FIR2008 Start-Up Guide


For 2008, the Financial Information Return (FIR) and Municipal Performance Measurement 
Program (MPMP) Criteria will be completed using a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet.  The FIR and 
MPMP Schedules are combined into one spreadsheet, the FIR2008.

In order to download and complete the FIR2008, it is necessary for all users to have the 
Microsoft Excel Program (MS Excel 97 or higher).  The FIR2008 is best viewed when screen 
resolutions have been set to 1024 x 768 pixels.

All Automatic Calculations and Carry-Forward Operations (which carry information forward 
from one schedule to another) are built into the FIR2008.  In addition, data from the previous 
year and also the 2008 Legislated Education Percentages have been pre-loaded for 
municipalities.

A number of CHECKS have been built into the FIR2008 so that potential errors may be 
corrected before the FIR is submitted.  Additional CHECKS that could not be built into the 
spreadsheet will be run at the Ministry once the FIR has been submitted.

Most cells in the FIR have been formatted to accept either whole or decimal numbers 
depending on the schedule.  The user will be prompted by an error message when there is an 
incorrect data type input. 

The following steps may be used as a guide to help users download and complete the FIR2008.

DOWNLOADING
* * * The FIR email address has changed: fir.mah@ontario.ca  * * *

The FIR2008 may be downloaded from the following website:
http://csconramp.mah.gov.on.ca/fir/Welcome.htm

IMPORTANT:	The FIR2008 Excel file available on the FIR website is the ONLY 
acceptable means of submitting the FIR to the Ministry. 

Third party software programs that may closely resemble the 
FIR will NOT be accepted, as it cannot be ensured that this data 
will properly load into the Ministry’s database.  



At the FIR website, users will have a choice of downloading the following files:


FIR2008 (Excel):	   Right-click and “Save Target As”.  Save the Excel file in 
any drive on your computer.  Alternatively, double-click to 
automatically open the file in your web browser.  Once 
opened, save the file in any drive on your computer. The file 
can now be opened using Microsoft Excel and is ready to use.  
This file may not be used in the web browser.

	   A ZIPPED version of the Excel file is also available.  The 
Zipped file will be smaller in size and will have a shorter 
download time; however, it is necessary to have the WinZip 
program in order to UNZIP the file once it has been 
downloaded.

FIR2008 (.PDF):	   This .PDF file may be downloaded and opened using 
Adobe Acrobat to print a blank hard copy of the FIR2008.  It 
is not possible to use this file to enter data into the FIR.


NOTE:	The FIR2008.xls file may be downloaded into any drive on the user’s computer.


FIR and MPMP Instructions, 2008 FIR Content Changes, FIR Tables, and other documents, 
may also be downloaded from the FIR Website.


SET-UP

The FIR2008.xls file that has just been downloaded is the MASTER file.  Users that complete 
the FIR for more than one municipality will need to use this file again, so it is important to 
remember where it has been saved.

Ensure that all other Microsoft Excel Workbooks are CLOSED before opening the FIR2008.xls 
Master file.  The FIR2008.xls MASTER file may now be opened using Microsoft Excel.


IMPORTANT:	The FIR2008.xls MASTER file contains Macros and will prompt the user to 
either Disable or Enable the Macros.  The Ministry ensures that it is safe to 
Enable the Macros in all cases.  If the Macros are NOT enabled, the 
FIR2008.xls MASTER file will NOT function properly.

NOTE:	Macros Security must be set to “medium” in order for the Macros to run.  
In Excel click “Tools”,  "Macro”, “Security” ensure “Medium” is checked.


A CONTROL sheet will appear that must be completed as follows:


1.	Select the required municipality from the drop-down list.

2.	Click “Please ensure the Municipality listed above is correct and then CLICK HERE to 
Begin Completing the FIR2008.”


This will pre-load the data for the selected municipality and open the FIR Schedules.


When the data is pre-loaded, an FIR is created for the selected municipality.  This FIR will 
AUTOMATICALLY be saved on your Drive:\Folder\Subfolder\ as FI08xxxx Municipality 
Name.xls, where FI represents “FIR”, 08 represents the year “2008” and xxxx represents the 
chosen municipality’s 4-digit Assessment Code.

For example, the FIR for the Town of Whitby would be saved as 
Drive:\Folder\Subfolder\FI081809 Whitby T.xls.


NOTE:	Setting up an FIR will NOT affect the MASTER file.

The MASTER file will remain unchanged and will continue to be saved in the drive 
where it was originally downloaded so that it may be used again to set up an FIR 
for another municipality.


To set up an FIR for another municipality, once again open the MASTER file that was 
originally downloaded and repeat the steps above.  Each FIR that is set up will be saved in the 
Drive:\Folder\Subfolder\  with the specified municipality’s 4-digit Assessment Code.


NOTE:	A user may choose to move the FI08xxxx.xls file from one drive to another drive 
on their computer if they wish, however, the file should remain named as 
FI08xxxx.xls so that the Ministry may properly identify the FIR when it is submitted.

FIR FEATURES

The FIR2008 is a Microsoft Excel file and therefore has the same format and features as any 
other Excel file.  Each FIR and MPMP Schedule in the Workbook is on a different worksheet, 
and is identified by labelled “tabs” at the bottom of the screen.  To move to the next FIR or 
MPMP Schedule, click on any of the labelled tabs that appear at the bottom of the Workbook.


NOTE:	The FIR2008 has been pre-formatted to ensure that every user can complete the 
FIR and MPMP Schedules with efficiency and accuracy.

Please DO NOT change the settings that have been built into the FIR2008, as 
it cannot be guaranteed that the FIR file will continue to function properly.
	
?	Do Not Cut and Paste, or similarly Drag and Drop.  This will greatly affect 
many or all of the background formulas and links that have been incorporated 
into the FIR2008.  If you have cut and pasted any information into the FIR file, 
unfortunately the only way to correct the file is to download a fresh copy and 
start over. 

?	It is also recommended that you DO NOT Copy and Paste.  However, the 
Copy and Paste feature may be used with caution providing that information is 
only copied and pasted from an open workbook within the same Excel 
application that is currently running the FIR2008.  Information that is copied 
and pasted from one Excel application to another is treated as a cut and paste 
and will damage the FIR file.  Also, DO NOT Paste into a cell that contains a 
drop-down list, otherwise the list and CHECKS will no longer function.

?	Do Not set up the FIR2008 file as a “Shared Workbook”.  Setting up the file 
as a shared workbook will not allow the macros to function properly.

All of the schedules have also been pre-formatted for printing so that one Worksheet (ie: a 
specific FIR or MPMP Schedule), or the entire Workbook (ie: all FIR and/or MPMP Schedules) 
may be printed.

To print the active schedule/sheet click on “File”, then “Print”.

To print a number of different schedules/sheets hold down the CTRL Key on your keyboard and 
click on the appropriate tabs at the bottom of the workbook.  The tabs that have been selected 
will appear highlighted.  Now click on “File”, then “Print”.  All sheets that have been highlighted 
will print.


IMPORTANT:	Highlighting tabs is called “grouping”.  Once sheets have been 
grouped/highlighted it is necessary to “ungroup” them by clicking on any 
other tab that has not been highlighted.  If sheets are not ungrouped, 
changing information on one sheet will change all other highlighted sheets.


NOTE:	Every user’s printer will have different default settings that may affect the way the 
FIR2008 Schedules print.  If some schedules are not printing properly it will be 
necessary to adjust the print setting on each of those schedules by following the 
steps below:

1.	Open the schedule that is not printing properly by clicking on the tab at the 
bottom of the workbook.

2.	Click on “File” and then “Page Setup”.

3.	The default under “Scaling” is set to “Adjust to 100% of normal size”.  Decrease 
this to 95% and try printing the schedule again.

4.	If the schedule still does not print properly, adjust the setting to less than 95% 
of normal size.


To maneuver within each FIR or MPMP Schedule, the TAB key may be used to move from one 
cell to another.  Some cells will be protected and shaded yellow, meaning that no data may be 
entered.  Pressing the TAB key will skip over these cells.  This is generally the case for cells 
that perform an Automatic Calculation or a Carry-Forward Operation.

To delete data from an unprotected cell use the DELETE key on your keyboard.

Drop-down LISTS are present on some cells within certain schedules.  When the cursor is 
placed in a cell that contains a drop-down LIST, an arrow will appear to the right of the cell 
which, when clicked on, will activate the LIST.  One of the items on the LIST may then be 
selected.   DO NOT Paste information into a cell that contains a drop-down list, otherwise the list 
will no longer function.

COMPLETING FIR

Ensure that all other Microsoft Excel Workbooks are CLOSED before opening the FI08xxxx.xls 
file.  Using Microsoft Excel, open the municipality’s FIR2008 that is to be completed.


IMPORTANT:	The FI08xxxx.xls file contains Macros and will prompt the user to either 
Disable or Enable the Macros.  The Ministry will ensure that it is safe to 
Enable the Macros in all cases.  If the Macros are NOT Enabled, the 
FI08xxxx.xls file will NOT function properly.

NOTE:	Macros Security must be set to “medium” in order for the Macros to run.  
In Excel click “Tools”, “Macro”, “Security” ensure “Medium” is checked.


Some data for the specified municipality will have been pre-loaded when the FIR2008 was set-
up.  Please verify that all pre-loaded data is correct before beginning to complete the FIR2008.  
For municipalities that have not submitted their 2007 FIR, no pre-loaded data will be loaded into 
their FIR2008.  All pre-loaded data can be overwritten, however, an explanation of manual 
changes must be provided on the CHECKS sheet.



NOTE:	For municipalities which:

1.	Have Multiple Sets of General Purpose Tax Rates (ie: on Schedule 22A and 
24A)

2.	Contain Multiple Education Percentages for each School Board (ie: “multiple” 
will be displayed on Schedule 26, line 9010 instead of a percentage)


These municipalities will require a custom FIR2008 supplied to them by the Ministry.  These 
users should e-mail FIR.mah@ontario.ca to request such a file and a FIR2008 with new 
specifications will be e-mailed back to the user.

Before completing the FIR2008, the user must enter their e-mail address on Schedule 02, line 
0028.  The e-mail address entered on this schedule will be used by the Ministry to send reports 
and confirmation e-mail back to the user.

Users may now begin entering data into the FIR.  As data is being entered, Automatic 
Calculations and Carry-Forward Operations in addition to all CHECKS that have been built into 
the FIR2008 will automatically be executed.


IMPORTANT:	Continue to SAVE the FIR2008 periodically to ensure no data is lost.

Cells on the Taxation Schedules are formatted in such a way that when 
entering a number which is a decimal (ie: tax rates), the leading zero must 
always be typed in order for the number to appear correctly.

For example:  0.265849% CANNOT be typed in as .265849, the leading 
zero should be entered.


COMPLETING MPMP

Once the FIR Schedules have been completed, the SAME FI08xxxx.xls file will be used to 
complete the MPMP Schedules.  It is therefore important to remember where this file has been 
saved.  Before opening the FI08xxxx.xls file, ensure that all other Microsoft Excel Workbooks 
are CLOSED.


IMPORTANT:	The FI08xxxx.xls file contains Macros and will prompt the user to either 
Disable or Enable the Macros.  The Ministry is ensuring that it is safe to 
Enable the Macros in all cases.  If the macros are NOT Enabled, the 
FI08xxxx.xls file will NOT function properly.

NOTE:	Macros Security must be set to “medium” in order for the Macros to run.  
In Excel click “Tools”, “Macro”, “Security” ensure “Medium” is checked.
As a default, the MPMP Schedules will be hidden when the FIR is set-up.  To begin completing 
the MPMP Schedules:

1.	Open the FI08xxxx.xls file that was used to complete the FIR Schedules.

2.	Go to the Worksheet labelled “MPMP”.

3.	Press the button “Click to Unhide the MPMP Schedules”.

4.	The MPMP Schedules will be unhidden and the entire FIR2008 (Schedules 02 through 
95) will be displayed.  The first MPMP Schedule will appear after the last Schedule 80 
“tab” of the FIR.

5.	Click on one of the MPMP “tabs” to begin entering MPMP information.



NOTE:	Data is automatically carried forward into the MPMP Schedules as the FIR is being 
completed.


IMPORTANT:	The FIR2008 has been developed to allow users a choice between 
submitting FIR Schedules ONLY or submitting BOTH FIR and MPMP 
Schedules TOGETHER.  When the MPMP Schedules are unhidden, 
BOTH FIR and MPMP Schedules will be submitted when the FI08xxxx.xls 
file is e-mailed to the Ministry.  Please refer to the section on “Submitting” 
for more information.

CHECKS

A number of CHECKS have been built into the FIR2008 so that potential errors may be 
corrected before the FIR is submitted.  As the FIR is being completed, these CHECKS will 
automatically occur.

A worksheet labelled CHECK has been incorporated into the FIR.  To view or print the CHECK 
sheet at any time, click on the CHECK “tab” at the bottom of the workbook.

There are two buttons at the top of the CHECKS sheet:

1.	Click to show ALL CHECKS:  Shows all CHECKS built into the FIR2008.  This 
refreshes automatically.

2.	Click to show/update TRIGGERED CHECKS:  Shows only those CHECKS which have 
been triggered.  User must click again to update triggered/corrected CHECKS.


IMPORTANT:  When viewing CHECKS that have been triggered, it is necessary to click “Click 
to show/update TRIGGERED CHECKS” periodically.  This will update the CHECKS sheet with 
CHECKS that have been subsequently triggered/corrected as the user continues to complete 
the FIR.  Alternately, the user may choose to show ALL CHECKS, in which case, no refreshing 
is necessary.


There are three categories of CHECKS:

1.	Critical:  All CHECKS listed as CRITICAL must be corrected before the FIR is 
submitted.

2.	Verification:  CHECKS listed as VERIFY indicate that there is a potential error present.  
The user should verify the data that has been entered and make corrections if necessary.

3.	OK:  No CHECK has been triggered.


CHECKS identifying potential errors should be reviewed by the user and corrected if necessary.  

NOTE:  In cases where Pre-Loaded Data has been changed, the user is required to enter an 
explanation in the column provided on the CHECKS sheet.

Additional CHECKS that could not be built into the spreadsheet will be run at the Ministry once 
the FIR has been submitted.  Should additional corrections need to be made, the municipality 
will be contacted.  


SUBMITTING

The FIR2008 has been developed in such a way as to allow users a choice between submitting 
the FIR Schedules ONLY, or submitting BOTH FIR and MPMP Schedules TOGETHER.  If a 
user submits the FIR Schedules ONLY, they should remember to complete the MPMP 
Schedules using the SAME FI08xxxx.xls file that was used to complete the FIR Schedules.

There are two options for submitting the FIR2008:

1.	Submit FIR Schedules ONLY (Schedules 02 to 80) of the FIR.

2.	Submit BOTH FIR and MPMP Schedules (Schedules 02 to 95) of the FIR.


To submit the FIR Schedules ONLY:

1.	Ensure that the MPMP Worksheets (Schedules 90 to 95) are HIDDEN.  If they are not, go 
to the worksheet labelled “MPMP” and click on the button “Click to Hide MPMP 
Schedules”.  This will ensure that FIR Schedules ONLY are submitted.

2.	Once the FIR data has been entered and CHECKS have been reviewed and corrected if 
necessary, SAVE the file.

3.	Attach the file to an e-mail addressed to fir.mah@ontario.ca

4.	In cases where the user’s Internet Service Provider cannot send a file of this size (5MB), 
ZIP the file using the WinZip program first before sending it.


IMPORTANT:	Once a user submits the FIR ONLY, they should remember to complete the 
MPMP Schedules using the SAME FI08xxxx.xls file. 


NOTE:	Re-submission of FIR Schedules will OVERWRITE all previously submitted FIR 
data.


To submit BOTH FIR and MPMP Schedules:

1.	Ensure BOTH FIR and MPMP Schedules are UNHIDDEN.  Remember to view and 
complete the MPMP Schedules go to the worksheet labelled “MPMP” and press the 
button “Click to Unhide the MPMP Schedules”.

2.	Once all data has been entered and CHECKS have been reviewed and corrected if 
necessary, SAVE the file. 

3.	Attach the file to an e-mail addressed to fir.mah@ontario.ca

4.	In cases where the user’s Internet Service Provider cannot send a file of this size (5MB), 
ZIP the file using the WinZip program first before sending it. 


IMPORTANT:	When the MPMP Schedules have been completed, the FI08xxxx.xls file will 
be e-mailed to the Ministry and BOTH the FIR and MPMP Schedules will 
be submitted.

NOTE:	All previously submitted FIR and/or MPMP data will be OVERWRITTEN.


Once received by the Ministry, the FIR and/or MPMP Schedules will be loaded into the Ministry 
Database.  Additional CHECKS that could not be built into the spreadsheet will be run at the 
Ministry once the FIR has been submitted.  Should additional corrections need to be made, the 
municipality will be contacted.

If the FIR and/or MPMP Schedules require corrections, repeat the steps above to re-submit the 
FIR and/or MPMP Schedules to the Ministry.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Further information is available at the FIR Website:

http://csconramp.mah.gov.on.ca/fir/Welcome.htm


Information available includes:

?	FIR Instructions
?	MPMP Instructions
?	FIR Tables (includes a list of Pre-Loaded Data, Carry-Forward Operations, 
Taxable and PIL RTC/RTQ Combinations, Levy Area Codes etc.)
?	FIR Content Changes
?	Letters sent to Municipal Treasurers/Auditors
?	Links to Adobe and WinZip

In addition, users may find the e-laws website useful for referencing all legislation and 
regulation:

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca



	


2