article content The not-so-good news? Though documents for the 2025-26 fiscal year have yet to be prepared, the chair of CBRM’s audit committee is feeling less than optimistic about similar outcomes. Article content “Am I happy that there’s a surplus? Yeah. Do I think we’re going to have the same type of good news story when we talk again in November? No, I don’t,” Glenn Paruch, committee chair and deputy mayor, said following last week’s audit committee meeting at city hall in Sydney. Article content Clockwise from top left, municipal clerk Christa Dicks, audit committee chair Glenn Paruch, chief administrative officer Demetri Kachafanas, manager of finance Evan Baillie, chief financial officer Nancy Dove, and Darren Chiasson, partner and business adviser with accounting firm MNP. The meeting revealed updates on audited financial statement for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 fiscal years. PHOTO BY IAN NATHANSON/CAPE BRETON POST Article content ‘MIXED MESSAGING’ Article content Paruch felt that the messaging he’s been taking away on how things stand financially with the CBRM needed more clarity. Article content On the one hand, there were calls for discretionary spending earlier this year — just before council deliberated on the 2026-27 budget — and preparing…