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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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Kerns'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 / KernsUpdated Oct 10, 2026

Your town, in plain words

How Kerns uses the money we share.

A clear, checkable guide to Kerns' budget, taxes and council decisions. A township of about 300 people in Northeastern Ontario. Every figure links back to the public record.

Your typical 2024 property tax bill$2,473on a $180K home89% Town11% SchoolsSee your tax bill explained →
Town spending, 2024$672KAbout $5,208 per household, down 1.0% from 2023.See the money →
Property tax change+3.4%Kerns' own property tax came to $640K in 2024, against $619K in 2023.What changed →

Where it goes

Most of every dollar supports the everyday town.

Explore every service →
Roads and snow$267K · 40%
Running the town office$131K · 20%
Police, fire and safety$108K · 16%
Health$72,392 · 11%
Show all 9 servicesShow fewer
Housing$27,087 · 4%
Parks, arena and library$24,649 · 4%
Water, sewers and garbage$23,269 · 3%
Social services$12,287 · 2%
Planning and business$5,781 · 1%

Day-to-day spending in 2024, from Kerns' report to the Province.

A fair comparisonHow does Kerns compare?Among 23 similar Ontario towns, Kerns' day-to-day spending per household is near the middle.Kerns is here · 9 of 23, lowest to highestCompare Kerns →

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 2 questions
Worth askingOpenness

Why doesn't Kerns post its audited financial statements online?

On October 10, 2026 we looked at the Township's home page, its Government page and its By-Laws page, and at the list of pages on its website. None of them links to audited financial statements, a budget or a council pay statement.

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

2024 tax year · Kerns, 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 Kerns'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 Kerns.

Source

a year in property tax, at 2024 rates

  • Kerns
  • Schools

Kerns council sets only its own share. the Province sets the school rate.

See what your Kerns share pays forHide the breakdown

Roughly what your Kerns share pays for

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

An estimate. It uses the residential tax rate, and splits Kerns'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.

Council meetings are open to the public, and councillors answer to you. How to reach Kerns' council · Council Books is free and paid for by readers: support this work.