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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Sault Ste Marie'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 Sault Ste Marie's budget, taxes and council decisions. A single-tier city of about 75,000 people on the St. Marys River in the District of Algoma, with a mayor and ten councillors, two from each of five wards. Every figure links back to the public record.
3.1 yearsof landfill room left at current fill rates, down from 4.2 years a year earlier
The City's audited statements say the 5th Line Landfill has about 186,000 metric tons of room left, which at current fill rates is about 3.1 years. A year earlier the same note said about 300,000 metric tons and 4.2 years. The City already owes $38,403,399 for closing and looking after the landfill later, and says that will be "funded from future taxation revenues". It has set aside $15,465,684 in a landfill reserve (money saved for a named purpose). The 2026 budget book plans $22,200,000 of landfill cell development over five years and lists a further landfill expansion of $12 million that is not in its debt forecast. The City has explained the plan: a 2019 business plan raises landfill fees and the tax levy each year.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 6 sources
$2,100,000lower yearly transfer to capital reserves in the final 2026 budget than in the preliminary budget
A capital reserve is money the City sets aside each year to replace roads, vehicles and buildings later. The preliminary 2026 budget book listed reserve transfers of $8,428,091 for 2026, including $2,798,267 for the landfill and $2,980,796 for public works. The final capital budget lists $6,328,091, with $973,267 for the landfill and $2,705,796 for public works. The Chief Financial Officer had already written that the reserves are short: the 2024 target was $19.4 million but the actual was $17.2 million, and the preliminary budget left about a $900,000 shortfall in capital reserve growth. We did not find the City's reason for the change between the preliminary and final books.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$92,862,871projected outside debt in 2027, against $11,902,825 in 2026
At the end of 2025 the City itself owed $12,685,298 in long-term loans, for the twin pad. The 2026 budget book projects outside debt of $11,902,825 in 2026 and $92,862,871 in 2027, because of two sewage projects, the Biosolids Management Facility and the West End Plant Phase 2. Yearly debt payments are projected to rise from $2,866,323 in 2026 to $8,552,047 in 2028. The City has explained the plan: those projects are paid for by sewer rates, and a large grant already lowered the forecast. The Chief Financial Officer also writes that the City has room for about $40 million more debt, that a further $20 million is not in the forecast, and recommends that Council not take on more debt until the two project costs are final.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$67.0 millionestimated cost on one page of the 2026 budget book, against $56 million on another
Biosolids are the solids left after sewage is treated. The Chief Financial Officer's report lists the Biosolids Management Facility at an estimated $67.0 million, with $48.2 million of debt, paid two-thirds from sewer rates and one-third from the landfill. The project page in the same book says the budget "remains the estimate of $56 million", paid 80% from sewer rates and 20% from the landfill, and shows $31,084,087 of long-term debt. The sewer share comes to about $44.7 million either way (worked out by us), but the landfill share would be about $22.3 million on one page and about $11.2 million on the other (worked out by us), and the landfill's five-year capital plan shows $7,938,831. We could not tell from the book how these fit together.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$43,950,252final 2026 police budget, up from $39,650,897 in 2025
The final 2026 operating budget gives the Police Services Board $43,950,252, up from $39,650,897 in 2025, an increase of $4,299,355 (worked out by us), or about 10.8% (worked out by us). The preliminary book says the Police Services Board is "accounting for 85% of the total expense increase" in its levy and local boards category, and describes "a net increase of 11% for the Police Services Board". The City's total municipal levy for 2026 is $151,644,623, so police are about 29% of it (worked out by us). The City has said why this worries it: it writes that police services are "outpacing the City's ability to deliver the services" and that police are the largest contributor to levy growth.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$910,080dividends the City received in 2025 from PUC Inc. and PUC Services Inc., which reported net income of $7,819,906
The City owns all the shares of PUC Inc. and PUC Services Inc., which provide electricity distribution and water, wastewater and electrical management services. In 2025 the two reported combined net income of $7,819,906, and the City received dividends (a share of profit) of $910,080. The City has also lent them $31,720,000 in unsecured notes, including $25,000,000 at 6.1% that is payable one year after the City asks. Its statements show $7,939,565 of management fees charged in dealings with them. Separately, the City guarantees the bank debts of the Public Utilities Commission, a related body whose accounts it consolidates, up to $8,000,000; $3,956,715 was owing at the end of 2025. One summary table in the notes does not add up as printed: total assets of $291,153,512 against total liabilities and equity of $296,460,804.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$4,581,155.39spent on corporate financial expenses by September 30, 2025, against a $2,497,614 budget for the year
The third-quarter report for 2025 shows $4,581,155.39 spent in nine months on the corporate financial expenses line, against a full-year budget of $2,497,614. The City explains it in a note: the line reflects tax write-offs from a settlement that "have had a multi-year impact", with a significant part already allowed for in 2024. The audited statements show the City's allowance for tax appeals and other items rose from $2,210,000 to $3,169,200. The 2026 budget book adds that large assessment appeals settled in 2025 lowered revenue growth.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
2022year of the newest council pay summary we found on the City's budget page
The City's budget page links a summary of council pay and expenses under 2021 and 2022 only. The Integrity Commissioner page lists annual reports up to 2023. The 2023 report is three pages long: it covers one request for advice from a councillor, on the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, and costs of $1,542.45 for the year and $13,476.26 since the first appointment in 2018. We did not find later pay statements or reports on those pages. They may be posted somewhere else, or there may be nothing more to report.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
Where your tax bill goes
A property tax bill in Sault Ste Marie pays for the city and schools. Only part of it goes to the city, and that part is what Sault Ste Marie council controls.
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