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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Sarnia'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 Sarnia's budget, taxes and council decisions. A city of 72,047 people in Lambton County, Ontario, with a mayor and eight councillors. Every figure links back to the public record.
$5,598,971forecast shortfall in the 2025 operating budget at mid-year; $4,944,370 of the 2026 budget funds a prior-year deficit
A city plans its yearly spending in an operating budget, then checks in during the year with a forecast. The 2026 budget book prints the City's mid-year forecast for 2025 next to the 2025 budget. Expenses were forecast at $188,950,244 against a budget of $184,252,270, leaving a shortfall of $5,598,971. The budget's own notes call it a "2025 forecasted operating deficit" and say $4,944,370 of the 2026 budget goes to "Operating Contingency (Fund Prior-Year Deficit)", paid for by cutting the contribution to the Capital Infrastructure reserve (a savings account for roads, pipes and buildings). The audited 2025 statements are on a different accounting basis and do not print the year-end operating result.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$17,858,949spent on recreation and cultural services in 2025, against a budget of $14,476,434
The budget book prints each arena's actual 2024 cost next to its 2025 budget. The Progressive Auto Sales Arena cost $1,478,914 net in 2024 (costs less its own revenue). The 2025 budget planned $470,234 and the mid-year forecast was $1,269,034. Building maintenance was $935,497 in 2024 against a 2025 budget of $131,450. Across all of Community Services, the mid-year forecast was $13,610,227 against a budget of $11,280,667. The audited statements show the same pattern: recreation and cultural services cost $17,858,949 in 2025 against a budget of $14,476,434, and $15,186,774 in 2024 against $13,768,419 (our working out: 23.4% over in 2025, 10.3% over in 2024). The budget notes explain the 2026 increases for gas, electricity and water, but we did not find a note on the building maintenance line.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 6 sources
$5,260,991one-time transfers from reserves in the 2026 budget to ease the tax increase
A reserve is money the City sets aside for a later need. The 2026 budget holds the City tax rate increase to 3.93% by taking $5,260,991 in one-time transfers from six reserves, and by cutting the yearly contribution to the Capital Infrastructure reserve by $3.0 million. The budget says reserve measures lower the increase by 8.70 percentage points, and that 5.41 points come from "the reversal of prior year mitigation measures", meaning the one-time help used last year has to be paid back into the budget. The City's own 2024 Financial Report says the reserve position "remains below recommended levels".
Found by reading the city's own documents · 5 sources
8.41%increase in the 2026 police levy, against 1.44% for the rest of the general levy
The police levy (the part of property taxes that pays for police) rises from $35,729,173 to $38,733,664 in 2026, up $3,004,491 or 8.41%. The rest of the general levy rises 1.44%. The City's chart shows police is 73% of the approved tax increase (our working out: $3,004,491 is 73% of the $4,111,693 total increase). Within the police budget, civilian costs rise 17.85% ($813,081) and the 2025 budget had been balanced with $640,667 from reserves that does not repeat. The pages we read give no note explaining the civilian increase. The audited statements show protection services salaries and benefits rising from $52,653,169 in 2024 to $57,968,797 in 2025 (our working out: 10.1%).
Found by reading the city's own documents · 6 sources
$4.1 millionadded to the 2026 budget for the BACE project "pending further investigation"
Council added several items to the 2026 budget by amendment: $100,000 for Sarnia Downtown Collective beautification, $65,000 for the Sarnia Heritage Committee to host the Ontario Heritage Conference, $2 million for the Bright's Grove Library, and "$4.1 million to support the Sarnia BACE Project, pending further investigation". The budget also says Council gave tentative approval to a $4.1 million loan for phase 1 of the BACE Multi-Use Facility, at 3.11% over five years, with $769,869 of principal and $116,598 of interest budgeted for 2026. The City's debt at the end of 2025 was $98,554, with the last bank loan paid off in January 2026, so this would be a new loan for a City with almost no debt. The pages we read do not say what BACE stands for.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 5 sources
$2,632,130paid for WSIB claims in 2025, up from $1,694,846 in 2024
Sarnia pays its own workplace injury claims through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) instead of paying a yearly premium. Payments were $2,632,130 in 2025, up from $1,694,846 in 2024 (our working out: 55.3%). Claims already in force rose from $5,983,400 to $13,812,600. The City's estimate of future claims is $12,149,300 and its reserve for them is $4,741,619. The 2026 budget takes $2.5 million of that reserve (and $2,159,131 from the self-insurance reserve) to ease the tax increase. The statements say the City's retiree health and dental promise of $19,733,600 has no reserve at all.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$123,485,893cash in the bank at December 31, 2025, with $600,000 in investments and $98,554 of debt
At December 31, 2025 the City had $123,485,893 in a bank account and only $600,000 in investments (six GICs, which are fixed-term deposits). Its debt was $98,554. Yet the 2026 budget says the City's "revenues are insufficient to meet the long-term infrastructure renewal needs": its assets would cost an estimated $4.6 billion to replace, the target spending is $83.8 million a year and the four-year average is $56.2 million. The money looks large but is mostly spoken for. The statements list $89,934,582 in reserves, $17,546,879 in reserve funds and $25,884,820 in restricted deferred revenue (worked out by us: together $133,366,281, more than the cash). The City's consultant also shows Sarnia's reserves and debt are well below the survey average.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 6 sources
$33,926,573annual surplus in 2025, against a budget of $1,710,398
The 2025 statements show an annual surplus of $33,926,573 against a budget of $1,710,398. A surplus in these statements is not the same as money left over. Net revenue from running the City was $4,894,088. The rest, $29,032,485 (our working out: 85.6% of the surplus), came from capital grants of $19,366,943 that must be spent on building things, $2,455,746 from developers, $3,099,834 of assets given to the City (not cash), and $4,784,540 as the increase in the City's share of its electricity company, Sarnia Power Corporation, of which only $1,995,654 arrived as cash dividends. The City spent $54,927,584 on capital assets in the year.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 5 sources
Where your tax bill goes
A property tax bill in Sarnia pays for three governments. Only part of it goes to the city, and that part is what Sarnia council controls.
Tax bill split: Sarnia 58%, County or region 29%, Schools 13%
$165Mraised in 2025
Sarnia58%
County or region29%
Schools13%
How Sarnia's share of the bill compares with similar places
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