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by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Windsor'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.
A clear, checkable guide to Windsor's budget, taxes and council decisions. A city of about 263,000 people in Southwestern Ontario. Every figure links back to the public record.
Two-thirds rule removedBy-law 72-2026 (April 27, 2026) dropped the Auditor General’s sole power over changes to the audit plan; the Auditor General says investigations will not advance in 2026
The Auditor General is the independent officer who audits the City and runs its Fraud and Waste Hotline. In October 2025 the by-law said only the Auditor General could delete or change the yearly audit plan, and Council could add to it only by a two-thirds vote of all members. On April 27, 2026 Council deleted the first rule and said Council may amend the plan. In June 2026 the Auditor General told Council that a Council direction to focus on a Transit Windsor review means no new investigations and no hotline investigations in 2026.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 6 sources
$6,654,750Transit Windsor’s 2025 year-end shortfall against a net budget of $14,122,873 (47.12%), after a $1,300,000 reserve draw
Transit Windsor’s net budget (the part paid by property taxes) for 2025 was $14,122,873. It finished the year $6,654,750 over that, after a $1,300,000 draw from a reserve (money set aside for later). The City’s report blames fewer student riders, a frozen provincial gas tax payment and federal paid medical leave. In June 2026 the City projected a deficit of about $5.12 million for 2026.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 4 sources
$5,000,000one-time dividends from the airport ($1,500,000) and the tunnel company ($3,500,000) in the 2026 budget
Council approved a 2026 budget with no increase to the tax levy (the total property tax the City collects). The budget counts $5,000,000 of extra dividends (profit payments from City-owned companies) that the City itself calls one-time. By June 2026 the City projected $5,471,200 of pressures against that budget, with $5.2 million left in the reserve meant to absorb surprises.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 5 sources
$280.2 millionestimated cost of the Sandwich South works (2026 to 2035); $238.9 million is to come from development charges
On March 30, 2026 Council endorsed borrowing for the Sandwich South Development Capital Works, a ten-year plan to build roads and sewers for the new hospital, airport lands and housing. The City says $238.9 million is meant to come from development charges (fees paid by builders), which the City says are already $8,069,460 in the red for the City-wide part. The City’s report also says the slower development comes, the longer repayment takes.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 5 sources
2 reportsAuditor General reports (February 6 and February 20, 2026) that found missing or incomplete conflict disclosures
Two Auditor General reports from February 2026 looked at complaints about City employees with private business interests. Neither found evidence of improper influence. Both found that required disclosure forms were missing or incomplete. Council told staff to carry out the recommendations; the City’s policy review is due by the end of 2026.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 5 sources
–$43,110,000social housing reserve fund at December 31, 2025 (a year earlier: –$25,593,000)
A reserve fund is money set aside for a purpose. The City’s audited statements show the social housing reserve fund at negative $43,110,000 on December 31, 2025, down from negative $25,593,000 a year earlier. We did not find an explanation of it in the annual reports we read.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 2 sources
32.49%of the general investment portfolio ($178,147,394 of $548,252,743) was in credit unions on December 31, 2025
The City invests money it does not need right away. An Auditor General report (May 7, 2025) tested complaints about the limits and found most not supported, but found one about reporting partly warranted. The City agreed to report more. Its April 2026 investment report lists the investments made under its discretion to go over the usual limits.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 3 sources
$705,901,000employee future benefit liability at December 31, 2025, up $6,744,000 from 2024
The City owes retirees and employees future benefits such as health and WSIB coverage. The audited statements put the liability at $705,901,000, more than half of all the City’s liabilities. The City says it pays on a cash basis as bills come due, and that recent Council decisions will reduce the cost over time.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 2 sources
$70,000,000the most the City says one class action over bingo and lottery licence fees could cost, as printed in thousands of dollars
The notes to the audited statements describe lawsuits that could cost the City money, including a class action over bingo and lottery licence fees where the City “could incur a liability of up to approximately $70,000” (in thousands of dollars, so $70,000,000). Other claims have no estimate.
Found by reading the city's own documents · 2 sources
Where your tax bill goes
A property tax bill in Windsor pays for the city and schools. Only part of it goes to the city, and that part is what Windsor council controls.
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