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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Welland'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 · 11 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Welland's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 10 similar Ontario places. 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.
$31,262,463received from selling tangible capital assets in 2024, per the City's cash flow statement
In 2024 the City's statements show a one-time gain of $30,077,448 from selling assets, almost all of it in recreation and culture. That is why the 2024 surplus was $65,343,374, compared with $36,506,653 in 2025. The Economic Development reserve fund, which the 2026 budget says holds land sale proceeds, then fell by about $7.9 million in 2025. The statements and budget we read do not name the property, the buyer or the price.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 5 sources
$91,491,955forecast closing debt for 2035, against $66,343,138 at the end of 2025
The City owed $66,343,138 at the end of 2025. Its 2026 budget forecasts that debt dips to $60,981,951 at the end of 2026, then climbs to $83,742,898 by 2028 and $91,491,955 by 2035, with new borrowing of $14,000,000 a year from 2029. The forecast assumes the City's own revenue grows about 6% a year.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$5,545,210fall in reserves and reserve funds in 2025, worked out by us from $80,499,146 to $74,953,936
The City's reserves and reserve funds (savings set aside for later) fell from $80,499,146 to $74,953,936 in 2025. The 2026 budget forecasts a small rise to $74,409,532 by the end of 2026, but only because $9,892,377 of anticipated receipts is counted in. Without those receipts, the same forecast would show about $8.5 million less (worked out by us). In the December 3, 2025 budget meeting, a councillor said the City was relying too much on debt and reserves.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$1,726,412increase in the fire department's salaries and wages line, 2026 budget over 2025 budget (18.9%, worked out by us)
Salaries, wages and employee benefits rose from $44,121,080 in 2024 to $48,757,793 in 2025. For 2026 the Mayor directed staff to keep existing services "without adding new programs or staff", yet the fire department's salaries and wages line rises from $9,131,963 to $10,858,375 and its net cost to the tax levy rises $1,872,498. The budget book adds one fire prevention officer through a council amendment but gives no note on the rest of the rise.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$17,858,104taxes receivable at the end of 2025, up from $13,461,143 a year earlier
Taxes receivable (taxes billed but not yet paid) rose from $13,461,143 to $17,858,104 in 2025, after also rising in 2024. At the same time the City set aside $1,000,000 for tax assessment appeals, up from $500,000. The statements say property owners have won appeals and more refunds are likely, but they give no estimate of the total.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
21 dayssuspension of pay recommended by the Integrity Commissioner for Councillor Tony DiMarco in August 2026
In 2026 the City's Integrity Commissioner reported publicly that Councillor Tony DiMarco and Councillor John Chiocchio each broke the Code of Conduct, and recommended penalties. The Commissioner can only recommend: Council decides whether to accept them. The Commissioner's page lists 17 reports since 2017. We could not read council's minutes, so we do not know what Council decided.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
At the end of 2025, $17.9M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 14% of everything billed. Only 1 of 10 similar places had a higher share. A year earlier it was $13.5M.
Found automatically from the city's financial reports · 2 sources
$3,068,110in the Atlas landfill reserve at the end of 2025
The City's statements say it owns one closed landfill, that part of it has been cleaned up for a future park, and that the cost of any further clean-up "cannot be reasonably estimated at this time", so no cost for it is recorded. The 2026 budget shows an Atlas Landfill reserve of $3,068,110 at the end of 2025 that is forecast to shrink to $2,819,680 by the end of 2026.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$4,690average 2026 tax bill on an illustrative home assessed at $234,000, up 6.32% from $4,411
The adopted 2026 budget raises the City's levy by 6.10% to $55,852,270. After 2.09% growth from new buildings, the increase to existing taxpayers is 4.01%. On an average home the City's share goes from $1,930 to $2,008, while the Region's share rises faster, from $2,126 to $2,324.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 2 sources
$31,262,463received from selling tangible capital assets in 2024, per the City's cash flow statement
In 2024 the City's statements show a one-time gain of $30,077,448 from selling assets, almost all of it in recreation and culture. That is why the 2024 surplus was $65,343,374, compared with $36,506,653 in 2025. The Economic Development reserve fund, which the 2026 budget says holds land sale proceeds, then fell by about $7.9 million in 2025. The statements and budget we read do not name the property, the buyer or the price.
Why it matters
A sale of this size turns land the public owned into cash. Residents are entitled to know what was sold, to whom, how council approved it, and what the cash is being spent on. A reserve fund is savings: once spent, it is gone.
It could be because…
A sale of surplus land that council approved in public, with the proceeds set aside for economic development and other projects.
Cash may be paid in stages, so some proceeds are still to come; the budget says $10.3 million in land sale proceeds is already known beyond 2026.
The reserve fund fell in 2025 because council chose to spend part of it on projects it had already approved.
Questions you could ask
Which land or assets were sold in 2024, to whom, at what price, and under which council resolution?
How much of the 2024 proceeds went into the Economic Development reserve fund, and what withdrawals were made from it in 2025 and for what?
Which sale produces the $10.3 million of proceeds still expected, and when is it due?
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 Welland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The 2025 cash flow statement shows "Proceeds from sale of tangible capital assets" of 31,262,463 in 2024 (158,888 in 2025) and "Loss (gain) on disposal of tangible capital assets" of (30,077,448) in 2024.
Schedule 1 for 2024 puts the gain on disposal of tangible capital assets at 29,987,769 under Recreational and cultural services, out of a consolidated 30,077,448.
Note 14 shows the Economic development reserve fund at 11,441,983 at the end of 2025 and 19,352,713 at the end of 2024. The size of the fall is worked out by us.
The 2026 reserve forecast says: "Beyond 2026, land sale proceeds of $10.3 million and a funding commitment for the Economic Development Officer position of approx. $0.1 million are known." It shows Economic Development growing from 11,156,953 to 19,702,685 by the end of 2026, including anticipated receipts of 9,892,377. The budget does not say which land.
$91,491,955forecast closing debt for 2035, against $66,343,138 at the end of 2025
The City owed $66,343,138 at the end of 2025. Its 2026 budget forecasts that debt dips to $60,981,951 at the end of 2026, then climbs to $83,742,898 by 2028 and $91,491,955 by 2035, with new borrowing of $14,000,000 a year from 2029. The forecast assumes the City's own revenue grows about 6% a year.
Why it matters
Debt is repaid from property taxes and water and sewer bills. The more of those bills that go to repayments, the less is left for services and the less room there is when costs jump. The City's own measure of repayments against its revenue rises from 9.83% in 2026 to 11.05% in 2031.
It could be because…
Borrowing spreads the cost of long-lived roads, pipes and buildings over the years that people use them, which is the City's stated reason.
Much of the new borrowing may replace debt that is being repaid, so the share of revenue going to repayments stays near 10%.
The forecast is an estimate. It assumes a 3.5% interest rate and that debt is issued the year or two after the money is budgeted.
Questions you could ask
What upper limit on the annual repayment percentage has council set, and how close does the forecast come to it?
Which projects make up the $19,662,090 and $23,419,261 of new debt forecast for 2027 and 2028?
What happens to the forecast if own source revenue grows by less than the 6% a year it assumes?
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 Welland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 9 shows long-term debt of 66,343,138 at the end of 2025 and 64,128,157 at the end of 2024. It adds: "The City paid $2,151,496 (2024 - $1,716,272) interest on long-term debt during the year."
The cash flow statement shows "Proceeds on issuance of long-term debt" of 10,762,630 in 2025 (12,000,000 in 2024) and "Repayment of long-term debt" of (8,547,648) in 2025.
The ten-year debt forecast shows closing principal of 60,981,951 for 2026, 71,234,930 for 2027, 83,742,898 for 2028 and 91,491,955 for 2035, with debt issuance of 19,662,090 in 2027, 23,419,261 in 2028 and 14,000,000 a year from 2029 to 2035. The Annual Repayment % is 9.83% in 2026 and 11.05% in 2031. Note (4) says own source revenue "is estimated to increase at a rate of approximately 6% annually".
The City's own explanation: "Debt is used to smooth the impact of tax/rate fluctuations related to capital spending." It says the annual repayment percentage "measures our ability to pay our debt charges with the revenue we control".
$5,545,210fall in reserves and reserve funds in 2025, worked out by us from $80,499,146 to $74,953,936
The City's reserves and reserve funds (savings set aside for later) fell from $80,499,146 to $74,953,936 in 2025. The 2026 budget forecasts a small rise to $74,409,532 by the end of 2026, but only because $9,892,377 of anticipated receipts is counted in. Without those receipts, the same forecast would show about $8.5 million less (worked out by us). In the December 3, 2025 budget meeting, a councillor said the City was relying too much on debt and reserves.
Why it matters
Reserves are what a city draws on for emergencies, repairs and its share of big projects. If they shrink while debt grows, the City has less cushion and future councils inherit the bill.
It could be because…
Reserves are meant to be spent on capital work, and the City says they "support capital asset replacement"; a fall in a year with a large capital program is expected.
The anticipated receipts are known land sale proceeds, so the forecast may be cautious rather than a sign of trouble.
A councillor's remark in debate is an opinion, and finance staff may see the position differently.
Questions you could ask
Does council have a target for total reserves, and how far below it was the City at the end of 2025?
How much of the 2026 transfer to the capital budget of $17,127,845 comes out of reserves, and which projects does it fund?
What does the City's reserve forecast look like for 2027 if the expected land sale proceeds arrive later than planned?
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 Welland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 13 and Note 14 show "Reserve and reserve funds" of 74,953,936 for 2025 and 80,499,146 for 2024, with Operating surplus at 5,664,828 (2025) and 6,967,981 (2024).
The 2026 reserve forecast shows TOTAL RESERVES moving from 73,026,602 to 74,409,532, made up of transfers to the operating budget of (2,442,250), transfers from it of 9,703,611, transfers to the capital budget of (17,127,845), anticipated receipts of 9,892,377 and investment income of 1,357,037. The comparison without the receipts, in the summary, is worked out by us.
The City's own explanation: "Reserves are savings built up over time that can support unanticipated economic impacts, fund one-time needs, address deficits, support emergencies, plan for specific projects, and most importantly support capital asset replacement."
$1,726,412increase in the fire department's salaries and wages line, 2026 budget over 2025 budget (18.9%, worked out by us)
Salaries, wages and employee benefits rose from $44,121,080 in 2024 to $48,757,793 in 2025. For 2026 the Mayor directed staff to keep existing services "without adding new programs or staff", yet the fire department's salaries and wages line rises from $9,131,963 to $10,858,375 and its net cost to the tax levy rises $1,872,498. The budget book adds one fire prevention officer through a council amendment but gives no note on the rest of the rise.
Why it matters
Pay and benefits are the biggest part of what the City spends. A rise much faster than the roughly 2% inflation the budget itself cites needs a plain explanation, because it carries into every future year.
It could be because…
A new collective agreement or arbitration award that raised firefighters' pay, including back pay.
Hiring during 2025 that now shows for a full year, and the new fire prevention officer.
Staff and costs moved between budget lines; the book says it re-aligned several accounts for 2026 and opened a new costing centre for Fire Hall #3.
Questions you could ask
What part of the 18.9% rise in the fire salaries line comes from the collective agreement, from new hires and from budget re-alignment?
How much of the $4,636,713 rise in pay and benefits across the City in 2025 (worked out by us) was in each department?
Is the 2026 fire budget consistent with the Mayor's direction not to add staff, given the amendment that added a position?
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 Welland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 18 shows "Salaries, wages and employee benefits" of 48,757,793 in 2025 and 44,121,080 in 2024. The 10.5% rise is worked out by us.
The Fire costing centre (20-210) shows salaries and wages (510010) of 8,071,474 for 2024 actual, 9,131,963 for the 2025 budget and 10,858,375 for the 2026 budget, and a net cost of (13,337,856) for 2025 and (15,210,354) for 2026, a change of (1,872,498). The only notes on the page explain a new penalty, a moved promotions account and an allocation to building.
The Budget Highlights say: "This year's budget began with clear direction from the Mayor to maintain existing services without adding new programs or staff." They add that after assessment growth "the municipal tax levy increase for 2026 is 4.01%".
The staffing summary lists Fire Services at 82.0 full-time equivalents and says: "There are 4 additional full-time FTE's included in the 2026 budget when compared to the 2025 budget", one of them a "Fire Prevention Officer approved via budget amendment during the 2026 budget process".
$17,858,104taxes receivable at the end of 2025, up from $13,461,143 a year earlier
Taxes receivable (taxes billed but not yet paid) rose from $13,461,143 to $17,858,104 in 2025, after also rising in 2024. At the same time the City set aside $1,000,000 for tax assessment appeals, up from $500,000. The statements say property owners have won appeals and more refunds are likely, but they give no estimate of the total.
Why it matters
Unpaid taxes and refunds both reduce the cash the City actually collects. The City also collects taxes for the Region and school boards, so a build-up can mean pressure on its own cash.
It could be because…
Much of the rise may be the Region's share: taxes collected for the Region grew from 53,979,507 to 60,454,033, and a bigger bill means a bigger unpaid balance at year end.
Timing: later final bills or later due dates can push more of the bill past December 31.
A few large accounts under appeal, which the City has chosen to hold back from collection.
Questions you could ask
How much of the $17,858,104 is more than one year overdue, and how much is the Region's and school boards' share?
What is the total value of assessment appeals still open, and why can it not be estimated?
Is the $1,000,000 allowance enough, and what happens to the City's budget if refunds exceed it?
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 Welland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The Statement of Financial Position shows Taxes receivable of 17,858,104 at December 31, 2025 and 13,461,143 at December 31, 2024. The 33% rise is worked out by us.
Note 19 says property owners "have been successful in appealing their tax assessments" and that more refunds are likely. "Although an estimate cannot be made of the contingent liability, the City has provided $1,000,000 (2024 - $500,000) as an allowance for doubtful accounts."
Note 15 shows taxes collected for the Regional Municipality of Niagara of 60,454,033 in 2025 and 53,979,507 in 2024, and for school boards 13,386,731 and 13,015,453.
21 dayssuspension of pay recommended by the Integrity Commissioner for Councillor Tony DiMarco in August 2026
In 2026 the City's Integrity Commissioner reported publicly that Councillor Tony DiMarco and Councillor John Chiocchio each broke the Code of Conduct, and recommended penalties. The Commissioner can only recommend: Council decides whether to accept them. The Commissioner's page lists 17 reports since 2017. We could not read council's minutes, so we do not know what Council decided.
Why it matters
A Code of Conduct only means something if Council acts on the findings in public. Council also decides whether a member's pay is suspended, so the vote is part of how the public judges whether the rules apply to everyone.
It could be because…
Council may already have voted on both reports; the minutes are on a site we could not read.
Council may have adopted the recommendations in full or changed them, which the law allows.
Each councillor is entitled to respond to a report, and Council may weigh those replies before deciding.
Questions you could ask
What did Council vote on each report, and on what date?
Was the recommended suspension of pay carried out, and was the councillor's participation by video required?
What did the Integrity Commissioner's work on these two complaints cost the City?
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 Welland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The Integrity Commissioner page lists public reports dated January 17, 2017 through August 11, 2026. The count of 17 is worked out by us. Hines Law appears as the Commissioner. The page does not say what Council decided on any report.
Report on complaint 2026-02, dated August 5, 2026: "it is my opinion that the Respondent contravened sections 9.2, 9.3, 14.1, 14.2, and 14.3 of the Code, but did not contravene section 9.1." The Commissioner recommends a reprimand, that Council "suspend the remuneration paid to the Respondent in respect of his services as a Member of Council for a period of twenty-one (21) days", a written apology within thirty (30) days, and that for the rest of the term the Respondent "participate electronically, rather than in person". The report says it is the fifth finding against him for his treatment of other members of council since 2020.
Report on complaint 2026-01, dated April 7, 2026, about social media posts after the December 3, 2025 special budget meeting: the Councillor "Contravened Section 4.1 of the Code (in part)", section 10.2(c), section 14.1 (in part) and section 18.1. It recommends a formal reprimand and a written apology, and says "We do not recommend a suspension of remuneration in this case."
Welland spent $10.6M on police, fire and safety in 2019 and $18.8M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Why did the cost of police, fire and safety grow 77% in 6 years?
Police, fire and safety
Prices (inflation)
+0%+20%+40%+60%+80%
+77%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Police, fire and safety
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
+1%
+1%
2021
+16%
+4%
2022
+12%
+11%
2023
+47%
+16%
2024
+45%
+18%
2025
+77%
+21%
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Why it matters
When one area grows much faster than prices, it is either doing more (which may be great) or paying more for the same thing. Residents deserve to know which.
It could be because…
The city added a service, a building or staff that residents asked for.
Costs were moved from another area, so the total did not really change.
Accounting rules changed how costs are sorted.
Large one-time costs, like a study, lawsuit or repair, landed in one year.
Questions you could ask
What did the extra $8.2M a year pay for?
Why did fire department go from $9.3M to $15M?
Was each increase approved by council as a separate decision, or did it happen through the yearly budget?
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 Welland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Police, fire and safety: 2019 $10.6M, 2020 $10.8M, 2021 $12.3M, 2022 $11.9M, 2023 $15.7M, 2024 $15.4M, 2025 $18.8M.
Welland spent $23.8M on water, sewers and garbage in 2019 and $35.4M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time.
Why did the cost of water, sewers and garbage grow 49% in 6 years?
Water, sewers and garbage
Prices (inflation)
+0%+10%+20%+30%+40%+50%
+49%
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Water, sewers and garbage
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
+2%
+1%
2021
+10%
+4%
2022
+20%
+11%
2023
+30%
+16%
2024
+30%
+18%
2025
+49%
+21%
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Why it matters
When one area grows much faster than prices, it is either doing more (which may be great) or paying more for the same thing. Residents deserve to know which.
It could be because…
The city added a service, a building or staff that residents asked for.
Costs were moved from another area, so the total did not really change.
Accounting rules changed how costs are sorted.
Large one-time costs, like a study, lawsuit or repair, landed in one year.
Questions you could ask
What did the extra $11.6M a year pay for?
Why did sewer pipes go from $13.1M to $21.6M?
Was each increase approved by council as a separate decision, or did it happen through the yearly budget?
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 Welland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
At the end of 2025, $17.9M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 14% of everything billed. Only 1 of 10 similar places had a higher share. A year earlier it was $13.5M.
Why are so many property taxes unpaid?
$0$5.0M$10M$15M$20M
$17.9M
2019202020212022202320242025
Show as a table
Year
Unpaid property tax at year end
2019
$8.3M
2020
$12.7M
2021
$7.7M
2022
$7.5M
2023
$9.5M
2024
$13.5M
2025
$17.9M
Why it matters
When taxes go unpaid, everyone else carries the cost, and the city 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 city'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 city 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 city registered tax arrears certificates on properties about two years behind? If still unpaid a year after that, Ontario law lets the city 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 Welland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Taxes receivable: 2019 $8.3M, 2020 $12.7M, 2021 $7.7M, 2022 $7.5M, 2023 $9.5M, 2024 $13.5M, 2025 $17.9M. Of the 2025 total, $5.5M was from earlier years.
$3,068,110in the Atlas landfill reserve at the end of 2025
The City's statements say it owns one closed landfill, that part of it has been cleaned up for a future park, and that the cost of any further clean-up "cannot be reasonably estimated at this time", so no cost for it is recorded. The 2026 budget shows an Atlas Landfill reserve of $3,068,110 at the end of 2025 that is forecast to shrink to $2,819,680 by the end of 2026.
Why it matters
If clean-up costs turn out to be large, they would be paid from the reserve, then from taxes. Knowing the likely range now lets residents and council plan.
It could be because…
The remaining area is simply under routine monitoring and no further clean-up is planned, so there is nothing to estimate.
The accounting rules only let the City record a cost once it can be reasonably estimated; this is how municipalities normally treat an unknown.
The reserve is sized to the yearly cost of monitoring, not to a big clean-up.
Questions you could ask
Has the City had any engineering estimate of the cost of further clean-up, and will it publish it?
How many years of monitoring costs does the reserve cover at the current $199,000 a year?
Does any other level of government or a third party share the cost?
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 Welland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 21 says: "The City owns and monitors one closed landfill site and is legally required to perform post-closure maintenance and monitoring activities." It adds that "The costs for any further remediation cannot be reasonably estimated at this time". The note does not name the site.
The 2026 reserve forecast shows Atlas Landfill at 3,039,240, with a transfer to the operating budget of (199,000) and to the capital budget of (100,000), ending 2026 at 2,819,680. A costing centre note says: "Atlas Landfill post-closure costs are funded from a transfer from the Atlas Landfill Site Reserve." A capital sheet calls the site "Vista Park (former Atlas Landfill site)". We take it to be the same site as in Note 21, but neither document says so.
City of Welland 2026 Budget Book · Reserve Forecast 2026, PDF page 49; Parks costing centre note (1), PDF page 96; capital project sheet, PDF page 176
$4,690average 2026 tax bill on an illustrative home assessed at $234,000, up 6.32% from $4,411
The adopted 2026 budget raises the City's levy by 6.10% to $55,852,270. After 2.09% growth from new buildings, the increase to existing taxpayers is 4.01%. On an average home the City's share goes from $1,930 to $2,008, while the Region's share rises faster, from $2,126 to $2,324.
Why it matters
Residents pay one bill that includes the City, the Region and the school boards, but only the City's part is decided in Welland. Seeing each part makes clear who sets which increase.
It could be because…
The City says costs driven by wages, benefits and essential services are rising faster than the roughly 2% general inflation.
The Region's figure is an estimate based on its planning report; its final budget may differ.
Questions you could ask
What was the final Regional levy for 2026 and what did the average Welland bill actually become?
How much of the City's 4.01% comes from wages and benefits, and how much from capital contributions?
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 Welland?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The Property Tax Levy Summary shows Net Tax Levy Supported Expenditures of $52,640,869 for 2025 and $55,852,270 for 2026, a change of $3,211,401 or 6.10%, less assessment growth of 2.09%, for a Net Property Tax Levy Increase of 4.01%. Average tax bills: Niagara Region $2,126 to $2,324 (9.30%), City of Welland $1,930 to $2,008 (4.01%), Education $355 to $358, total $4,411 to $4,690 (6.32%).
The budget says the Region's figures are based on its planning report CSD 31-2025 issued on May 22, 2025, are not final, and that the breakdown is an illustrative example based on an average residential property with an assessment value of $234,000.
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