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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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 South Algonquin'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.
Ontario / South AlgonquinUpdated Oct 14, 2026

Your town, in plain words

How South Algonquin uses the money we share.

A clear, checkable guide to South Algonquin's budget, taxes and council decisions. A township of about 1,100 people in Northeastern Ontario. Every figure links back to the public record.

Property tax raised in 2025$3.3Mall property in South Algonquin86% Town14% SchoolsSee where your tax bill goes →
Town spending, 2025$4.0MAbout $3,195 per household, up 0.6% from 2024.See the money →
Property tax change+3.7%South Algonquin's own property tax came to $2.9M in 2025, against $2.8M in 2024.What changed →

Where it goes

Most of every dollar supports the everyday town.

Explore every service →
Roads and snow$891K · 22%
Running the town office$889K · 22%
Social services$729K · 18%
Police, fire and safety$695K · 17%
Show all 8 servicesShow fewer
Water, sewers and garbage$348K · 9%
Parks, arena and library$347K · 9%
Planning and business$78,862 · 2%
Health$46,351 · 1%

Day-to-day spending in 2025, from South Algonquin's report to the Province.

A fair comparisonHow does South Algonquin compare?Among 30 similar Ontario towns, South Algonquin's day-to-day spending per household is on the low side.South Algonquin is here · 2 of 30, lowest to highestCompare South Algonquin →

Questions worth asking

A closer look at the numbers.

Each one is a question, not an accusation. Every one lists ordinary reasons it could be true, and the documents it comes from.

All 9 questions
Worth askingRising costs

Why did South Algonquin spend $976,137 on general government in 2024, against a budget of $891,203, when total spending came in under budget?

$976,137spent on general government in 2024, against a budget of $891,203

General government is council and administration. In 2024 it cost $976,137, against a budget of $891,203 and $851,838 the year before. That is $84,934 over budget and $124,299 more than in 2023 (both worked out by us). It was the largest overspend (recreation and culture was next, at $43,618 over, worked out by us), while total expenses were $4,535,045 against a budget of $4,777,893. Two lines in the notes moved a lot. Contracted services, which means work bought from outside firms, rose to $191,016 from $133,019. Amortization, the yearly share of the cost of buildings and equipment, more than doubled, to $38,758 from $17,103, although the cash flow statement shows only $3,765 of general government assets bought in 2024.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources

Worth askingMoney health

How will South Algonquin pay for closing its landfills and gravel pits, when the cost estimate rose $83,500 in 2024 and the landfill reserve did not change?

$477,566closure obligation at the end of 2024, up from $394,066, none of it funded

The Township must close and look after its two landfill sites and two aggregate (gravel) pits when they stop being used. At the end of 2024 it reported an obligation of $477,566 for this, up from $394,066. The landfill part rose to $428,580 from $345,080 through an entry called "Accretion expense" of 83,500. The statements show the whole $477,566 as unfunded: the Township says it will raise the money in later years. The landfill reserve, savings set aside for the landfill, stayed at $344,050. We worked out that the $83,500 equals the rise in the two sites' stated future costs ($33,000 plus $50,500), and that the landfill total of $428,580 equals those two sites' costs before discounting ($253,900 plus $174,680), although the note says costs are discounted.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources

Worth askingRising costs

Why did the cost of running the town office grow 72% in 6 years?

+72%running the town office, 2019 to 2025

South Algonquin spent $516K on running the town office in 2019 and $889K in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 3 of 29 similar towns had faster growth here.

Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources

Show 5 more questionsShow fewer
Good to knowMoney health

Why did unpaid taxes owed to South Algonquin rise about 25% in 2024 when tax revenue rose about 6%?

$343,589taxes and user charges owed at the end of 2024, up from $275,486

At the end of 2024 the Township was owed $343,589 in taxes and user charges, up from $275,486. Taxes owed for the current year were $239,099, up from $187,620. The cash flow statement shows the rise as $68,103 of cash not yet collected. Over the same year the taxation and user charges line rose from $2,647,718 to $2,814,731. By our working, unpaid amounts rose about 24.7% against about 6.3% for the revenue (worked out by us).

Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources

Good to knowSpending level

Why did South Algonquin spend $1,131,037 on transportation in 2024, against a budget of $1,461,029?

$329,992transportation spending below budget in 2024 (worked out by us)

Transportation, mostly roads, was budgeted at $1,461,029 for 2024 and came in at $1,131,037, a difference of $329,992 or about 23% (worked out by us). It was $1,331,607 in 2023. The largest drop in the notes is the materials column, $273,631 against $426,180 in 2023. This is a lower bill than planned, not an overspend. The statements do not say what part of the budget was not spent. Note 9 says only that the operating budget is shown in the statement and that the capital budget is kept project by project.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources

Good to knowRecord-keeping

Why do the balances of South Algonquin's three government-funded reserve funds change by more than the note says went in and out?

$680,335held in government-funded reserve funds at the end of 2024, up from $465,049

Obligatory reserve funds hold money from the federal and provincial governments that may be used only for named purposes. At the end of 2024 they held $680,335. The note gives the total movement: money received, interest earned, and $91,523 used. It also gives each fund's balance. Between the two tables the funds moved by +$221,076 (Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund), +$107,014 (Northern Ontario fund) and -$112,804 (Canada Community-Building Fund), which add to the total change of $215,286 (all worked out by us). The Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund received $117,229, so by our subtraction it needs $103,847 more than receipts to reach its balance. The Canada Community-Building Fund received $67,422 and fell by $112,804, so by our count at least $180,226 left it, while only $91,523 was used from all three funds.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources

Good to knowRecord-keeping

Why do two pages of South Algonquin's statements show different Library reserve balances, $30,985 and $30,895?

$90difference between the two printed Library reserve balances

Note 15, which covers the Library Board, shows a reserve of $30,985 at the end of 2024. The consolidated schedule of reserves shows "Library" at 30,895. The two figures differ by $90 and use the same digits in a different order, which may be a typing slip. The schedule's nine lines add up to its total of $2,342,979 only with 30,895 (worked out by us), and that total matches the statement of financial position.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources

Good to knowMoney health

How much is South Algonquin's share of the East Nipissing home for the aged redevelopment, and is it counted anywhere?

$110,857paid to the East Nipissing home for the aged in 2024; the capital share is not stated

South Algonquin helps pay for the East Nipissing District Home for the Aged, called Casselholme in the note, and gave $110,857 to it in 2024. Note 2 says the home is expanding. It says the Township's capital share will be "a loan at 0%" that is forgiven when the project is finished and the terms are met. The note gives no amount, and the statements record no loan or related obligation. The Township says it is also contingently liable for its share of any deficit at the home and other joint boards.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source

Where your tax bill goes

A property tax bill in South Algonquin pays for the town and schools. Only part of it goes to the town, and that part is what South Algonquin council controls.

Tax bill split: South Algonquin 86%, Schools 14%
$3.3Mraised in 2025
  • South Algonquin86%
  • Schools14%
  • Every fact, sourced

    Each number links to the public document it came from. Check it yourself.

  • No accusations

    We ask questions. Every one lists ordinary reasons a number could look odd.

  • Compared fairly

    Towns are only compared with places of a similar size and kind, from the same yearly reports.

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