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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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Cockburn Island'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 / Cockburn IslandUpdated Oct 7, 2026

Your town, in plain words

How Cockburn Island uses the money we share.

A clear, checkable guide to Cockburn Island's budget, taxes and council decisions. A township of about 0 people in Northeastern Ontario. Every figure links back to the public record.

Your typical 2024 property tax bill$139Kon a $10.7M home88% Town12% SchoolsSee your tax bill explained →
Town spending, 2024$389KAbout $389K per household, up 77.5% from 2023.See the money →
Property tax change−9.6%Cockburn Island's own property tax came to $126K in 2024, against $139K in 2023.What changed →

Where it goes

Most of every dollar supports the everyday town.

Explore every service →
Running the town office$164K · 42%
Roads and snow$148K · 38%
Parks, arena and library$20,907 · 5%
Police, fire and safety$19,241 · 5%
Show all 9 servicesShow fewer
Health$16,442 · 4%
Social services$8,591 · 2%
Water, sewers and garbage$5,800 · 1%
Housing$5,037 · 1%
Planning and business$1,117 · 0%

Day-to-day spending in 2024, from Cockburn Island's report to the Province.

Where it comes fromWho pays for Cockburn Island's services?Grants for specific projects30%Money from Ontario (no strings)26%Property taxes24%Other16%Smaller sources3%$521K came in during 2024.See the money →

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 9 questions
Worth askingMoney health

Why did the auditor give a qualified opinion on the 2024 statements, more than a year after the year ended?

Qualifiedopinion on the 2024 statements, signed February 27, 2026

The Township's auditor, BDO Canada LLP, said the 2024 statements are fair except for one thing it could not measure. The Township has not yet worked out what it will cost to retire its old assets (a rule called an asset retirement obligation, or ARO). The auditor's report is dated February 27, 2026, about 14 months after the year ended on December 31, 2024 (worked out by us). Council accepted the statements on March 11, 2026.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 6 sources

Worth askingMoney health

Why did the estimated cost of closing the landfill drop to $95,126, and is $10,000 set aside enough?

$95,126estimated present value of landfill closure and care, 2024 statements (2023: $240,830)

The 2024 statements say the present value of closing and caring for the landfill is $95,126. The year before, the same note said $240,830. The Township has recorded $76,200 of it so far. Council has since started saving, with a $10,000 term deposit, and has set a goal of at least $150,000 within 15 years. The note also says the landfill is expected to be full in 13 years.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 7 sources

Worth askingSpending level

What will the main dock repairs cost in total, when the 2026 budget set aside $20,000?

$60,000.00estimated cost of soil testing, the first step in the dock repairs (2026 budget line: $20,000)

At the July 8, 2026 meeting, council heard that the first step for the dock repairs, soil testing with boreholes, is estimated at $60,000.00. About $10,000 had already been spent on engineering fees, and another $20,000 to $25,000 would be needed in the next 6 to 8 months. Council then authorized a member to proceed with the repairs and soil sampling. The 2026 budget has $20,000 for dock rehabilitation.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources

Show 5 more questionsShow fewer
Good to knowSpending level

Were other machines or quotes compared before council spent about $130,756 on a used boom mower?

$130,756.10total approved on February 4, 2026 for a used boom mower, including parts and tax

On February 4, 2026, council approved buying a used 120 HP boom mower for $105,000 plus about $10,700 of parts, a total of $130,756.10 with tax, and a used dump trailer for $22,600. Both were to be paid from a $150,000 term deposit. The minutes we read do not record other quotes or a call for tenders for either machine. The two purchases together are $153,356.10, which is $3,356.10 more than the $150,000 deposit (worked out by us from $130,756.10, $22,600 and $150,000). The 2026 budget shows $130,000 for the mower and we did not find a line for a trailer.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources

Good to knowMoney health

How much of the Township's own income depends on one voluntary payment from a conservation charity?

$40,000yearly payment agreed with NCC in 2026 dollars (2026 budget line: 38,000)

The 2026 budget counts on 38,000 from the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), next to a general tax levy of 106,398 on homes and 1,002 on managed forest. We worked out that the NCC line is about 26 percent of those three lines together. The Township's minutes call part of this payment voluntary. Separately, the 2024 statements say about 46 percent of total taxation came from two ratepayers. We do not say who they are, and we do not link the two facts.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources

Good to knowOpenness

Are the Township's key documents posted and easy to find?

The Township posts its minutes, by-laws and the 2024 audited statements. We did not find the 2025 audited statements, the earlier-year budgets, a council pay statement, agendas, or a conflict-of-interest registry on its site. The link for the October 8, 2025 minutes returned 'Not Found' when we opened it on October 7, 2026. The 2025 asset management plan is not posted; only a 2018 one is.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources

Good to knowHow decisions are made

Were all building permit fees owed since 2019 collected, and are the buildings assessed?

In May 2025 council was told there were only five closed building permits since 2019. It then asked staff to find out which permits since 2019 had been paid for and to work with MPAC (the province's assessment agency) so the properties' assessments are updated. By September 2025 the minutes say all but one fee had been collected. In August 2026 council agreed to send letters asking for proof of a permit when none is on file.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources

Good to knowMoney health

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

−$110Knet financial position, 2024

In 2019, Cockburn Island had $116K more in cash and money owed to it than it owed to others. By 2024 it was −$110K. About 34% of that change ($76,200) 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 0 similar towns are in a weaker position.

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

2024 tax year · Cockburn Island, Ontario

Your tax bill, worked out.

Enter your home's assessed value to see roughly what you pay in property tax each year, who gets it, and what Cockburn Island's share pays for.

Ontario still uses property values from January 1, 2016 for tax, so your assessed value is probably well below what your home would sell for today.

It is on your property assessment notice from MPAC, and on your tax bill. We filled in the typical value in Cockburn Island.

Source

a year in property tax, at 2024 rates

  • Cockburn Island
  • Schools

Cockburn Island council sets only its own share. the Province sets the school rate.

See what your Cockburn Island share pays forHide the breakdown

Roughly what your Cockburn Island share pays for

Source
  • Running the town office
  • Roads and snow
  • Parks, arena and library
  • Police, fire and safety
  • Health
  • Social services
  • Water, sewers and garbage
  • Housing
  • Planning and business

An estimate. It uses the residential tax rate, and splits Cockburn Island's share by what each service cost in 2024 after its own fees and grants (for example, water bills pay for much of a water system). Real bills also depend on your property class, local charges and any rebates.

  • 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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