The City of Kenora is committed to keeping you informed about how we are managing and investing your tax dollars to provide quality services to meet the needs of our community.
To find out about public meetings when you can get involved in the budget discussions, view our news and notices and the meeting schedule.
As we prepared the City's 2024 budgets, we asked you to give us your thoughts on priorities and spending. View the Rethinking Budgeting survey results to learn more.
Where do my tax dollars go
Your property taxes help fund a variety of services and programs in the community. Some external programs and services include:
- Ontario Provincial Police
- Kenora District Services Board
- Pinecrest Home for the Aged
- Northwestern Health Unit
City owned or operated services and programs include:
- transportation
- recreation and culture
- general government
- fire services and by-law enforcement
- planning, tourism, and development
- storm sewers and recycling
- cemetery
View our property tax insert to see where your property tax dollars go.
Budgets
The final formatted 2025 Adopted Budget for capital, operating and utilities budgets will be posted here when consolidated. View the 2025 draft capital, operating, and utilities budgets and Council discussions.
View the 2024 Adopted Budget for capital, operating and utilities.
Operating budget |
| The Operating Budget consists of the City services categorized in functions including a description, three year budget and actuals by major account categories, full-time equivalent, revenue and expense variance explanations, and sub services within the function. The Operating Budget Summary provides the total Tax Levy required and the corresponding Tax Levy Impact as a percentage of prior years’ Budgeted Tax Levy. The 2024 operating budget has total operating expenditures of $42.04 million including capital expenditures (tax supported amount), reserve appropriations and debt payments. The summary highlights budget decisions and provides explanations for the changes from the 2023 Adopted Budget to the 2024 Budget. The City will require $31.032 million through general Tax Levy, the Tax Levy is the City’s most significant funding source, representing 73.8% of combined operating revenues. The Provincial operating grant is $3.028 million. View the Operating Budget starting on page 11 of the 2024 Adopted Budget report. |
Capital budget |
| The Capital Budget includes summary listing by function and the capital project detail. The City of Kenora Capital Budget consists of a 2024 investment of $17.695 million and 5 year plan of $63.957 million, including Solid Waste and Water and Sewer. The Net Tax Levy allocation to capital is $0.907 million. Reserves are utilized to stabilize and fund annual capital expenditures, the City has established a number of reserves and reserve funds for specific purposes. View the Capital Budget starting on page 33 of the 2024 Adopted Budget report. |
Transfers to external organizations |
| The City budget includes the functional costs with the external organizations representing the largest portion followed by Transportation and Recreation. External organizations are:
There are transfers to other external organizations, Kenora Handi‐Transit, Kenora Public Library, and The Muse (Lake of the Woods Museum and Douglas Family Arts Centre). The budget allocations are at the discretion of the City of Kenora. View the Net Program Cost and External Organizations on page 12 of the 2024 Adopted Budget report.
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Utility budgets |
| Water and Sewer and Solid Waste utility operations do not form part of the overall City budgets, although they have been included with City operating and capital budget. The Utility operations are independent and self‐supported through user fees and do not impact the tax levy. View the Utility Budgets starting on page 41 of the 2024 Adopted Budget report. |
Budget principles
In developing and reviewing the budget for 2025, the City follows budgeting principles to guide overall spending. These principles are:
- Fiscally responsible - mindful of the financial impacts
- Sustainable - supports the long-term financial viability of the City
- Proactive - planning, prevention, and prevention to mitigate risk and address complete challenges
- Prudent, accountable, and transparent - comprehensive view of City services and the investment required to support delivery
- Deliver on strategic focus areas in the Strategic Plan
Budget process
City Council and Administration approach the annual budget process with a goal of maintaining existing services, while also addressing the needs of future generations. We want to ensure residents have access to resources that provide a safe, healthy, and connected community.
Each year our budget outlines how we will pay for the services and programs that are important to our community, while maintaining over $1.2 billion worth of infrastructure that is vital to our community.
These budgets include critical projects initiated by City Administration, Council, and through community input. Throughout 2024, community feedback was gathered through various channels, including:
- formal Requests for Service
- community surveys
- public engagement
- direct communications with Council
- constructive feedback submitted through the appropriate avenues to City Administration
These opportunities for community engagement have been instrumental in identifying priorities and addressing community needs.
On November 19, 2024, Council approved the 2025 Capital, Solid Waste, and Water and Wastewater Utility Budgets including their respective 10-year Capital plans. Council met on October 1, October 22, October 29, and November 5 to review and amend the draft 2025 Capital, Solid Waste, and Water and Wastewater budgets.
On March 18, 2025, Council approved the approved the 2025 Municipal Operating Budget. The draft 2025 Municipal Operating Budget was thoroughly reviewed during special budget meetings held on October 19, November 5, November 26, December 2, 2024, February 3, February 20, 2025.
This review process reflects both Council and City Administration’s commitment to assessing the status of projects in alignment with the City’s long-range plans, including the Three Year Operating Budget and the Ten Year Capital Plan.
Commitment to taxpayer relief
City Administration’s and Council’s hard work and dedication have helped lessen the impact on taxpayers. We understand the financial challenges residents face after the pandemic, compounded by rising inflation, living costs, and uncertain times.
To address these issues, City Administration has focused on identifying cost-saving measures and exploring alternative funding sources. Our goal is to minimize the impact on the residential tax rate while ensuring sustainability for the future.
In total, the City successfully secured $5,822,321 to put towards the Capital and Operating Budgets, helping to reduce the operating budget from what was initially presented in the draft stages in October 2024.
Through this dedicated effort, the City has lessened the burden on taxpayers. Notable funding sources include:
- Obtaining an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) rebate of $1,721,378
- Secured an extension of the City’s Recycling Contract totalling $444,278
- Increased Citizen Prosperity Trust Fund Dividend by $150,000
- Debt refinancing savings of $61,336
- Canada Community-Building Funded projects totalling $1,275,000
- Ontario Community Infrastructure Funded projects totalling $1,975,000
- Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program funded projects totalling $195,329
Previous budgets
View the previous budgets for capital, operating, water and wastewater, and solid waste.
Annual report and financial statements
Each year City staff prepare an annual report that includes the consolidated financial statements for Council and for the citizens of the City of Kenora.
The 2023 and 2024 audits are actively ongoing. Delays have arisen due to a recent merger within the auditing firm. Council will approve and release the 2023 and 2024 financial statements to provide an overview of the City's financial status. The final documents will be posted here once approved.
Past annual financial reports
2025 Budget Frequently Asked Questions
| What is the total approved operating budget for the year? |
| The total approved operating expenditure budget for 2025 is $46,894,722. This budget funds the City's programs and services, maintains and improves infrastructure, and covers uncontrollable costs such as insurance, fuel, utility rates, and provincially and federally mandated fees to essential external organizations. The City Council and Administration prioritize maintaining existing services while addressing future needs, ensuring residents have access to resources for a safe and connected community. |
| What is the focus of the 2025 budget? |
| The 2025 budget is centered on maintaining existing levels of service and programs, as well as preserving essential infrastructure. Our primary aim is to ensure that residents have access to resources that promote a safe, healthy, and connected community. We are committed to sustaining the services and programs vital to our community while also addressing the needs of future generations. The budget outlines how the City will fund these essential services and manage over $1.2 billion in critical infrastructure. |
| What significant projects are planned for 2025? What significant changes or updates to services or programs because of the approved budget? |
The 2025 budget prioritizes key investments in the core services and infrastructure that our community relies on, ensuring we maintain existing services while addressing future needs. Our goal is to provide residents with resources that promote a safe, healthy, and connected community. We are pleased to announce a substantial capital investment of $11,422,300 for 2025, focused on enhancing our infrastructure and services. Here are some key projects that will have a significant impact:
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| What future capital projects are included in the City's long-term investment plan? |
| The City is committed to investing in our community through a 10-Year Capital Investment Plan exceeding $200 million, which encompasses essential utilities and infrastructure improvements. Notable future projects include:
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| How will the approved budget impact local taxes and fees? |
The 2025 budget includes a 8.12% property tax increase, including:
Note: These costs per household examples are based on median property tax bill of $3,500. |
| What challenges did the City encounter while preparing the 2025 budgets? |
| In preparing the 2025 budgets, we faced several challenges, including:
It's important to note that Kenora is not alone in facing these challenges. Municipalities everywhere are grappling with increasingly complex issues, such as homelessness, climate change, uncontrollable costs, inflation, rising interest rates, and labour shortages, while lacking an increase to revenue sources to effectively address them. |
| How is the City working to alleviate the financial burden on taxpayers through its budget efforts? |
| City Administration and Council have dedicated significant effort to lessen the financial impact on taxpayers. We recognize the challenges residents are facing post-pandemic, compounded by rising inflation and living costs. To address these issues, we have focused on identifying cost-saving measures and exploring alternative funding sources, aiming to minimize the impact on the residential tax rate while ensuring future sustainability. In total, the City successfully secured $5,822,321 to put towards the Capital and Operating Budgets, helping to reduce the operating budget from what was initially presented in the draft stages in October 2024. Notable funding sources include:
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| How do municipalities generate revenue? |
| Municipalities primarily generate revenue through property taxes and by applying for provincial and federal grants. Additionally, they raise funds through various means, including user fees (such as water bills), and licenses and permits. Provincial and federal grants play a crucial role in financing capital projects. These collaborations enhance municipalities' ability to undertake significant infrastructure improvements. It's important to note that securing these funding initiatives requires substantial administrative effort, and their availability can vary from year to year. |
| How do outdated property values affect municipal budget planning? |
| As of 2025, municipalities in Ontario are still using property assessments from January 1, 2016, for tax calculations, with no indication from the province on when a new assessment will take place. Property assessments for the 2025 property tax year will continue to be based on fully phased-in January 1, 2016 current values (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation). This delay, worsened by COVID-19, impacts economic competitiveness and creates uncertainty for both businesses and residents concerning future tax liabilities. Additionally, it limits the potential revenue that could be generated from a current and accurate assessment, which is essential for municipalities to fund the maintenance and improvement of infrastructure, services, and programs. Between 2016 and the present day, Canada’s other nine provinces will have reassessed property values more than six times on average, emphasizing the need for Ontario to return to a regular assessment cycle to ensure fairness and equity in the taxation system (Association of Municipalities of Ontario). |
| How do current economic conditions affect municipal budget planning? |
| Ongoing uncertainty around infrastructure funding, coupled with evolving municipal responsibilities and rising costs, threaten municipalities' ability to make informed long-term budget decisions. As municipalities begin their annual budget planning, these factors significantly impact their financial outlook and service delivery capabilities. Recent economic instability unprecedented inflation put pressures on municipal budget, just like homeowners (e.g. increase in vehicle, building materials) not immune to those increasing, managing those best we can. responding as best we can to external and internal pressures. Those pressures felt by residents are also felt by the City of Kenora. |
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing reports
The City of Kenora has a healthy financial position as reported by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing's review of the City's Financial Information Return. The Financial Information Return (FIR) is a set of reports submitted to the Province annually. The Financial Indicator Review uses key financial indicators to calculate the sustainability and flexibility of a municipality based on its FIR data. The Municipal Financial Profile is a financial and statistical snapshot from the past five years. Kenora continues to rate as low risk based on its 2017 Financial Information Return as filed with the Province.
Accessible formats
If you require an accessible format of a document or report, please contact the City Clerk. We will provide you with this within two business days of your request.
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