Your town, in plain words
A clear, checkable guide to Russell's budget, taxes and council decisions. A township in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, with a mayor and four councillors. Every figure links back to the public record.
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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.
+11%town property tax, 2024 to 2025
In 2025, Russell collected $2.1M more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 11% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. Only 1 of 25 similar towns raised theirs by more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
+125%roads and snow, 2019 to 2025
Russell spent $3.4M on roads and snow in 2019 and $7.6M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 0 of 25 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$4,432per home on long-term debt, 2025
Russell spent about $4,432 per home on long-term debt in 2025. The typical similar town spent $1,212. Only 1 of 25 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
$66,371,834estimated borrowing for the Recreation Complex, on a project cost of $102,291,653 (2026 budget)
The 2025 budget said the Township needed no new debt and listed a loan of $0 in its capital budget of $10,610,623. During 2025 the Township actually bought or built $66,341,688 of capital assets and took in $22,200,000 of long-term debt. At the end of 2025 it owed $26,200,000 on loans that charge the bank’s prime rate plus 2.00% and need only interest payments until 2027, up from $4,000,000 a year earlier. Its cash fell to $1,680,840. The 2026 budget says the new Recreation Complex will need long-term borrowing in 2026: an estimated $66,371,834 on a project cost of $102,291,653. At 4.65% over 25 years, the Township says the repayment would be about $4.5 million a year, with about $46 million of interest in total. The Township has explained that the 2026 borrowing moves the project from construction financing to long-term debt. It does not say, in the documents we read, which loan pays for which project.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 11 sources
$7,133,000land sale revenue budgeted for 2025, against a reported loss of $198,000
The 2025 budget counted on $7,133,000 from land sales at the 417 Industrial Park. The 2025 statements show a loss of $198,000 on the sale of land held for resale. In 2024 the budget was $2,000,000 and the sales were $2,952,000. The 2026 budget now expects $4,878,000 of deferred sale revenue (money that comes in later) from the same park. At the end of 2025 the Township held land for resale valued at $8,799,496, and its accumulated surplus shows $13,129,233 of expenses waiting to be funded by land sales, up from $11,290,682. The Township has explained that the sale money is used to offset the purchase price and the cost of building roads on the land.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$16,048,941accounts receivable at the end of 2025, up from $3,899,173
Accounts receivable is money other people or governments owe the Township. It grew by $12,149,768 in 2025, to $16,048,941. The Township’s cash fell from $4,609,935 to $1,680,840 over the same year, and what it owed to suppliers and others (accounts payable and accrued liabilities) rose from $8,723,179 to $17,856,174. The statements do not break the receivable down. The Province of Ontario transfers reported as revenue were $12,080,500 against a budget of $1,469,794, which may be related, but the documents do not say so. A further $7,701,000 of capital purchases was paid after year end.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
7.44%projected 2027 tax increase in the 2026 budget book, before any new initiatives
The first draft of the 2026 budget raised the tax levy from $19,823,466 to $22,377,563, an 8.4% increase. After two days of work with Council in October 2025 the final increase was 3.94%. The same budget book says that if nothing unexpected happens, 2027 would need a tax increase of 7.44%, with about $1.525 million not yet paid for. Part of the 2026 saving came from phasing in new fire staff over four years, from moving costs onto user fees and reserves, and from pausing $1.2 million a year that was set aside to replace four buildings, which the Township says is "paused, not eliminated". The Township says it chose to avoid putting off tax pressure, and it published the 2027 outlook openly.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
+55%police, fire and safety, 2019 to 2025
Russell spent $4.2M on police, fire and safety in 2019 and $6.6M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
+55%water, sewers and garbage, 2019 to 2025
Russell spent $7.3M on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $11.2M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$25.9Min savings at the end of 2025
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Russell had $25.9M saved at the end of 2025, up from $14.5M in 2019. That is 66% of one year's spending. Only 5 of 25 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$100per home on council, 2025
Russell spent about $100 per home on council in 2025. The typical similar town spent $50. Only 3 of 25 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
$34,345,209surplus in 2025, against a budgeted $19,003,550
A surplus is what is left when a year’s revenue is more than its spending. For 2025 the budget planned a surplus of $19,003,550 and the audited statements show $34,345,209. For 2024 the budget planned $13,388,864 and the statements show $25,766,165. In both years two lines were far above budget: donations (budgeted at $5,000 for 2025 and $38,478 for 2024, actual $13,096,138 and $13,564,679) and development charges (budgeted $2,718,404 for 2025, actual $7,825,454). The statements explain most of it: $13,057,925 of the 2025 donations were assets given in kind, not cash. Without those, the surplus would have been about $21,287,284 (worked out by us), still above the budget.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$635,441a year of Corporate Services costs moved from taxes to user-fee departments
Corporate Services (clerk, finance, communications, IT, human resources) used to be paid about 85% by taxes and 15% by user fees. The 2026 budget changes this to 65% by taxes and 35% by user fees, which the budget says brings in an additional $635,441 and lowers the tax bill by the same amount. For daycares, building and the 417 Industrial Park, reserves absorb the new charges so their fees do not rise. Waste collection users face no increase in 2026 but about $8.58 more in each of 2027 and 2028. Water and sewer users see no impact. The Township gives its reason: the old split put an unfair burden on tax-supported services. The final summary page rounds the savings to $650,000.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$2,862,994advance to the Embrun Hydro Cooperative Inc., fully set aside as an allowance
The Township lent the Embrun Hydro Cooperative Inc. $2,862,994 with no interest and no repayment dates. The statements set aside the whole amount as an allowance, so it counts as nothing on the books in both 2024 and 2025. The Township explains that the amount is repayable only if the cooperative is sold, wound up or goes bankrupt.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$308per home on garbage, dump and recycling, 2025
Russell spent about $308 per home on garbage, dump and recycling in 2025. The typical similar town spent $84. None of the 25 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
A property tax bill in Russell pays for three governments. Only part of it goes to the town, and that part is what Russell council controls.
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