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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Goderich'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 Goderich's budget, taxes and council decisions. A town of about 7,700 people in Southwestern Ontario. Every figure links back to the public record.
$181,363.00budgeted for Members of Council in 2024, up from $145,286.00 in the 2023 budget
The 2024 budget book gives council its own line, Members of Council. In the 2023 budget, council salaries were $92,268.00. For 2024 the budget is $125,479.00, a rise of $33,211.00. Honoraria (small yearly payments) go from $5,000.00 to $11,000.00, and benefits from $5,068.00 to $8,884.00. The whole department goes from $145,286.00 to $181,363.00. In 2023 the Town actually spent $130,974.90. We did not find the Town's reason for the rise in the budget book.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$183,950.14spent on boundary adjustment in 2023, against a budget of $75,000.00
The budget book has a line called Boundary Adjustment Expense under Corporate Economic Development. It was $89,695.66 in 2022. For 2023 the Town budgeted $75,000.00 and spent $183,950.14. The 2024 budget is $185,000.00. The Town's own note says $85,000.00 of the 2024 amount is for "Central Huron" and $100,000.00 comes from the Water Expansion Reserve Fund. A boundary adjustment is a change to the line between two municipalities. The budget book does not say what is being adjusted, when it ends, or the total expected cost.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$2,081,600.00net cost of Recreation in the 2024 budget, up from $1,497,062.00 in the 2023 budget
In the 2024 budget book, the Recreation department's net cost goes from $1,497,062.00 (2023 budget) to $2,081,600.00, a rise of $584,538.00. Two lines move in opposite directions. "Other Professional Services" was $1,018,194.57 in 2022, $1,312,354.00 in the 2023 budget and $1,078,339.96 in 2023, and falls to $316,061.00 for 2024. Salaries were $26,082.00 in the 2023 budget and $145,439.29 in 2023, and are $529,873.00 for 2024. The Town's notes list a YMCA operating budget in the contract line. They do not say that the work moved from a contract to Town staff, so that is what we are asking.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$146,276.00net cost of the Memorial Arena in the 2024 budget, a new department
The 2024 budget book has a department called Memorial Arena. Its net cost in 2024 is $146,276.00. The columns for 2022 and 2023 are blank (shown as dashes), so it is new to the budget. The Town's notes include $30,000.00 of "Professional fees - Memorial Arena Task Force". The budget book does not say what the arena was before, why it now costs the Town money, or what the task force is to decide.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
2024the newest approved operating budget book we could read online
The Town's budget page says its audited financial statements are available on request at Town Hall. We did not find them posted as a document. The page also lists a 2025 Approved Budget and a 2025 Operating Budget schedule, but the web addresses it gives for those two documents returned a page-not-found response when we tried on October 5, 2026. The 2026 documents posted are labelled draft. The newest approved operating budget book we could read was the 2024 budget, so none of this article's figures describe 2025 or 2026.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$99,262.93spent on other professional services in General Administration in 2023, after $9,859.56 in 2022
The Town explained the 2023 budget of $153,529.64 in its notes: a pay equity and compensation review ($50,000.00), a strategic plan ($40,000.00), document management help ($44,529.64) and smaller items. Actual spending in 2023 was $99,262.93, which is $54,266.71 less than the budget (worked out by us). The 2024 budget returns to $14,000.00. Because the Town has explained the jump, this is for information. The open question is which of the planned items were finished.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$30,315.23total council expenses for 2025, of which the mayor's share is $12,836.72
The Town posts a yearly list of what council and staff spent on conferences and meetings. For 2025 the council total is $30,315.23. The mayor's share is $12,836.72, which is about 42% of it (worked out by us). The deputy mayor's is $5,830.98. The other five members are between $43.25 and $3,152.15. The list shows each event, so residents can see the reasons. The question is only whether the mayor's wider travel is what the Town expects of that office.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
Where your tax bill goes
A property tax bill in Goderich pays for three governments. Only part of it goes to the town, and that part is what Goderich council controls.
Tax bill split: Goderich 57%, County or region 29%, Schools 15%
$19.3Mraised in 2025
Goderich57%
County or region29%
Schools15%
How Goderich's share of the bill compares with similar towns
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