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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Dryden'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.
A clear, checkable guide to Dryden's budget, taxes and council decisions. A city in northwestern Ontario with a mayor and six councillors. Every figure links back to the public record.
January 26, 2026date of the auditor's report on the 2024 statements, for a year that ended December 31, 2024
Audited statements are the City's yearly accounts after an outside accountant has checked them. The auditor's report on the 2024 statements is dated January 26, 2026, about 13 months after the year ended on December 31, 2024 (worked out by us). In a note, the City says its long-term loan agreements require audited statements within 120 days of the end of the year, and that it "was in violation of this covenant" for 2024. The 2023 statements were signed on June 26, 2024 by a different auditor, which was also later than 120 days (worked out by us). Both opinions are clean. On October 5, 2026 the City's financial reports page listed no audited 2025 statements, only an unaudited year-end report to council.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$9,700,362spent on contracted services in 2025 (unaudited), against a budget of $8,659,174
Contracted services means work the City pays outside companies and people to do. The City's unaudited year-end report to council shows $9,700,362 spent against a budget of $8,659,174. The report says the increase is due to "increased legal ($305k), recruitment ($115k) and consultant services ($350k)", which add to $770,000 (worked out by us). It also says the costs of some provincial police-related programs are included, and are matched by extra grant money. Separately, it says the Nuclear Waste Management Organization gave an unbudgeted grant of $462k to support costs of negotiations and licensing work.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 2 sources
$3.23Mshort of the City's own target for discretionary reserve funds at the end of 2025 (unaudited)
A reserve is money set aside for later, like a savings account for repairs and emergencies. The City's unaudited year-end report says its reserves policy sets four targets, and at the end of 2025 all of the ones it reports were short. Discretionary reserve funds were $5.14M against a target of about $8.37M. The general operating reserve was $576k against $1.7M. Waterworks was $2.2M against $2.96M, and sanitary and wastewater was $659k against $1.48M. Total reserves and reserve funds were $8,037,513. In 2025 the City also put more into reserves than it planned.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$537,601.12spent in 2025 on the Sandy Beach Rd property, with the reserve draws labelled for the golf course (unaudited)
The City's unaudited 2025 year-end report shows $537,601.12 spent on a property purchase at 400 Sandy Beach Rd, paid from two reserves. Its reserve notes label those two draws "Sandy Beach Golf Course". A further $153,011 was drawn from the Community Well-Being reserve for golf course design (a late invoice from 2024). The 2025 budget summary shows no 2024 amount for a Golf Course line and 97,641 for 2025. The City says golf memberships were up in 2025, and about $55k went to unplanned repairs at the golf course. The City's tenders page now lists an expression of interest to operate the Sandy Beach Golf Club.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 5 sources
$2,660,718capital spending in 2025 (unaudited), against a budget of $7,747,967
Capital work means building or replacing things that last, like roads, pipes and roofs. The City's unaudited year-end report gives capital spending of $2,660,718 against a budget of $7,747,967, and describes it as "lower than expected". It says the City's own tax-funded part was about $1.18M of a planned $2.05M. The report names projects pushed into 2026, among them arena, pool, sewage plant and water projects. The City explains some of this: one arena job could not be done until the ice was out, and another was waiting for funding approval.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$14,558,431provincial offences fines receivable at December 31, 2024, with an allowance for the same amount
Provincial offences are tickets and fines under provincial laws, handled through a court. The audited 2024 statements show $14,558,431 owed in these fines and charges, with an allowance of the same amount, so they count as worth nothing on the books. The year before it was $14,244,609. The City's note says most have been outstanding for over 120 days and that it is difficult for the City to pursue collection. Income from provincial offences was $1,023,522 in 2024, down from $1,329,054 in 2023.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$34,265,826expenses in 2024, against a budget of $27,442,903 that left out amortization
The City explains much of this in Note 21: the budget "did not include amortization expense", which is the yearly wear-and-tear charge on buildings, roads and equipment, and the statements do. Amortization was $4,986,341. Adding it to the budget gives $32,429,244 (worked out by us), which leaves actual spending about $1,836,582, or 5.7 percent, above budget (worked out by us). Taking amortization out of each area's actual spending, three areas are still above their budgets (worked out by us): protection services (police and fire), $9,396,654 actual against $7,829,783 budget; recreation and cultural services, $4,999,287 against $3,657,761; and planning and development, $1,253,321 against $656,178. The statements also show an unbudgeted provincial grant of $1,017,063 from the Ministry of the Solicitor General.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
Where your tax bill goes
A property tax bill in Dryden pays for the city and schools. Only part of it goes to the city, and that part is what Dryden council controls.
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