Take action: what you can do, and what's working elsewhere

Ontario requires upper-tier municipalities, like the County of Simcoe, to offer property-tax relief (deferring or cancelling increases) for low-income seniors and low-income persons with disabilities. Some municipalities also offer water-bill deferral or rebates, for example Toronto's relief and rebate programs and Ottawa's water-utility deferral.

Sources: City of Toronto · City of Ottawa · Ontario deferral application. Check the County of Simcoe for our area's program (Service Simcoe, 705-722-3132).

Grants shift costs off local ratepayers. Ramara's own $30M came from the provincial MHIP program. Small and rural municipalities also draw on the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) and the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund.

Sources: Township $30M grant release · Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF).

Well-run utilities build reserve funds and asset-management plans that spread big replacement costs over time, instead of letting a failure spike everyone's bill at once.

Source: Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) water and wastewater materials.

Some municipalities run public engagement on their rate studies before the rates are set, so the community helps shape the plan. Collingwood, for instance, ran an open water-rate consultation.

Source: Engage Collingwood — water rates.

Some municipalities study regional or shared-service models, or a municipal services corporation, to spread fixed costs across more users. It's an option under study elsewhere, with real trade-offs, not a recommendation.

Source: AMO / Ontario water-and-wastewater expert-panel report.

For context, here's what some neighbouring townships charge for water and sewer. This is a neutral comparison, not a claim that Ramara is charging too much or too little.

Sources: Severn · Orillia · Oro-Medonte. Full comparison in the rates & affordability brief.

Start with the rates & affordability brief, the wastewater brief and Ramara's Money — the township's own numbers, plainly laid out, so you can speak from facts.

A comprehensive water and wastewater rate review comes back to council this fall. Residents can address council directly through a deputation or the open forum.

Link: the Township's deputation and open-forum request forms.

Anyone can file a records request (MFIPPA) with the Clerk for the rate studies and the numbers behind the bills. If something isn't published, this is how you get it.

Subscribe to council agendas so changes aren't a surprise — the early warning is usually there months ahead.

Link: the Township's CivicWeb agenda subscription.

The October 26, 2026 municipal election is when the whole community sets the direction on costs and priorities.

Ratepayer and community associations give residents a shared, stronger voice than going it alone.