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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Kincardine'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 Kincardine's budget, taxes and council decisions. A municipality of about 12,000 people on the shore of Lake Huron in Bruce County, with a mayor, a deputy mayor and seven councillors. Every figure links back to the public record.
$11,768,544contract value for treatment plant upgrades, against a budgeted total expense of $6,568,800
The adopted 2026 budget describes project 9500 as upgrades to the water treatment plant "required during plant expansion to accommodate Bruce Power as a customer", with a total expense of $6,568,800 and costs shared between the Municipality (42.47%) and Bruce Power (57.53%). The Municipality's budget page lists a Council motion (# 06/24/26 - 06) that awards the contract at $11,768,544, and amends the budget by $2,762,495 "to fund the cost overage for the Municipality's share", paid $2,079,539 from the Water Reserve Fund and $682,957 "temporarily from the Buy-In Contribution". A second motion (# 06/24/26 - 07) adds a booster pump station and watermain of $4,646,619.12 to the project, "fully funded by Bruce Power". The 2026 capital summary now totals $27,592,468 for 2026, against $17,597,800 in the adopted budget. Contract value is $5,209,549 above the adopted project line of $6,558,995 (worked out by us).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$3.5 millionyearly infrastructure funding gap that remains in 2032 under the 3% plan, per the 2026 budget
An asset management plan estimates what it costs to keep roads, pipes and buildings in good shape. The Municipality's plan finds a gap of $11.2 million a year between what is needed and what is set aside. It says a 6.7% yearly increase to the tax levy would be needed until 2032 to close it. The Municipality has instead used a 3% increase for years, and for 2026 it also takes $230,000 from a contingency reserve to soften the increase. The budget says the 3% path closes the gap only to $3.5 million by 2032, and that full funding is not reached in 20 years. The total municipal levy grew from $17,908,697 in 2022 to $23,663,592 in 2026, which is 32.1% (worked out by us).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$83,322,242in reserves and reserve funds at December 31, 2025
A reserve is money set aside for a future need. At December 31, 2025 the Municipality held $83,322,242 in reserves and reserve funds (up from $79,063,704), of which $70,910,624 is for capital purposes. It also held $52,830,924 in cash, of which $46,526,888 was unrestricted, and $33,977,913 in bonds, mutual funds and investment certificates. The municipal tax levy rose by 8.71%, 7.95% and 8.62% in 2023, 2024 and 2025 and by 3.67% in 2026. The 2026 budget plans to take $8,375,500 out of reserves for named purposes and put $8,752,535 in.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$105,000for a public relations firm in Council's 2026 budget, paid from a reserve
Council's contracted services budget goes from $12,500 in 2025 to $117,500 in 2026. The budget says $105,000 of the increase is "to engage a Public Relations Firm to support communications and government relations for municipal opportunities, including growth readiness, infrastructure funding, and the nuclear strategy". The cost is covered by a $105,000 transfer from a reserve, not by the tax levy. The same page lists $12,500 for the Integrity Commissioner and $67,000 for travel, conferences and training. The 2026 municipal election is on October 26, 2026.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$33,977,913held in bonds, mutual funds and certificates at December 31, 2025
The Municipality sold Bruce Telecom Holdings Inc., which it owned 100%, for $32.65 million, closing March 28, 2024. The 2024 statements show a loss on the sale of $5,382,383 and proceeds of $29,486,544 in the cash flow. In 2025 it received a further $1,044,923. Its investments in bonds, mutual funds and certificates rose from $4,769,213 at the end of 2023 to $27,781,675 at the end of 2024 and $33,977,913 at the end of 2025. Note 4 says these earn rates "ranging from 1.4% to 17.73%". On January 7, 2026 the Municipality agreed to sell its 13.5% of Westario Power Inc., carried at $2,462,224. It received dividends of $107,815 from Westario in 2025, and the 2026 budget leaves the dividend out "for conservatism" and says any 2026 dividend would go to a reserve.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
In 2025, Kincardine collected $1.9M more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 8% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. Only 10 of 50 similar towns raised theirs by more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$5,200,000listed as unfunded in the adopted 2026 capital budget; Council has since endorsed borrowing the full project cost
A capital budget is the plan for building or replacing things that last many years, such as water pipes. The adopted 2026 capital budget totals $17,597,800. Of that, $12,397,800 had named funding sources, and $5,200,000 was listed as "Unfunded - Tiverton Water Supply Project". The project page said a funding source was yet to be identified. The Municipality's budget page now lists a Council motion (# 04/08/26 - 03) that endorses a 50/50 split of the cost between growth (development charges) and existing users (utility rates), and says the Municipality will borrow the full project cost, with repayment shared equally. The Municipality has therefore answered who pays. What it has not published, in the pages we read, is how large the borrowing will be, the interest rate, or what it means for water rates.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$40,537,626expenses in 2025, against a budget of $32,176,469
The audited 2025 statements compare the budget with what happened. The budget planned total expenses of $32,176,469, and actual expenses were $40,537,626. Revenue was higher than planned, at $50,861,514 against $47,771,240. The planned surplus of $15,594,771 became $10,323,888. Environmental services (water, sewer and waste) were budgeted at $6,464,902 and came in at $11,089,435. Transportation (roads and bridges) was budgeted at $6,591,986 and came in at $9,634,098. Much of the gap is probably amortization (the yearly wearing-out cost of buildings, roads and pipes), which was $8,179,284 in 2025. The reconciliation of the budget in the notes lists capital purchases, debt, reserves and consolidated entities, and no amortization line. Spending over budget was $8,361,157 (worked out by us), and amortization is about 97.8% of that (worked out by us).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$1,202,729increase in salaries and benefits in the 2026 budget (8.6%)
Salaries and benefits are the biggest single cost. The 2026 budget has them at $15.191 million against $13.988 million in 2025. The Municipality explains the increase in detail. New positions account for $537,610. Positions moved from contracted services into salaries add $231,000, with no effect on the levy. More overtime, standby pay, sick time, volunteer firefighter hours and day camp hours add $128,000. A wage increase of 1.7% for non-union staff and Council and 1.9% for union staff adds $188,000.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
Kincardine spent about $333 per home on garbage, dump and recycling in 2025. The typical similar town spent $152. Only 2 of 50 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
Where your tax bill goes
A property tax bill in Kincardine pays for three governments. Only part of it goes to the town, and that part is what Kincardine council controls.
Tax bill split: Kincardine 59%, County or region 30%, Schools 11%
$43Mraised in 2025
Kincardine59%
County or region30%
Schools11%
How Kincardine's share of the bill compares with similar towns
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