Your town, in plain words
A clear, checkable guide to Red Lake's budget, taxes and council decisions. A municipality in northwestern Ontario, in the Kenora District, with a mayor, a deputy mayor and three councillors. Every figure links back to the public record.
Follow Red Lake 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.
+71%running the town office, 2019 to 2024
Red Lake spent $1.7M on running the town office in 2019 and $2.9M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 1 of 22 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$130per home on council, 2024
Red Lake spent about $130 per home on council in 2024. The typical similar town spent $71. Only 1 of 22 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
$1,647,958deficit in 2024, against a budgeted deficit of $331,716
A deficit is the amount by which a year's spending is more than its revenue. The audited statements for 2024 show total expenses of $20,615,638 against a budget of $20,089,675, and total revenue of $18,967,680 against a budget of $19,757,959. The Municipality's own budget book shows the same pattern on the day-to-day (operating) side: it planned to break even and spent more than it took in. The Municipality has explained part of this: the statements count capital spending differently from the budget, and money for building projects arrives only as the projects are done.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$482,283.50spent on Administration "Other Expenses" in 2024, against a budget of $36,000.00
The budget book prints the cost of running Administration (the office side of the Municipality). For 2024 it budgeted $1,612,077 and spent $2,242,322.18. Most of the gap sits in one line, "Other Expenses": a budget of $36,000.00 and an actual of $482,283.50. The book does not say what is in it. The 2025 figures to date, which the book says are subject to change, show the line at $196,189.99 against a budget of $41,000.00, and the 2026 budget plans $41,200.00. The audited statements show General government spending of $2,937,700 against a budget of $2,348,251.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$7,293,310new long-term debt in the 2026 budget, on top of $12,288,397.46 owed on January 1, 2026
Long-term debt is money the Municipality has borrowed and is paying back over years. At December 31, 2024 the audited statements show $12,392,662, nearly all of it in loans from one bank, each listed as a "demand instalment loan" that the bank can in principle call at any time and many at prime (the bank's lending rate, which moves). Principal due in 2025 is $1,996,460. The 2026 budget plans $7,293,310 of new debt, mostly for water and sewer work and the arena. The Municipality also has a $2,000,000 credit line; we did not see a drawn balance for it in the statements.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$17,977,240planned capital spending in 2026, against $2,764,745.65 spent in 2024
Capital spending is money for things that last: roads, pipes, buildings. In 2024 the budget planned $5,054,284 and the books show $2,764,745.65 spent. The 2025 budget planned $9,738,933; the 2025 figures to date, which the book says are subject to change, show $2,017,100.75. The 2026 budget plans $17,977,240, including $6,400,000 for the Cochenour arena (renovations of $4,000,000 and an ice pad replacement of $2,400,000).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$7,215,767in reserves at the end of 2024, down from $7,847,844
Reserves are money the Municipality has set aside for later, like a savings account for repairs and new equipment. The audited statements show reserves and reserve funds of $7,215,767 at the end of 2024, down from $7,847,844. The Public Works reserve fell from $609,140 to $168,499 and the General Government reserve from $1,548,945 to $1,271,856. The part of the accumulated surplus described as "Current" fell from $2,690,989 to $1,105,468. The 2026 budget plans to take $1,868,710 out of reserves.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$7.2Min savings at the end of 2024
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Red Lake had $7.2M saved at the end of 2024, up from $5.9M in 2019. That is 44% of one year's spending. Only 4 of 22 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$6,526per home on long-term debt, 2024
Red Lake spent about $6,526 per home on long-term debt in 2024. The typical similar town spent $2,028. Only 3 of 22 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
$90,000difference between the note ($1,293,162) and the statement ($1,203,162), worked out by us
The statement of operations shows Other income of $1,203,162 for 2024. Note 12, which breaks it down, ends with a total of $1,293,162. The lines in the note add up to the note's total, by our own sum. The segment table on page 27 uses $1,203,162. The difference is $90,000, worked out by us.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
The Municipality's agendas and minutes page says that minutes and agendas from its previous provider are being converted and will appear in a historical section as that is completed. For Council and Committee of the Whole meetings from April 2022 to March 2026 it asks people to email the Municipality. That covers most of the current term of Council. We did not read any minutes.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$480per home on garbage, dump and recycling, 2024
Red Lake spent about $480 per home on garbage, dump and recycling in 2024. The typical similar town spent $289. Only 1 of 22 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
2024 tax year · Red Lake, Ontario
Enter your home's assessed value to see roughly what you pay in property tax each year, who gets it, and what Red Lake'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 Red Lake.
a year in property tax, at 2024 rates
Red Lake council sets only its own share. the Province sets the school rate.
An estimate. It uses the residential tax rate, and splits Red Lake'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.
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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.
Council meetings are open to the public, and councillors answer to you. How to reach Red Lake's council · Council Books is free and paid for by readers: support this work.