Your town, in plain words
A clear, checkable guide to Machar's budget, taxes and council decisions. A township in the Almaguin Highlands of Parry Sound District that surrounds the village of South River, with a mayor, a deputy mayor and three councillors. Every figure links back to the public record.
Follow Machar in one tapWhere it goes
Questions worth asking
Each one is a question, not an accusation. Every one lists ordinary reasons it could be true, and the documents it comes from.
+9%town property tax, 2024 to 2025
In 2025, Machar collected $230K more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 9% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. Only 3 of 31 similar towns raised theirs by more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$389per home on council, 2025
Machar spent about $389 per home on council in 2025. The typical similar town spent $110. Only 3 of 31 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
$400,000taken from reserves to keep the 2025 tax rise down
A reserve is money saved in earlier years for later costs. The 2025 letter says the Township used $400,000 from its reserves to hold the tax rise down. The 2026 letter says the 4.83% tax rise is meant to repay reserves after the capital costs of 2024. Neither letter says what the reserves hold or how fast they are being rebuilt.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$260,625the most the provincial grant (NOHFC) will pay toward the wall
The Township built a retaining wall at the Eagle Lake Narrows park to stop shoreline erosion. The 2026 letter says it was finished with an unexpected railing requirement, and that a provincial grant covers 75% of the cost up to $260,625. We did not find the final cost or the Township's share in the documents we could read. A local lake association also asked for an environmental assessment report, and the Township replied that none was commissioned.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
+53%police, fire and safety, 2019 to 2025
Machar spent $429K on police, fire and safety in 2019 and $658K in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$428,563the Township's arena share in 2025; the 2026 share is $188,851
The Township pays part of the cost of the South River Machar Arena, which it runs together with the village of South River. The Mayor's budget letters show the Township's share going from a lower amount to $428,563 in 2025, and then down to $188,851 in 2026. The Township explained both moves itself.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
40%the rise in the Administration budget for 2026, after a 3.3% drop for 2025
The Mayor's letters say the Administration budget was down 3.3% for 2025 and is up 40% for 2026. The 2026 letter does not say what changed or give a dollar amount.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$457,438.64the grand total of the May 2026 payment list; June, July and August are lower
Council approves a list of payments each month. The minutes show only the grand total. The agendas we could read are short outlines with no list attached.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
2025the year of the statements on the September 28, 2026 agenda; we did not find them posted
The financial page of the Township's website lists budgets, a letter on each budget and yearly "Financial Highlights" sheets up to 2024. We did not find the full audited statements posted. The agenda for the September 28, 2026 meeting lists the 2025 consolidated financial statements and the auditors' letters, with the auditing firm invited to speak.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
4 of 5meetings with a closed session, June 1 to September 14, 2026 (worked out by us)
In the five sets of minutes we read (June 1 to September 14, 2026), council went into closed session at four of the five meetings. The minutes give the reason each time (solicitor-client advice, labour relations, a personal matter about an identifiable employee, or a request under the freedom of information law). Votes taken after coming out were recorded in public.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
A property tax bill in Machar pays for the town and schools. Only part of it goes to the town, and that part is what Machar council controls.
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Each number links to the public document it came from. Check it yourself.
We ask questions. Every one lists ordinary reasons a number could look odd.
Towns are only compared with places of a similar size and kind, from the same yearly reports.
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