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Not the full picture. Built from public records, which leave things out.Read by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date. Check the sources, and tell us if you spot a mistake. What this site can't tell you
Read by hand. We read Chamberlain's own documents for this site in October 2026; the Sources page lists which ones. The comparisons with other places still come from the Province's yearly reports.
Ontario / ChamberlainUpdated Oct 13, 2026

Your town, in plain words

How Chamberlain uses the money we share.

A clear, checkable guide to Chamberlain's budget, taxes and council decisions. A small township in northern Ontario, with about 165 households according to its own asset management plan. Every figure links back to the public record.

Property tax raised in 2025$1.2Mall property in Chamberlain79% Town21% SchoolsSee where your tax bill goes →
Town spending, 2025$1.0MAbout $7,030 per household, down 1.2% from 2024.See the money →
Property tax change+14.5%Chamberlain's own property tax came to $904K in 2025, against $789K in 2024.What changed →

Where it goes

Most of every dollar supports the everyday town.

Explore every service →
Roads and snow$466K · 46%
Running the town office$283K · 28%
Police, fire and safety$91,721 · 9%
Health$76,337 · 7%
Show all 9 servicesShow fewer
Housing$28,495 · 3%
Water, sewers and garbage$23,408 · 2%
Planning and business$22,988 · 2%
Social services$15,329 · 2%
Parks, arena and library$12,762 · 1%

Day-to-day spending in 2025, from Chamberlain's report to the Province.

A fair comparisonHow does Chamberlain compare?Among 7 similar Ontario towns, Chamberlain's day-to-day spending per household is on the high side.Chamberlain is here · 5 of 7, lowest to highestCompare Chamberlain →

Questions worth asking

A closer look at the numbers.

Each one is a question, not an accusation. Every one lists ordinary reasons it could be true, and the documents it comes from.

All 8 questions
Worth askingMoney health

How will Chamberlain pay for the roads, bridges and buildings its own plan says need $1,356,790.53 a year, when its whole tax levy is $691,922?

$1,356,790.53a year, the plan's estimate of capital needs, against a tax levy of $691,922 at the time

The Township's May 2022 Asset Management Plan says keeping its roads, bridges, culverts, buildings, signs and equipment in shape needs an average of $1,356,790.53 a year over 20 years. At the time, the whole tax levy (the amount raised from property taxes) was $691,922, of which "about $10,000 annually" went toward capital costs. The plan says its strategy "is fully funded only through a tax increase of 177%" and that the Township "will balance this budget by temporarily missing service delivery levels while waiting for provincial or federal funding opportunities."

Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources

Worth askingMoney health

Does almost all of the capital money in Chamberlain's plan come from the Gas Tax and the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund, not from the Township's own taxes?

$131,058.00total 2022 capital revenue in the plan, of which only $10,000.00 was the Township's own money

The plan's table of capital revenue for 2022 lists Gas Tax $21,058.00, OCIF $100,000.00 and Municipal $10,000.00, for a total of $131,058.00. Gas Tax is federal money passed down to towns, and OCIF is a provincial grant. By our count the Township's own share is about 7.6% of the total (worked out by us). The plan says the strategy assumes these two grants "will continue at their current rates".

Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source

Worth askingOpenness

Where can Chamberlain residents read the Township's budget, audited statements, council list and minutes?

May 2022date of the only document with figures that the Township's website links

The Township's website is one page. It says "Our website is currently under construction." It gives office hours, says council meets in Chamberlain Hall at 6pm on the first Tuesday of each month, and links two things: an asset management plan (May 2022) and a public notice about a planning application. We did not find a budget, audited statements, a list of council members, a council pay statement or minutes anywhere on it.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources

Worth askingRising costs

Why did Chamberlain's property tax go up 15% in 2025?

+15%town property tax, 2024 to 2025

In 2025, Chamberlain collected $115K more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 15% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. None of the 6 similar towns raised theirs by more.

Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources

Show 4 more questionsShow fewer
Worth askingMoney health

Does Chamberlain have enough saved for repairs and emergencies?

$357Kin savings at the end of 2025

Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Chamberlain had $357K saved at the end of 2025, up from $274K in 2019. That is 35% of one year's spending. Only 1 of 6 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.

Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources

Good to knowMoney health

What are Chamberlain's debt and reserves today, compared with the figures its 2022 plan gives for the end of 2020?

$637,287loans owed at December 31, 2020, per the 2022 plan, against reserves of $452,317

The plan says that at December 31, 2020 the Township had loans of $637,287 (for a bridge that matures in December 2039 and a grader that matures in July 2027) and a reserve position of $452,317. It says its Annual Repayment Limit (the most the province lets a township commit to debt payments each year) was $139,782, and that about 11% of the annual levy was going to debt payments. These figures are almost six years old.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source

Good to knowMoney health

Chamberlain went from having money in the bank to owing more than it has. What changed?

−$454Knet financial position, 2025

In 2019, Chamberlain had $131K more in cash and money owed to it than it owed to others. By 2025 it was −$454K. About 27% of that change ($155K) is a new accounting rule from 2023: towns must now record the future cost of closing things like a landfill. That is not new spending or borrowing. Even leaving that out, only 0 of 6 similar towns are in a weaker position.

Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources

Where your tax bill goes

A property tax bill in Chamberlain pays for the town and schools. Only part of it goes to the town, and that part is what Chamberlain council controls.

Tax bill split: Chamberlain 79%, Schools 21%
$1.2Mraised in 2025
  • Chamberlain79%
  • Schools21%

  • Every fact, sourced

    Each number links to the public document it came from. Check it yourself.

  • No accusations

    We ask questions. Every one lists ordinary reasons a number could look odd.

  • Compared fairly

    Towns are only compared with places of a similar size and kind, from the same yearly reports.

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