Your town, in plain words
A clear, checkable guide to South River's budget, taxes and council decisions. A small village in the Almaguin Highlands area of Parry Sound District, 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.
$461per home on council, 2025
South River spent about $461 per home on council in 2025. The typical similar town spent $105. Only 2 of 30 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
$4,087per home on long-term debt, 2025
South River spent about $4,087 per home on long-term debt in 2025. The typical similar town spent $961. Only 2 of 30 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
$1,081,507inventories held for resale at December 31, 2025
The Village's balance sheet lists $1,081,507 of "inventories held for resale" at the end of 2025. A year earlier the same line was $1,105,886, up from almost nothing before 2024. In 2025 council also set aside a new reserve called "saleable inventory" of $1,105,000. The statements do not say which properties these are. Council minutes show several small property sales, but the two sale prices we found add up to a small part of the total.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 6 sources
8meetings in a row (worked out by us) whose closed-session agenda named 281 Hwy 124, February 10 to May 26, 2026
On April 28, 2026 council passed one by-law to sell 281 Hwy 124 and another for a vendor take-back mortgage, which means the Village lends part of the price to the buyer. Both by-laws say the terms are in a "Schedule A" that is not posted with them. We could not find the price, the amount lent, the interest rate or the repayment dates. Council's closed-session agenda named the property at eight meetings in a row between February 10 and May 26, 2026 (counted by us).
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
$450,000maximum spending authority for the 309 Hwy 124 renovation, July 14, 2026
On July 14, 2026 council passed a by-law letting staff spend up to $450,000 on renovating 309 Hwy 124 for the district paramedic service. The by-law says the paramedic service will pay the whole cost "through a loan facilitated by the Village of South River". It does not say who is the borrower, who the lender is or what happens if the loan is not repaid.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$1,756,211bank loan of the Village-owned power company, guaranteed by the Village, at December 31, 2025
The Village owns South River Power Generation Corporation, which runs a hydroelectric plant. The corporation owes a bank $1,756,211, and the Village has guaranteed that loan. The Village's investment in the corporation is $1,929,679, about 70% of its net financial assets of $2,738,459 (worked out by us). The Village's yearly share of the corporation's profit, $91,852 in 2025 against $305,127 in 2024, is counted as revenue but is not cash.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
+8%town property tax, 2024 to 2025
In 2025, South River collected $114K more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 8% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. Only 5 of 30 similar towns raised theirs by more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
+73%roads and snow, 2019 to 2025
South River spent $308K on roads and snow in 2019 and $531K in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 4 of 30 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
18.36%water budget and rates increase approved November 13, 2025
A new five-year agreement with the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) to run the water plant starts January 1, 2026. Council was told it meant about a 50% rise in OCWA's operating cost, and approved water rates 18.36% higher. The statements show the yearly base price rising from $206,207 to $266,511 (worked out by us: about 29% before extras). Council said OCWA was the lowest bid and that running the plant itself would cost more. Council also hired an engineer for plant upgrades.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
3.5%overall 2026 tax increase approved July 14, 2026
The Village's share of the shared fire department budget rose 13.1% and its 2026 police costs rose 11%. Water rates rose 18.36%. Council set an overall tax increase of 3.5%. The minutes show a large drop in the Village's share of the community centre and arena budget (55.89%), which the minutes tie to a finished capital project, so some of the room came from one-time spending ending.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
July 14, 2026date the 2026 budget was recommended and the tax rate by-law passed
The 2026 budget was recommended and the tax rate by-law passed on July 14, 2026, more than half way through the year. Tax rate by-laws in 2025 and 2024 are dated July 22 and July 23, so this is the Village's usual timing. We did not find the budget document posted on the Village's site.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
Council received a "Council Remuneration Report for 2025" on March 24, 2026. We did not find it on the Village's website, so we have not filled in a pay table. The 2024 by-law that sets pay rates is posted.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$590per home on snow ploughing, 2025
South River spent about $590 per home on snow ploughing in 2025. The typical similar town spent $142. None of the 30 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
A property tax bill in South River pays for the town and schools. Only part of it goes to the town, and that part is what South River council controls.
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Each number links to the public document it came from. Check it yourself.
We ask questions. Every one lists ordinary reasons a number could look odd.
Towns are only compared with places of a similar size and kind, from the same yearly reports.
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