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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Ramara'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 Ramara's budget, taxes and council decisions. A township in Simcoe County, Ontario, governed by a mayor, a deputy mayor and five ward councillors. Every figure links back to the public record.
2 reportsfrom the Ontario Ombudsman finding open-meeting rules were not followed (October 2025 and August 2026)
Councils must do their business in public, apart from a short list of exceptions. The Ontario Ombudsman is Ramara's closed meeting investigator. In October 2025 the Ombudsman found that one email sent to every member of the Committee of the Whole on October 23, 2024 counted as a meeting held outside the public eye, because it pushed along the budget decision made the next day. In August 2026 the Ombudsman found that the Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee (shared with the Township of Severn) voted in closed session on June 21, 2024 when the rules do not allow a vote. Neither report found anything about money. The reports say the Township cooperated fully and, in both cases, the Ombudsman made recommendations rather than any finding of bad faith.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$7,027,467spent on protection services in 2025, against a budget of $5,592,533
Protection services is the audited statements' name for police, fire, conservation authority and inspection. The statement of operations shows a 2025 budget of $5,592,533 and actual spending of $7,027,467, which is $1,434,934 more (worked out by us). The year before it was $4,996,182. The 2026 budget book shows where at least some of it sits: the Fire Department's "Contracted Services" line was budgeted at $109,400.00 for 2025, and the book shows $1,709,318.56 spent by November 6, 2025. The book does not say why. Its only comment on Fire contracts covers 2026, saying they were adjusted for price increases.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$10,150,000budgeted for the Bayshore (plant 202) tile beds in 2026, mostly to be paid by a loan estimated at $10.2 million
The 2026 budget includes $10,150,000 to replace the sprayfields at treatment plant 202 (Bayshore) with underground tile beds. The Township says the sprayfields have reached the end of their life. The budget book says the money comes from a loan "estimated at $10.2M" to be taken out later in 2026, and that repayment will show up in the 2027 budget. Sewer charges were raised by 15% for 2026. The Township's news release says the increase is about $54 a quarter for a home using 35 cubic metres. The Township explained the need and the timing. The loan terms, the yearly repayment and the effect on rates over time are not in the documents we read.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$3,200,248Brechin sewers deficit, unchanged at the end of 2024 and 2025
Accumulated surplus is the total of everything the Township owns minus what it owes, split into pieces. One piece, "Brechin sewers", is a deficit of $3,200,248 at the end of both 2025 and 2024. Separately the statements show "Unfunded capital" of $1,472,285 and say that $1,283,235 of it will be billed to residents as a local improvement charge, with a lump-sum or a 20-year loan option. The Township holds $1,231,366 as a long term receivable called "Brechin sewer assessment". The Township has explained the unfunded capital part. We did not find an explanation of the $3,200,248 deficit or a date when it ends.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$176,576.34legal fees by November 6, 2025, against a budget of $20,000
Lagoon City Parks and Waterways (LCPW) is a commission of the Township, funded mainly by its own levy. Its section of the 2026 budget book shows a 2025 legal fees budget of $20,000.00 and $176,576.34 spent by November 6, 2025. The Township-wide legal fees line stood at $277,857 against a $207,900 budget at that date, so the commission's overage is larger than the Township's, because other departments' legal lines were under budget. The 2026 budget keeps LCPW legal fees at $20,000.00, and the highlights page does not mention legal costs. The commission still showed a surplus on the same page.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
At the end of 2025, $4.2M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 14% of everything billed. Only 1 of 45 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $3.2M.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$2,500,000of new long term debt in 2025, with $12,280,129 in investments and $15,271,137 in reserves at year end
Reserves are savings Council sets aside for later. At the end of 2025 the Township held $12,280,129 in principal protected notes (investments that return the original amount at the end of their term), $5,473,740 in cash and $15,271,137 in reserves. During 2025 it also took out two bank loans from CIBC and reports $2,500,000 of new long term debt. Reserves rose from $10,678,796 to $15,271,137, which is $4,592,341 more (worked out by us). The Township has published its reasons. Its budget says reserves prevent sudden tax increases, that the new debt is for wastewater projects, and that no investments mature in 2026. The notes mature between August 26, 2027 and July 3, 2031, so they cannot be cashed in at will.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 7 sources
$5,031,711of capital assets bought in 2025, against a plan of $12,922,900; 2026 plan is $18,238,600
Capital means roads, buildings, vehicles and water and sewer works that last many years. The 2025 plan was $12,922,900. The statements show $5,031,711 bought, which is about 39% of the plan (worked out by us). The 2026 budget raises capital to $18,238,600. Most of that is the $10,150,000 wastewater plant and $4,000,000 for roads. The Township has explained part of the gap. It says roads projects were delayed until its Roads Needs Study was finished and that unused funds carry into 2026.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
Where your tax bill goes
A property tax bill in Ramara pays for three governments. Only part of it goes to the town, and that part is what Ramara council controls.
Tax bill split: Ramara 58%, County or region 27%, Schools 15%
$30.8Mraised in 2025
Ramara58%
County or region27%
Schools15%
How Ramara's share of the bill compares with similar towns
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