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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Severn'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.
Questions · 8 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Severn's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 89 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
What these are, and what they are not. A question here means a number or practice is unusual, or harder to see than it should be. It does not mean anyone did anything wrong. Most unusual numbers turn out to have ordinary explanations, and every question lists some. The only way to know is to ask.
Worth asking
Worth asking
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
8.69%rise in the Township's 2026 levy, against a 5.88% rise in the Township's tax on an average home
The levy is the total amount of property tax the Township asks residents to pay for its own services. The 2026 budget presentation puts it at $15,843,487, up from $14,577,407, which it calls an "8.69% Increase representing $1,266,080". The same presentation says the Township's tax on an average $340,000 home goes from $1,505.49 to $1,594.02, an increase of 5.88%. With the County and school boards added, the average home's total goes from $3,325.44 to $3,455.68, or 3.92%. The three numbers are all printed, and they measure different things. The presentation lists an "Assessment Growth Impact" of $386,000 but does not set out how the 8.69% turns into 5.88%.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$1,405,000interest revenue in the 2026 budget, against $1,950,000 in 2025
The Township earns interest on the money it holds in reserves (savings kept for later). The 2023 audited statements show "Investment income" of $1,791,279, against a budget of $1,303,500 and $799,958 the year before. For 2026 the budget presentation lists "Interest Revenue" of $1,405,000, down from $1,950,000 in 2025 (a drop of $545,000, worked out by us), and elsewhere lists an "Investment Revenue decrease" of $420,000. The presentation explains that investment income eases the tax levy "by 4 to 5 percent" and that taking more out of reserves than is put in reduces it. Its list of items removed to cut the levy includes "Moving Investment income to reserves to stabilize levy" at $1,080,000.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$24,687,650estimated reserves at the end of 2026, against $38,087,737 at the end of 2025
Reserves are savings set aside for later costs. The 2026 budget presentation estimates all reserves at $38,087,737 at the end of 2025 and $24,687,650 at the end of 2026, a fall of $13,400,087 (worked out by us). Two large projects are shown as paid from reserves: a Westshore Recreation Facility at $15,000,000, marked "Grant Dependent", and a Westshore wastewater plant upgrade at $12,525,000. Both are marked as high-level estimates. The recreation capital sheet shows the facility's $15,000,000 paid from two sources, $4,500,000 and $10,500,000, and describes them as "Green spaces grant/DC Reserves" (DC means development charges, fees paid by builders for growth). The presentation also warns that taking more from reserves than is put in "will threaten future asset replacement" and that the new facility "will need to be staffed".
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$4.5 millionyearly gap between what the Township needs to replace its assets and what it sets aside, by its 2025 plan
An asset management plan estimates what it costs to keep a municipality's roads, water and sewer systems, buildings and equipment working. Severn's 2025 plan puts the replacement cost of what it owns at about $443.1 million. It says the Township needs about $12.5 million a year, is committing about $7.9 million, and so has "an annual funding gap of $4.5 million". Its plan is to close this in 10 years by raising municipal taxes by 1.4% a year, plus higher water and sewer rates. The 2026 budget presentation, which shows the older 2021 plan's numbers ($8.7 million needed, a $4.9 million gap, and a 2.4% tax rise a year for 15 years), puts $2,500,000 into the capital levy, up $300,000 from $2,200,000. One of the items cut to lower the levy reads "Levy Transfer for Capital should be increasing by $350,000 annually".
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$8,467,846spent on capital assets in 2023, against a budget of $15,561,850
Capital assets are things that last for years, like roads, vehicles and buildings. The 2023 audited statements show a budget of $15,561,850 for buying them and actual spending of $8,467,846. That is about 54% of the budget (worked out by us). Spending that was less than planned helps explain why the year ended with an annual surplus of $7,033,121 against a budget of $4,535,353, and why the "Capital purposes" reserve grew from $15,708,404 to $17,413,493. The statements give a general reason: the capital budget is "project-oriented" and may be carried out over one or more years. This is the latest year of audited statements we could read, so we do not know whether 2024 was different.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
At the end of 2024, $3.3M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 10% of everything billed. Only 17 of 89 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $2.5M.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
11.06%rise in policing costs in 2026, against a 4.65% rise in the policing levy
The 2026 budget presentation lists "Policing Costs Increase (11.06%)" of $256,165, and next to it "Policing Reserve Levy Stabilization" of $150,000. The policing part of the levy goes from $2,367,801 to $2,477,941, which it calls "4.65% Increase representing $110,140". The presentation's reserve table has a "Policing Stabilization Reserve" row showing 300,000 and 150,000. The Township does not say in these pages how long the reserve can keep covering the difference.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$96,750Council Partnership Funding listed for 2026, while an earlier slide says $89,250
Council Partnership Funding is money Council gives each year to local causes. One slide lists "2026 Council Partnership Funding (2025 - $113,250)" as $89,250 and marks it levy funded. A later slide, which lists nine causes, gives a total of $96,750 against the same 2025 figure. The listed amounts do add up to $96,750 (worked out by us). The difference is $7,500 (worked out by us), the same amount as three of the listed causes.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
8.69%rise in the Township's 2026 levy, against a 5.88% rise in the Township's tax on an average home
The levy is the total amount of property tax the Township asks residents to pay for its own services. The 2026 budget presentation puts it at $15,843,487, up from $14,577,407, which it calls an "8.69% Increase representing $1,266,080". The same presentation says the Township's tax on an average $340,000 home goes from $1,505.49 to $1,594.02, an increase of 5.88%. With the County and school boards added, the average home's total goes from $3,325.44 to $3,455.68, or 3.92%. The three numbers are all printed, and they measure different things. The presentation lists an "Assessment Growth Impact" of $386,000 but does not set out how the 8.69% turns into 5.88%.
Why it matters
Residents mostly feel the change in their own bill, while the levy is the size of the whole budget. When the two move apart, people deserve to see how: new buildings joining the tax roll share the cost, but other changes can matter too.
It could be because…
New homes and buildings added to the tax roll (assessment growth) mean the same levy is shared by more properties, so the rate per $100,000 of value rises by less than the levy.
Different property types (homes, farms, businesses) can be taxed at different rates, so an average home may not move in step with the whole levy.
The Township's own page and presentation say the tax rate on the average home rose by 5.88%, which may simply be the rate set after the levy was divided over the tax roll.
Questions you could ask
How does the Township get from an 8.69% rise in the levy to a 5.88% rise in the average home's Township tax? How much of the difference is new properties joining the tax roll?
What does the $386,000 assessment growth figure represent, and is it already taken off the $1,266,080 increase?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Severn?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
"2026 Municipal Levy Increase": 2025 $14,577,407; 2026 $15,843,487; "8.69% Increase representing $1,266,080".
"2026 Municipal Tax Impact": 2025 average single family home $340,000, taxation $1,505.49; 2026 taxation $1,594.02; "$88.53 Increase"; "Percentage Increase of 5.88%".
$1,405,000interest revenue in the 2026 budget, against $1,950,000 in 2025
The Township earns interest on the money it holds in reserves (savings kept for later). The 2023 audited statements show "Investment income" of $1,791,279, against a budget of $1,303,500 and $799,958 the year before. For 2026 the budget presentation lists "Interest Revenue" of $1,405,000, down from $1,950,000 in 2025 (a drop of $545,000, worked out by us), and elsewhere lists an "Investment Revenue decrease" of $420,000. The presentation explains that investment income eases the tax levy "by 4 to 5 percent" and that taking more out of reserves than is put in reduces it. Its list of items removed to cut the levy includes "Moving Investment income to reserves to stabilize levy" at $1,080,000.
Why it matters
If part of the tax bill is held down by interest rather than by tax, a fall in interest rates, or spending down the savings that earn it, lands on taxpayers later. The Township says this itself, which is useful, but residents have not been shown how big the effect is year by year.
It could be because…
Interest rates fell, so a lower figure is expected and was planned for.
The two numbers may measure different things: $420,000 may be only the part that eases the levy, while $545,000 is the change in all interest revenue (some interest goes straight back into restricted reserves).
Council chose not to move $1,080,000 of interest into reserves this year, as a way to keep the 2026 increase down, and may do so later.
Questions you could ask
How many dollars of the 2026 levy are held down by investment income, and how many were in 2025?
Why does the presentation show a $420,000 decrease in investment revenue and also a fall from $1,950,000 to $1,405,000?
What would the 2027 levy increase be if the $1,080,000 of interest is moved to reserves as originally intended?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Severn?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Statement of operations: "Investment income" budget 2023 1,303,500, actual 2023 1,791,279, actual 2022 799,958.
"Reserves General Risks": "the remaining investment income alleviates pressure on the tax levy. Currently doing so by 4 to 5 percent." It adds: "Depleting our reserves will threaten timely future asset replacement and could have an immediate impact on investment income used to offset levy increases."
$24,687,650estimated reserves at the end of 2026, against $38,087,737 at the end of 2025
Reserves are savings set aside for later costs. The 2026 budget presentation estimates all reserves at $38,087,737 at the end of 2025 and $24,687,650 at the end of 2026, a fall of $13,400,087 (worked out by us). Two large projects are shown as paid from reserves: a Westshore Recreation Facility at $15,000,000, marked "Grant Dependent", and a Westshore wastewater plant upgrade at $12,525,000. Both are marked as high-level estimates. The recreation capital sheet shows the facility's $15,000,000 paid from two sources, $4,500,000 and $10,500,000, and describes them as "Green spaces grant/DC Reserves" (DC means development charges, fees paid by builders for growth). The presentation also warns that taking more from reserves than is put in "will threaten future asset replacement" and that the new facility "will need to be staffed".
Why it matters
Large projects are often built in stages and paid over several years, but a fall of this size in one year uses up savings that also earn interest for the budget. If a grant does not arrive, the Township must choose between a smaller project, borrowing or more tax.
It could be because…
Reserves exist to be spent on projects like these. A planned drop does not mean a problem.
The projects may not all be built in 2026, so the reserves may fall more slowly than the table shows.
Development charges are paid by builders to cover growth, so part of the reserve money was collected for exactly this kind of project.
The presentation marks both amounts as high-level estimates to be set when the projects are designed.
Questions you could ask
How much of the $15,000,000 for the Westshore Recreation Facility is a grant that has been approved, and how much is applied for?
What will the Township do if the grant is not approved: build less, borrow, or raise taxes?
What will it cost each year to staff and run the new facility, and is that in the Township's long-range plan?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Severn?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
"2026 Estimated Reserve Balances": the Totals row prints 38,087,737 under "Estimated Balances Dec. 31/25" and 24,687,650 as the last figure, under "Estimated Balance Dec. 31/26". The PDF text puts the table's cells out of order, so we checked that the Totals row adds up from its other figures (1,320,000; 325,000; 7,083,074; 499,472; 21,628,689).
"Withdrawing more from reserves annually than we contribute to them will threaten future asset replacement." Also: "When the Westshore Recreation Facility is completed, it will need to be staffed" (slide 10).
"Westshore Facility -757", "Facility Construction", 2026, total cost $15,000,000. The financing columns show $4,500,000 and $10,500,000; the details column reads "Green spaces grant/DC Reserves". The sheet's columns are jumbled in the PDF text, so we do not say which amount is which.
$4.5 millionyearly gap between what the Township needs to replace its assets and what it sets aside, by its 2025 plan
An asset management plan estimates what it costs to keep a municipality's roads, water and sewer systems, buildings and equipment working. Severn's 2025 plan puts the replacement cost of what it owns at about $443.1 million. It says the Township needs about $12.5 million a year, is committing about $7.9 million, and so has "an annual funding gap of $4.5 million". Its plan is to close this in 10 years by raising municipal taxes by 1.4% a year, plus higher water and sewer rates. The 2026 budget presentation, which shows the older 2021 plan's numbers ($8.7 million needed, a $4.9 million gap, and a 2.4% tax rise a year for 15 years), puts $2,500,000 into the capital levy, up $300,000 from $2,200,000. One of the items cut to lower the levy reads "Levy Transfer for Capital should be increasing by $350,000 annually".
Why it matters
Roads and pipes wear out whether or not the money has been set aside. A gap that is not closed leaves a bigger bill for later councils and taxpayers. Almost every Ontario municipality reports a gap like this. The question is how fast Severn closes it and whether the plan is being followed.
It could be because…
A gap spread over 10 years is the plan on purpose, so that tax and water bills do not jump all at once.
The 2026 budget presentation was written in November 2025 and still describes the 2021 plan as being updated; the finished 2025 plan may have replaced those numbers.
Money for replacing assets also comes from grants and development charges, which may reduce what needs to come from the levy.
Questions you could ask
Is the 2026 capital levy increase of $300,000 on the 1.4% a year path in the 2025 plan?
Why is the tax increase in the 2025 plan (1.4% a year for 10 years) lower than in the 2021 plan (2.4% a year for 15 years)?
What is the Township's own estimate of what a missed year of the plan adds to the gap?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Severn?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Findings: "total current replacement cost of approximately $443.1 million"; "average annual capital requirement totals $12.5 million"; "Severn is committing approximately $7.9 million towards capital projects or reserves per year"; "an annual funding gap of $4.5 million"; a strategy of "increasing municipal taxes by 1.4% per year over a 10-year period".
"Infrastructure Deficit - AMP": the 2021 plan found annual re-investment needed was "$8.7 million leaving us with a $4.9 million annual funding gap"; "$3.2 million for tax rate-funded assets"; "$1.7 million for water and sewer rate-funded assets"; "an annual 2.4% tax increase over 15 years for capital purposes only". It adds that an update was "currently underway for delivery early 2026".
$8,467,846spent on capital assets in 2023, against a budget of $15,561,850
Capital assets are things that last for years, like roads, vehicles and buildings. The 2023 audited statements show a budget of $15,561,850 for buying them and actual spending of $8,467,846. That is about 54% of the budget (worked out by us). Spending that was less than planned helps explain why the year ended with an annual surplus of $7,033,121 against a budget of $4,535,353, and why the "Capital purposes" reserve grew from $15,708,404 to $17,413,493. The statements give a general reason: the capital budget is "project-oriented" and may be carried out over one or more years. This is the latest year of audited statements we could read, so we do not know whether 2024 was different.
Why it matters
Residents are asked for tax money to pay for projects each year. If projects slip, the money sits in reserves and may still be used later, but roads and facilities wait. It also helps to know whether the same thing happened in later years.
It could be because…
Projects can take more than one year, so part of the 2023 budget may have been spent in 2024 and later. The statements say this.
The $8,467,846 includes $1,263,335 of assets donated to the Township, which were not in the budget (the budget for contributed assets is nil).
Some budgeted projects may have waited on grants or design work.
Questions you could ask
How much of the 2023 capital budget was carried into 2024 and later, and which projects were they?
How did actual capital spending compare to budget in 2024 and 2025?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Severn?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Statement of Change in Net Financial Assets: "Acquisition of tangible capital assets" budget 2023 (15,561,850), actual 2023 (8,467,846), actual 2022 (7,761,010).
Note 17, Budget Figures: "The budget established for capital investment in tangible capital assets are on a project-oriented basis, the costs of which may be carried out over one or more years and, therefore, may not be comparable with current year's actual amounts."
At the end of 2024, $3.3M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 10% of everything billed. Only 17 of 89 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $2.5M.
Why are so many property taxes unpaid?
$0$1.0M$2.0M$3.0M$4.0M
$3.3M
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Unpaid property tax at year end
2019
$1.8M
2020
$2.0M
2021
$1.8M
2022
$2.1M
2023
$2.5M
2024
$3.3M
Why it matters
When taxes go unpaid, everyone else carries the cost, and the town may borrow to cover the gap. The Province's financial indicators treat 10% to 15% as a moderate risk and more than 15% as a high risk. Collection is the town's job, so a rising number is worth asking about.
It could be because…
The final tax bill was due late in the year, so some payments simply arrived in January.
A few large properties are in dispute or being sold for back taxes.
Hard times for residents, which the town may be handling with payment plans.
Questions you could ask
How much is more than one year overdue, and from how many properties?
Are the rules for chasing unpaid taxes applied the same way to everyone?
Has the town registered tax arrears certificates on properties about two years behind? If still unpaid a year after that, Ontario law lets the town sell the property.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Severn?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Taxes receivable: 2019 $1.8M, 2020 $2.0M, 2021 $1.8M, 2022 $2.1M, 2023 $2.5M, 2024 $3.3M. Of the 2024 total, $1.3M was from earlier years.
11.06%rise in policing costs in 2026, against a 4.65% rise in the policing levy
The 2026 budget presentation lists "Policing Costs Increase (11.06%)" of $256,165, and next to it "Policing Reserve Levy Stabilization" of $150,000. The policing part of the levy goes from $2,367,801 to $2,477,941, which it calls "4.65% Increase representing $110,140". The presentation's reserve table has a "Policing Stabilization Reserve" row showing 300,000 and 150,000. The Township does not say in these pages how long the reserve can keep covering the difference.
Why it matters
Using a reserve to soften a rise is a normal choice, but only a single time per dollar. The question is what happens in 2027 if the cost keeps growing and the reserve has been used.
It could be because…
The Township cannot set its policing bill; the rise may come from outside, so it chose to ease it with a reserve set up for this reason (it is called a stabilization reserve).
The $150,000 may be a one-off use of the reserve to give residents a smaller increase in 2026.
Questions you could ask
How big is the policing stabilization reserve after 2026, and how many years of this rise can it cover?
What is the Township's own estimate of the policing levy in 2027 if the reserve is not used?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Severn?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
"2026 Budget Highlights": "Policing Costs Increase (11.06%) $ 256,165" and "Policing Reserve Levy Stabilization $ 150,000".
"2026 Estimated Reserve Balances": the "Policing Stabilization Reserve" row shows 300,000 and 150,000 (the PDF text puts the table's cells out of order, so we do not say which column each is in).
$96,750Council Partnership Funding listed for 2026, while an earlier slide says $89,250
Council Partnership Funding is money Council gives each year to local causes. One slide lists "2026 Council Partnership Funding (2025 - $113,250)" as $89,250 and marks it levy funded. A later slide, which lists nine causes, gives a total of $96,750 against the same 2025 figure. The listed amounts do add up to $96,750 (worked out by us). The difference is $7,500 (worked out by us), the same amount as three of the listed causes.
Why it matters
The amount is small. It matters because residents can only check the budget against its own pages, and two figures for one line make that harder.
It could be because…
The two slides may measure different things: one may be only the part paid from the tax levy and the other the full list.
One slide may have been written before a final change to the list.
Questions you could ask
Which figure is the 2026 budget for Council Partnership Funding, $89,250 or $96,750, and what is the $7,500 difference?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Severn?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
"Council Partnership Funding G-111-101-3156": Physician Recruitment $29,000; Lake Country $22,500; Mariposa House Hospice $12,000; Coldwater Mill Heritage Foundation $7,500; Coldwater Canadiana Heritage Museum $7,500; Green Haven Women's Shelter $7,500; SEGBAY $5,000; Georgian Bay Forever $5,000; Simcoe County Cycle Simcoe $750; "(2025 - $113,250) $ 96,750".
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