Your city, in plain words
A clear, checkable guide to Thorold's budget, taxes and council decisions. A city in the Niagara Region with a mayor and eight councillors, all elected at large. Every figure links back to the public record.
Follow Thorold in one tapWhere it goes
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.
+94%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2025
Thorold spent $3.0M on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $5.9M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 1 of 25 similar places had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the city's financial reports · 3 sources
$11Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2025
At the end of 2025, $11M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 16% of everything billed. None of the 25 similar places had a higher share. A year earlier it was $8.3M.
Found automatically from the city's financial reports · 2 sources
8.14%gross levy change in the 2026 operating budget, with "growth" of -4.65% and a net levy change of 3.49%
The levy is the amount of money the City raises from property taxes. The 2026 operating budget summary puts taxation at $26,448,509, up from $24,457,573 in 2025, a rise of $1,990,936 or 8.1%. The same summary prints three percentages at the bottom: "GROSS LEVY CHANGE 8.14%", "GROWTH -4.65%" and "NET LEVY CHANGE 3.49%". The first minus the second gives the third (worked out by us). The summary does not say in words what these three lines mean, or what the new homes and businesses are expected to add.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 2 sources
$843,033licences and permits revenue in 2025, against a budget of $1,855,065
The 2025 budget counted on $1,855,065 from licences and permits. The audited statements show $843,033, and $958,729 the year before. Over the same year, the building code reserve (money by law set aside only for running the building permit service) fell from $3,492,928 to $2,327,080. The statements do not explain the gap.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$5,771,513spent on capital assets in 2025, against a budget of $36,944,206
Capital spending means building or replacing long-lasting things such as roads, pipes and buildings. The 2025 budget planned to buy $36,944,206 of these assets. The statements show $5,771,513 bought, and $16,712,635 in 2024. The City says projects in progress at December 31, 2025 have future costs of about $33,424,392. Development charges are fees paid by builders to pay for the roads, pipes and parks that growth needs. The City held $41,792,512 of them at the end of 2025, and recognized $1,257,540 of capital development charge revenue against a budget of $9,146,947.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 5 sources
$19,123,000held in principal protected notes at December 31, 2025, out of $40,480,043 of investments
The City invests money it does not need right away. At December 31, 2025 the book value of its portfolio was $40,480,043. The largest part, $19,123,000, was in principal protected notes (PPNs), and another $2,000,000 in step-up notes. A principal protected note promises to return the amount put in, but what it earns on top can depend on a market or index, which makes it harder to value than a plain savings certificate. About 47% of the portfolio is in PPNs (worked out by us). The statements say all investments are recorded at cost. The market value of the whole portfolio was $42,917,310.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$11,042,437taxes receivable at December 31, 2025, up from $8,284,563 (both worked out by us from two printed lines)
At the end of 2025 the City was owed property taxes shown on two lines of its statement of financial position: $7,340,024 and $3,702,413. A year earlier the same two lines were $5,398,607 and $2,885,956. Together they rose from $8,284,563 to $11,042,437, about 33% (worked out by us). The allowance for taxes that may never be collected was $1,752,590 in both years. Penalties and interest on taxes brought in $1,377,173 against a budget of $945,804. The 2026 budget raises that line to $1,194,804.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$1,821,150budgeted spending on the Community Improvement Plan line in 2026, against $621,164 in the 2025 column
A community improvement plan is a program that gives grants or tax breaks to property owners to encourage building or repairs in an area. The 2026 operating budget lists "G824 COMM. IMPROVEMENT PLAN" at $1,821,150 of spending, against $621,164 in the 2025 column, with revenue of $1,546,986 against $347,000. The net cost to taxpayers is $274,164 in both years. The statements also say the City has five signed tax increment based grant agreements, with $844,199 left to pay. The budget pages we read do not say what the new revenue is.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 2 sources
+93%police, fire and safety, 2019 to 2025
Thorold spent $4.8M on police, fire and safety in 2019 and $9.2M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Found automatically from the city's financial reports · 2 sources
+144%water, sewers and garbage, 2019 to 2025
Thorold spent $5.6M on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $13.6M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Found automatically from the city's financial reports · 2 sources
$4,113,414the Park's annual deficit for 2025 as reported by the Park, which the City shares
Canada Games Park is a large sports centre in Thorold owned jointly by Brock University, the City of St. Catharines, the City of Thorold and the Region of Niagara. The City's statements record a 25% share. The Park reported revenue of $3,648,766 and expenses of $7,762,180 for 2025, an annual deficit of $4,113,414 (2024: $5,391,235). The notes do not say how much of the expenses is the yearly wearing-out of the building (amortization, which is not a cash cost). The notes also say the Park's revenues and operating costs are shared in equal one-third shares by three members, while the City holds 25%. Of the Park's deficit, the notes record contributions from the City of $383,827 in 2025.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
A property tax bill in Thorold pays for three governments. Only part of it goes to the city, and that part is what Thorold council controls.
Local businesses can sponsor this page · How it works →
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.
Places are only compared with places of a similar size and kind, from the same yearly reports.
Council meetings are open to the public, and councillors answer to you. How to reach Thorold's council · Council Books is free and paid for by readers: support this work.