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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Niagara Falls'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 Niagara Falls' budget, taxes and council decisions. A city on the Niagara River, home to two casinos, with a mayor and eight council members. Every figure links back to the public record.
$58,443,000annual surplus in 2024, against a budget figure of $25,652,000
The City's audited 2024 statements show an annual surplus of $58,443,000, against a budget figure of $25,652,000. The budget column is not a plan to spend less than comes in: the City's own note says the approved operating budget was balanced (a surplus of zero) and the $25,652,000 is that plan restated in the statements' format. Several lines came in far above their budget figure, and three of them had no budget at all.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$239,017,728casino (OLG) hosting money received by the City from April 1, 2013 to August 31, 2025, per the City's own report
The City's budgets have carried casino revenue at $14,000,000 for 2024 and 2025 and $18,000,000 for 2026 (the Mayor's proposed budget), while the audited statements show $18,418,000 in 2024 and $19,809,000 in 2023 actually arrived. The City's own report says it has received $239,017,728 from the casinos since April 1, 2013, that $5,000,000 a year of it reduces the property tax levy (5.5% of the levy in 2025), and that the agreement can end on 30 days' notice from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).
Found by reading the city's own documents · 8 sources
$34,820,000paid by the hydro holding company to the City in 2024 (2023: $671,000)
In 2024 the City's wholly owned electricity holding company, Niagara Falls Hydro Holding Corporation, had net comprehensive income of $18,547,000 (2023: $2,847,000) and the statements show $34,820,000 paid out to the City, against $671,000 the year before. The City's reserves and reserve funds rose from $122,011,000 to $190,495,000 over the same year. The statements say why the company's own debt fell (a sale of shares in a broadband business) but not what the City did with its $34,820,000.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
The audited 2024 statements carry an auditor's report dated March 3, 2026, about 14 months after the year ended (worked out by us). The 2023 statements carry an auditor's report dated September 16, 2025, about 21 months after their year ended (worked out by us). On October 5, 2026 the City's Financial Reporting page listed 2025 trust fund statements but no 2025 consolidated statements. We did not find an explanation in the documents we read.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$9,614,083External Transfers in the 2026 proposed budget, against $4,885,256 in the 2024 budget
The tax supported operating budget grew from $150,434,006 for 2024 to $164,148,925 for 2025 and $179,702,889 for 2026 (the Mayor's proposed budget), about 19.5% over two years (worked out by us). Three lines grew faster: External Transfers ($4,885,256, then $8,200,399, then $9,614,083), Labour and Benefits ($71,258,810, then $77,459,763, then $81,352,563) and the Taxation Capital Levy ($1,291,540, then $2,275,641, then $4,359,642). The budget summaries do not say why.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$15,847,000materials costs in general government in 2024, against a budget figure of $7,861,000
In the audited 2024 statements' breakdown by service, general government (council, clerks, CAO, finance, human resources, legal and information systems) shows materials costs of $15,847,000 against a budget figure of $7,861,000, and $13,690,000 the year before. All services together spent $35,667,000 on materials against $27,188,000 budgeted. The statements note that budget figures are shown on a different basis from the actuals.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 2 sources
At the end of 2024, $33.3M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 13% of everything billed. None of the 10 similar places had a higher share. A year earlier it was $22.7M.
Found automatically from the city's financial reports · 2 sources
$43,679,000known legal claims outstanding at December 31, 2024, with no provision recorded
The audited 2024 statements say the City has known legal claims outstanding of approximately $43,679,000, and that no money has been set aside for them. The number was about the same a year earlier ($43,796,000). The City says insurance and defences are adequate.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 2 sources
$25,461,301hospital reserve fund at December 31, 2024, towards a $30 million commitment
The City has promised $30 million toward the South Niagara hospital, due by about March 2028, and has a reserve fund of $25,461,301 for it. It must also pay to demolish the International Railway Bridge by December 2026 unless an exception applies, and has $4,000,000 (rising with inflation) set aside. The statements give the plan, so this is context rather than a concern.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 2 sources
2024 tax year · Niagara Falls, 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 Niagara Falls'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 Niagara Falls.
An estimate. It uses the residential tax rate, and splits Niagara Falls'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.
How Niagara Falls' share of the bill compares with similar places
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