Questions · 9 so far
We read Owen Sound's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 51 similar Ontario places. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
$123per home on council, 2024
Owen Sound spent about $123 per home on council in 2024. The typical similar city spent $46. Only 4 of 51 similar places spent more.
Found automatically from the city's financial reports · 1 source
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
December 23, 2024date the auditor signed the report on the year ended December 31, 2023
An audit is a check of the City's yearly accounts by an outside accounting firm. The auditor's report is signed when the check is finished. The 2023 report was signed on December 23, 2024. The 2024 statements the City posts print the report date as "TBD, 2025", which means "to be decided". When we read the City's page on October 5, 2026, the 2024 statements were the newest posted, and there were none for 2025.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
5.5%the 2026 limit set by the Mayor, against first requests of 8.39% (police) and 10.97% (library)
Since May 2025 the Mayor of Owen Sound has had "strong mayor" powers over the budget. In a written direction dated December 1, 2025, Mayor Ian Boddy said staff's starting point was a 7.56 per cent rate increase for City operations, 8.39 per cent for the police service and 10.97 per cent for the library. He directed that police and library increases be no more than 5.5 per cent. The budget he tabled on December 22, 2025 raises the municipal levy by 5.20%. The City publishes the direction and says what it was based on. Worked out by us, the amount to be raised from taxation grew by $3,341,873, or 9.6%, between the 2024 and 2026 budgets.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 5 sources
50.6%of own-source revenues owed as debt at the end of 2024 (BMA Municipal Study 2025)
Debt is money the City borrowed and has still to repay. At the end of 2024 the City owed $30,512,141 on debentures, which are long-term loans repaid in set payments. A consultant's study of Ontario municipalities puts that debt at 50.6% of Owen Sound's own revenues, in the top few of the list it prints (the highest it prints is 55.4%). The City says the cost of repaying debt is now at a "low risk" level. The 2026 budget book names the next planned loan: the fire hall renovation.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$8,536,922of the planned 2024 capital purchases not made (worked out by us: $27,183,641 budget less $18,646,719 actual)
Capital spending is money spent on things that last: roads, pipes, buildings and equipment. The 2024 budget planned to buy $27,183,641 of these assets. The audited statements show $18,646,719 was bought. That leaves $8,536,922 not spent in 2024, worked out by us. The statements do not say which projects were not finished.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$1,838,160investment income earned in 2024, against a budgeted $354,000
The City earns interest on its bank balance and investments. In 2024 the budget for "investment income" was $354,000. The City actually earned $1,838,160, which is $1,484,160 more (worked out by us). In 2023 it earned $1,502,198. For 2026 the budget line for general interest income is $100,000, down from $200,000 in 2024.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$3,000,000claim against the City named in the 2024 statements
A contingency is money the City might have to pay, depending on how something turns out. The 2024 statements say the City "has been named in a claim for $3,000,000" and that its liability "is not determinable at this time". The 2023 statements mention claims being handled through the City's insurer but we did not find this claim there. The statements do not say what the claim is about or whether insurance would pay.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
7 cents vs about 12schools' share of each tax dollar in the 2026 guide, against 2024 audited statements (worked out by us)
The City's 2026 budget guide says that of each dollar of tax collected, Grey County gets 20 cents, the Province (for schools) gets 7 cents and the City keeps 73 cents. The 2024 audited statements show how much was collected for each. Worked out by us, the schools' share was about 11.9%, the County's about 18.7% and the City's about 69.5%. The guide may be using a different year or a different basis, and it does not say.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 2 sources
$142per home on snow ploughing, 2024
Owen Sound spent about $142 per home on snow ploughing in 2024. The typical similar city spent $63. Only 6 of 51 similar places spent more.
Found automatically from the city's financial reports · 1 source
$123per home on council, 2024
Owen Sound spent about $123 per home on council in 2024. The typical similar city spent $46. Only 4 of 51 similar places spent more.
Spending more than neighbours is not wrong by itself. It might buy better service. But it is the first place to look for costs that could be lower, such as contracts that were not competitively bid.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Owen Sound? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Council per home: Owen Sound $123; typical similar city $46; ranked 5th highest of 52.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 51 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy
December 23, 2024date the auditor signed the report on the year ended December 31, 2023
An audit is a check of the City's yearly accounts by an outside accounting firm. The auditor's report is signed when the check is finished. The 2023 report was signed on December 23, 2024. The 2024 statements the City posts print the report date as "TBD, 2025", which means "to be decided". When we read the City's page on October 5, 2026, the 2024 statements were the newest posted, and there were none for 2025.
Council and residents use the audited statements to see whether the City stayed within its means. The later they arrive, the later any problem is found. A report with no date also leaves residents unable to tell whether the posted copy is the final signed one.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Owen Sound? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Signed 2024 auditor's report and the date Council received it, with wording you can copy.
Independent Auditor's Report on the 2023 statements, signed "December 23, 2024", for the year ended December 31, 2023.
The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound, Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2023 · Independent Auditor's Report, signature block, PDF page 7
Independent Auditor's Report on the 2024 statements: the signature block reads "Owen Sound, Ontario" and "TBD, 2025". The opinion says the statements "present fairly, in all material respects" the City's position. The same report says the 2023 statements "were audited by another auditor who expressed an unmodified opinion on those statements on December 23, 2024". The trust funds report in the same file is also undated ("TBD").
The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound, Financial Information, year ended December 31, 2024 (auditor MNP LLP) · Independent Auditor's Report, PDF pages 5 and 6; trust funds auditor's report, PDF page 36
The City's news post of January 8, 2025 announced that it "has received a clean audit opinion for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023" and that the 2023 statements were now on its website.
City of Owen Sound news post, "Owen Sound Earns Clean Audit Opinion, Showcasing Commitment to Financial Transparency" (January 8, 2025) · news post text
The financial statements page lists the years 2024, 2023, 2022 and so on back to 2012. No 2025 statements are listed. We read the page on October 5, 2026.
City of Owen Sound, Financial Statements page · list of years under "View previous years' financial statements"
5.5%the 2026 limit set by the Mayor, against first requests of 8.39% (police) and 10.97% (library)
Since May 2025 the Mayor of Owen Sound has had "strong mayor" powers over the budget. In a written direction dated December 1, 2025, Mayor Ian Boddy said staff's starting point was a 7.56 per cent rate increase for City operations, 8.39 per cent for the police service and 10.97 per cent for the library. He directed that police and library increases be no more than 5.5 per cent. The budget he tabled on December 22, 2025 raises the municipal levy by 5.20%. The City publishes the direction and says what it was based on. Worked out by us, the amount to be raised from taxation grew by $3,341,873, or 9.6%, between the 2024 and 2026 budgets.
A tax increase can be cut by doing less, by putting costs off to later years, or by finding savings. Which one it was decides whether residents face a catch-up bill in 2027 or later. The police and library each have their own boards, so residents may want to know whether those boards accepted the limit.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Owen Sound? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Direction MDI-2025-001, December 1, 2025: staff to bring forward a budget "lower than the initially requested 8.5 per cent", an Owen Sound Police Service increase "no greater than 5.5 per cent" and a library increase "no greater than 5.5 per cent". It says "The starting point for budget discussions was a 7.56 per cent rate increase for City Operations, 8.39 per cent for Owen Sound Police Services and 10.97 for Owen Sound North Grey Union Public Library", and that "only one member supporting the original 8.5 per cent proposal".
City of Owen Sound, Mayoral Direction MDI-2025-001, 2026 Operating Budget · Decision items 1 to 4 and the paragraphs that follow, PDF pages 1 and 2
Key Facts: "Base budget increase of 3.2%", "Total Budget increase of 5.5%" applied to the City, police and library boards "via a mayoral directive", "Municipal Levy increase 5.20%", "Estimated total tax bill increase of 4.7% including County and Education Levies", "15% reduction in professional development across all divisions", and "a reduction of one-half full time equivalent" in combined 2025 and 2026 staffing.
City of Owen Sound, 2026 Mayor's Budget (tabled December 22, 2025) · 2026 Mayor's Budget Key Facts, PDF page 3
Other Boards and Levies: library "Total Municipal Levy included in the Owen Sound Budget: $1,200,000 5.5% increase"; police "Total amount raised to fund the budget of the Police Board included in the Owen Sound Budget: $9,500,000 5.5% increase".
City of Owen Sound, 2026 Mayor's Budget (tabled December 22, 2025) · Other Boards and Levies, PDF page 66
The tally sheet's "Difference to Raise From Taxation" runs 34,898,152 (2024 budget), 36,247,585 (2025 budget) and 38,240,025 (2026 draft budget).
City of Owen Sound, 2026 Mayor's Budget (tabled December 22, 2025) · 2026 Draft Budget Tally Sheet, PDF page 5
The City's news post of December 22, 2025 says "the City has not seen growth in the taxpayer base this fiscal year" and "Ultimately, this means a total budget increase of 5.5% for 2026." It lists a special council meeting on January 16, 2026 and final amendments, with the budget deemed adopted, on February 9, 2026.
City of Owen Sound news post, "Mayor Tables 2026 Budget" (December 22, 2025) · news post text and "Key Dates in the 2026 Budget Process"
50.6%of own-source revenues owed as debt at the end of 2024 (BMA Municipal Study 2025)
Debt is money the City borrowed and has still to repay. At the end of 2024 the City owed $30,512,141 on debentures, which are long-term loans repaid in set payments. A consultant's study of Ontario municipalities puts that debt at 50.6% of Owen Sound's own revenues, in the top few of the list it prints (the highest it prints is 55.4%). The City says the cost of repaying debt is now at a "low risk" level. The 2026 budget book names the next planned loan: the fire hall renovation.
Every dollar of debt payment is a dollar not spent on services or roads. A city with a large debt has less room if costs rise or grants shrink. The City's low-risk rating is about the yearly payment, and the consultant's figure is about the total owed, so both can be true at once.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Owen Sound? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 6, Long-Term Liabilities: "Debentures payable, 1.98% to 4.16%" of $31,902,687 less debentures issued internally of $1,390,546, giving $30,512,141 (2023: $32,541,369). Principal due in 2025 $2,099,739, in 2026 $2,172,833, and "Thereafter" $19,255,186. "Interest paid during the year on external long-term debt was $1,046,112."
The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound, Financial Information, year ended December 31, 2024 (auditor MNP LLP) · Note 6, Long-Term Liabilities, PDF page 17
"2024 Debt Outstanding as a % of Own Source Revenues": Owen Sound 50.6%. The highest figure printed on the page is Minto at 55.4%; Greater Sudbury is 52.8% and Brant County 51.9%.
BMA Municipal Study 2025 · Financial Indicators, "2024 Debt Outstanding as a % of Own Source Revenues", PDF page 119 (printed page 104)
General Debentures: debt payments of 1,535,812 a year for the 10th Street Bridge, Harrison Park electrical upgrade, City Hall renovation and Police Station renovation. "Fire Hall Renovation is the next anticipated debenture."
City of Owen Sound, 2026 Mayor's Budget (tabled December 22, 2025) · General Debentures, PDF page 9
The City's news post of January 21, 2026 says "Debt servicing costs fell to 4.0% of total revenues in 2024, the first time in over a decade that Owen Sound has moved out of the Province's moderate-risk range into low risk", and that its reserves "have grown to $42.8 million".
City of Owen Sound news post, "Provincial Financial Review Shows Strong Progress for Owen Sound" (January 21, 2026) · "Debt Management Milestone Reached" and "Stronger Financial Position"
$8,536,922of the planned 2024 capital purchases not made (worked out by us: $27,183,641 budget less $18,646,719 actual)
Capital spending is money spent on things that last: roads, pipes, buildings and equipment. The 2024 budget planned to buy $27,183,641 of these assets. The audited statements show $18,646,719 was bought. That leaves $8,536,922 not spent in 2024, worked out by us. The statements do not say which projects were not finished.
When capital work slips, the money for it is held back in reserves or deferred grants and the work costs more later. It also makes a year's surplus look larger than the City's everyday finances really are. The City's 2024 annual surplus was $15,790,995, but the part left for everyday spending was $420,407.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Owen Sound? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: List of 2024 capital projects not completed, with wording you can copy.
Statement of Changes in Net Debt, 2024: "Acquisition of tangible capital assets" budget (27,183,641), actual (18,646,719); 2023 actual (8,467,923).
The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound, Financial Information, year ended December 31, 2024 (auditor MNP LLP) · Consolidated Statement of Changes in Net Debt, PDF page 9 (printed page 6)
Note 7: "The net book value of tangible capital assets not being amortized because they are under construction is $4,885,710 (2023 - $2,928,570)." Note 8: unfinanced capital assets of (11,399,751), and "the City's operating surplus of $420,407 was transferred to the tax stabilization reserve". Note 10: annual surplus 18,167,573 budget and 15,790,995 actual.
The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound, Financial Information, year ended December 31, 2024 (auditor MNP LLP) · Notes 7 and 8, PDF page 20; Note 10, Budgets, PDF page 21
Note 19, Contractual Commitments: the City "has awarded contract totalling $3,400,000 related to a Water Meter Replacement Program. At December 31, 2024, the full balance remains to be spent on the contract." The Schedule of Deferred Revenue shows the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund falling from 6,373,517 to 2,496,331 as 7,061,072 was recognized.
The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound, Financial Information, year ended December 31, 2024 (auditor MNP LLP) · Note 19, PDF page 26; Schedule of Deferred Revenue, PDF page 32
$1,838,160investment income earned in 2024, against a budgeted $354,000
The City earns interest on its bank balance and investments. In 2024 the budget for "investment income" was $354,000. The City actually earned $1,838,160, which is $1,484,160 more (worked out by us). In 2023 it earned $1,502,198. For 2026 the budget line for general interest income is $100,000, down from $200,000 in 2024.
A budget that counts on little interest means residents are asked for tax that the interest could have covered, unless the extra is put to good use. The statements do not say where the extra interest went, and the budget book does not either.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Owen Sound? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 11, Other Income: "Investment income" 2024 budget 354,000, 2024 actual 1,838,160, 2023 actual 1,502,198. "Penalties and interest on taxation" 350,000 budget, 520,114 actual.
The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound, Financial Information, year ended December 31, 2024 (auditor MNP LLP) · Note 11, Other Income, PDF page 22
Note 1: cash of $29,016,897 earns interest "at the average monthly prime rate less 1.75%". Note 2: investments of $9,827,700 earn "effective interest rates of 1.35% to 5.63%". Note 10: "Net transfers from (to) reserves" budget 11,030,818, actual (2,986,546).
The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound, Financial Information, year ended December 31, 2024 (auditor MNP LLP) · Note 1, PDF page 15; Note 2, PDF page 16; Note 10, PDF page 21
General Revenue, draft 2026 operating budget: "INTEREST REVENUE/EXPENSE" (100,000) for 2026, (150,000) for 2025 and (200,000) for 2024. "PENALTY AND INTEREST ON TAX" (490,000) for 2026.
City of Owen Sound, 2026 Mayor's Budget (tabled December 22, 2025) · General Revenues, PDF page 7
$3,000,000claim against the City named in the 2024 statements
A contingency is money the City might have to pay, depending on how something turns out. The 2024 statements say the City "has been named in a claim for $3,000,000" and that its liability "is not determinable at this time". The 2023 statements mention claims being handled through the City's insurer but we did not find this claim there. The statements do not say what the claim is about or whether insurance would pay.
A claim of this size is about 8.5% of one year's tax revenue (worked out by us: $3,000,000 against 2024 taxation of $35,396,533). If insurance does not cover it, the cost would fall on taxpayers or reserves. The statements do not say how much, if anything, is set aside for it.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Owen Sound? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Note 20, Contingencies: "b) The City of Owen Sound has been named in a claim for $3,000,000. The City's liability with respect to this claim is not determinable at this time." Note 20 a): "The City has been named in a number of claims that are in proceedings through their insurance company."
The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound, Financial Information, year ended December 31, 2024 (auditor MNP LLP) · Note 20, Contingencies, PDF page 26; taxation 35,396,533 on the Statement of Operations, PDF page 8
Note 20, Contingencies, 2023: "The City has been named in a number of claims that are in proceedings through their insurance company." We did not find a separate claim amount in the 2023 note.
The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound, Consolidated Financial Statements, year ended December 31, 2023 · Note 20, Contingencies, PDF page 28
General Administration: "Insurance" 405,351 (2026), 374,579 (2025), 607,000 (2024). "Total insurance costs are increasing by $50,000, in line with the four-year plan to smooth increases after new agreement."
City of Owen Sound, 2026 Mayor's Budget (tabled December 22, 2025) · General Administration, PDF page 10
7 cents vs about 12schools' share of each tax dollar in the 2026 guide, against 2024 audited statements (worked out by us)
The City's 2026 budget guide says that of each dollar of tax collected, Grey County gets 20 cents, the Province (for schools) gets 7 cents and the City keeps 73 cents. The 2024 audited statements show how much was collected for each. Worked out by us, the schools' share was about 11.9%, the County's about 18.7% and the City's about 69.5%. The guide may be using a different year or a different basis, and it does not say.
The guide is the City's main tool for explaining a tax bill to residents. If the schools' share is shown as smaller than the statements show, the City's share looks larger than it is, and the reverse. A small difference matters less than knowing where the numbers came from.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Owen Sound? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
"Of each dollar collected by the City of Owen Sound..." the County of Grey receives "20 cents", the Province of Ontario receives "7 cents for public education", and the City "keeps 73 cents of each dollar".
City of Owen Sound, A Guide to Owen Sound's 2026 Mayor's Budget · "How do the County and Province collect taxes?", PDF page 15 (printed page 14)
Note 17: taxation raised and remitted in 2024 to school boards $6,037,646 and to the County of Grey $9,513,765, a total of $15,551,411. The Statement of Operations shows the City's own taxation revenue as $35,396,533. Worked out by us from these three figures: schools 11.9%, County 18.7%, City 69.5%.
The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound, Financial Information, year ended December 31, 2024 (auditor MNP LLP) · Note 17, PDF page 26; Statement of Operations, PDF page 8
$142per home on snow ploughing, 2024
Owen Sound spent about $142 per home on snow ploughing in 2024. The typical similar city spent $63. Only 6 of 51 similar places spent more.
Spending more than neighbours is not wrong by itself. It might buy better service. But it is the first place to look for costs that could be lower, such as contracts that were not competitively bid.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Owen Sound? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Snow ploughing per home: Owen Sound $142; typical similar city $63; ranked 7th highest of 52.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 51 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy