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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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Penetanguishene'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 / PenetanguisheneUpdated Oct 14, 2026

Your town, in plain words

How Penetanguishene uses the money we share.

A clear, checkable guide to Penetanguishene's budget, taxes and council decisions. A town with a mayor, a deputy mayor and five councillors. Every figure links back to the public record.

Your typical 2024 property tax bill$3,773on a $240K home71% Town19% County10% SchoolsSee your tax bill explained →
Town spending, 2024$19.1MAbout $4,380 per household, up 3.4% from 2023.See the money →
Property tax change+6.8%Penetanguishene's own property tax came to $13.7M in 2024, against $12.9M in 2023.What changed →

Where it goes

Most of every dollar supports the everyday town.

Explore every service →
Water, sewers and garbage$4.6M · 24%
Roads and snow$4.3M · 22%
Police, fire and safety$3.8M · 20%
Parks, arena and library$3.2M · 17%
Show all 6 servicesShow fewer
Running the town office$2.8M · 15%
Planning and business$470K · 2%

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

A fair comparisonHow does Penetanguishene compare?Among 90 similar Ontario towns, Penetanguishene's day-to-day spending per household is on the high side.Penetanguishene is here · 77 of 90, lowest to highestCompare Penetanguishene →

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 5 questions
Worth askingSpending level

How will Penetanguishene pay for a $45.0 million recreation centre when its whole ten-year capital plan totals about $42.4 million?

$45.0 millioncost of a new Multi-Use Recreation Centre in the Town's development charge study, against a 2026 operating and capital budget of $25.7 million

The Town's 2024 development charge study lists a new Multi-Use Recreation Centre costing $45.0 million, part of a $47.6 million parks and recreation program for 2024 to 2033. Development charges are fees on new buildings that pay for growth. The study says most of the program is not paid by them: it sets $34.7 million aside as benefiting existing residents, which the Town must pay from other sources, and only $7.8 million can be recovered through development charges. The Parks and Recreation development charge fund held $26,322 when the study was written. The Town's own ten-year capital plan, dated May 10, 2023 (the latest we found), has yearly totals that add up to about $42.4 million over ten years (worked out by us) and shows only small yearly transfers to a reserve for arena rehabilitation. The Town's 2026 operating and capital budget is $25.7 million. The Town's strategic plan update says staff are working with a project firm to refine next steps and set the budget for the project.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources

Worth askingMoney health

Why does the Town's development charge study plan for 813 new homes in ten years when only 6 new dwelling units appear in its 2025 building figures?

813new dwelling units forecast for 2024 to 2033, against 6 new dwelling units in the Town's 2025 building figures

Development charges pay for growth only if growth happens. The Town's 2024 study forecasts 813 new dwelling units from mid-2024 to mid-2033, taking occupied homes from 4,139 to 4,952. Over the 15 years from 2008 to 2023 the study says occupied homes rose from 3,537 to 4,139, which is 602 (worked out by us). The Town's 2025 Year in Review lists 130 building permits, $10.2 million of construction and 6 new dwelling units. The study's own text says 813 homes "per year", but its table shows 813 as the ten-year total, which is how we read it. The Town adopted a by-law with the study's full maximum charges, from $25,306 for a single or semi-detached home.

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

Worth askingMoney health

Does Penetanguishene have enough saved for repairs and emergencies?

$11Min savings at the end of 2024

Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Penetanguishene had $11M saved at the end of 2024, up from $9.8M in 2019. That is 58% of one year's spending. Only 15 of 89 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.

Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources

Good to knowMoney health

Who will pay the extra $293,383 and $392,921 a year to maintain the assets that growth is meant to add?

$686,304extra a year the Town would need by 2037 to maintain the assets in its development charge program (worked out by us from $293,383 and $392,921)

New roads, pipes and buildings paid for by development charges still cost money to keep up and replace. The Town's development charge study says that by 2034 the Town will need to find an additional $293,383 a year for general services, and by 2037 an additional $392,921 a year for engineered services (roads, water, sewer and stormwater), to properly fund the full life cycle of those new assets. Together that is $686,304 a year (worked out by us). The study says this comes from the Town; development charges do not cover it.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source

Show 1 more questionShow fewer
Good to knowHow decisions are made

What has Penetanguishene done since the Ombudsman found it broke the open meeting rules for a joint airport task force meeting in 2022?

5recommendations made by the Ombudsman to Midland, Penetanguishene and Tiny in October 2023

In October 2023 the Ombudsman of Ontario, who is the Town's closed meeting investigator, reported on a complaint about an April 19, 2022 presentation by the Huronia Airport Task Force to the councils of Midland, Penetanguishene and Tiny. He found the three councils "contravened these rules" by not giving updated public notice of how to watch the virtual meeting, and "failed to record minutes". The report says the Town of Penetanguishene led the arrangements and livestreamed the meeting on its YouTube channel, but the notice did not include that link. The Ombudsman made five recommendations to the three municipalities. The report notes he received full co-operation.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources

2024 tax year · Penetanguishene, 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 Penetanguishene'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 Penetanguishene.

Source

a year in property tax, at 2024 rates

  • Penetanguishene
  • County or region
  • Schools

Penetanguishene council sets only its own share. County or region sets its share, the Province sets the school rate.

See what your Penetanguishene share pays forHide the breakdown

Roughly what your Penetanguishene share pays for

Source
  • Roads and snow
  • Police, fire and safety
  • Running the town office
  • Parks, arena and library
  • Planning and business

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

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