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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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 West Perth'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 / West PerthUpdated Oct 5, 2026

Your town, in plain words

How West Perth uses the money we share.

A clear, checkable guide to West Perth's budget, taxes and council decisions. A municipality in Perth County, southwestern Ontario, with a mayor, a deputy mayor and nine councillors from four former townships. Every figure links back to the public record.

Property tax raised in 2025$22.4Mall property in West Perth58% Town27% County15% SchoolsSee where your tax bill goes →
Town spending, 2025$17.1MAbout $5,268 per household, up 8.2% from 2024.See the money →
Property tax change+7.5%West Perth's own property tax came to $13M in 2025, against $12.1M in 2024.What changed →

Where it goes

Most of every dollar supports the everyday town.

Explore every service →
Roads and snow$4.7M · 27%
Police, fire and safety$4.0M · 24%
Parks, arena and library$2.9M · 17%
Water, sewers and garbage$2.8M · 16%
Show all 7 servicesShow fewer
Running the town office$2.2M · 13%
Planning and business$400K · 2%
Health$59,702 · 0%

Day-to-day spending in 2025, from West Perth's report to the Province.

A fair comparisonHow does West Perth compare?Among 47 similar Ontario towns, West Perth's day-to-day spending per household is on the high side.West Perth is here · 44 of 47, lowest to highestCompare West Perth →

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 askingMoney health

Why did West Perth finish 2025 with a surplus of $4,257,778 when the budget planned for $243,160, and 2024 with $3,384,305 against $1,322,830?

$4,257,778surplus in 2025, against a budget figure of $243,160

A surplus is what is left when a year's revenue is more than its spending. The audited 2025 statements show an annual surplus of $4,257,778. The budget figure printed beside it is $243,160. In 2024 the statements show $3,384,305 against a budget figure of $1,322,830. Revenue in 2025 was $25,683,343 against a budget figure of $22,037,416. The Municipality's budget book says a municipal budget must be balanced, so the budget figures in the statements are a restated version, not the amount Council voted on.

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

Worth askingMoney health

Why was investment income $2,643,445 in 2025 when the budget figure was $482,900?

$2,643,445investment income in 2025, against a budget figure of $482,900

Investment income is the interest and gains the Municipality earns on money it has saved. In 2025 it printed at $2,643,445 against a budget figure of $482,900. In 2024 it was $961,946 against $386,900. At the end of 2025 the Municipality held cash and cash equivalents of $24,341,338 and investments of $8,359,361. The statements say the principal protected notes, which are most of the investments, earn a return "determined upon maturity", so we do not know what made up the 2025 figure.

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

Worth askingMoney health

What is the plan for the $2,930,332 land loan, due in 2026, if Heron Business Park lots have not sold?

$2,930,332owed to CIBC at December 31, 2025, due in 2026

The Municipality borrowed $3,000,000 in 2024 from a bank (CIBC) at 4.74% interest, for land. The statements show the loan at $2,930,332 at the end of 2025 and say it is due in 2026. The land is held as "Land inventory held for sale" at $4,518,169, the same amount at the end of 2024 and 2025. The 2025 statements show "Industrial land sales and miscellaneous" of 13,162. The Municipality's budget book says the loan "will be repaid when lots are sold within the Heron Business Park". The 2026 Mayor's Budget lists development of the Heron Business Park as a capital priority.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources

Worth askingMoney health

How will West Perth pay for a $15 million ice pad in 2027 and a $20 million wastewater plant expansion in 2028?

$15 millionice pad replacement planned for 2027, with a $20 million wastewater plant expansion in 2028

Capital means building and replacing things that last, like roads and arenas. The 10-year capital plan staff gave Council in February 2025 shows spikes: an ice pad replacement ($15 million, 2027), a wastewater treatment plant expansion ($20 million, 2028), a water standpipe ($5 million, 2030) and a landfill ($4.5 million, 2032). Staff say they expect grants for these, "or the use of debt will be required". The 2025 statements show reserves and reserve funds of $24,868,670 and municipal debt of $6,375,783. The 2026 Mayor's Budget says the operating budget "accounts for required Arena debt payments", but the 2025 statements list no loan for an arena.

Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources

Show 5 more questionsShow fewer
Worth askingRising costs

Why did the cost of parks, arena and library grow 120% in 6 years?

+120%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2025

West Perth spent $1.3M on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $2.9M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 6 of 46 similar towns had faster growth here.

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

Good to knowSpending level

Why did the levy rise to $12,100,574 in 2025 and by a further $861,803 in 2026?

$861,803increase in the municipal levy for 2026, printed as 7.12%

The levy is the amount raised from property taxes. The 2025 budget book says the 2025 levy is $12,100,574, up from $11,142,523 in 2024 (an increase of about 8.6%, worked out by us). For 2026 the Municipality says the levy will rise by $861,803, which it prints as 7.12%, a tax rate increase of 5.65% after growth. The Municipality has explained part of this: police costs, the conservation authority levy, gravel costs, debt payments and a new transit service.

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

Good to knowOpenness

Where is the final 2026 budget book, and is the 2026 Mayor's Budget on the website the version Council adopted?

9 pagesin the 2026 Mayor's Budget PDF, against 134 in the 2025 budget report (page counts worked out by us)

Since May 1, 2025, West Perth's mayor has had strong mayor powers, which include proposing the budget. The budget page has a "2026 Mayors Budget" tab with a media release (December 18, 2025) and a short PDF called the Mayor's Budget. The PDF has 9 pages (counted by us), against the 2025 budget report, which has 134 pages and explains each major change. The 2026 PDF's financial pages are marked "Run Date: 12/4/25", which is before the December 18, 2025 approval. We did not find a final adopted 2026 budget book or a by-law for 2026 on the page. The page links the 2025 budget by-law.

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

Good to knowRecord-keeping

Why do the 2025 audited statements say West Perth operates under the "Community Charter" and call itself "the Township"?

2027the year the notes call the first effective year "for the Township"

Note 1 of the 2025 statements says the Municipality of West Perth "operates under the provisions of the Community Charter". The Community Charter is British Columbia's municipal law; Ontario municipalities work under the Municipal Act, 2001. A later note says the new accounting standards' "first effective year for the Township" is the year ending December 31, 2027. West Perth is not a township. This does not change any figure, but it suggests wording was carried over from another client's statements.

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

Where your tax bill goes

A property tax bill in West Perth pays for three governments. Only part of it goes to the town, and that part is what West Perth council controls.

Tax bill split: West Perth 58%, County or region 27%, Schools 15%
$22.4Mraised in 2025
  • West Perth58%
  • County or region27%
  • Schools15%

  • 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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