Newmarket property taxes likely increasing in 2017
But mayor admits it's time to re-evaluate town services and priorities

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 15, 2016
By Chris Simon

It’s almost a certainty that your property taxes are going up in 2017, Newmarket.

However, the exact amount of the increase is still being debated by town councillors. Municipal staff have presented two possible options to council members - a .2 or 2.28 per cent increase. Both figures factor in a promised 2.6 per cent decrease to the tax hike caused by the addition of a new, revenue neutral stormwater management fee to the property tax bill. The average home is expected to pay about $30 for the stormwater fee and about $4 to $41 more in property taxes next year.

“We set out a target for staff and staff has met that,” Mayor Tony Van Bynen said. “But they’ve also done their due diligence and let council know it won’t be without some very significant impacts on service levels. That’s an important message. I appreciate the professional candour...it has highlighted or crystalized the very difficult decisions we’ve got in front of us.”

The town has tried to save money by reducing overtime, training and fuel costs. But some of those expenses fluctuate.

“It may be that we’re able to get by with taking that $40,000 (in fuel costs) coming out of the budget; that element is a risk factor,” Van Bynen said. “In the longer term, we really need to recalibrate our expectations.”

Admittedly, the town is under increasing pressure to pay for the services it administers. So in future years, the municipality may have to reevaluate the feasibility of maintaining some of those services, including the Newmarket Theatre, he said.

“It’s gotten to the point where we have to course correct and re-establish where our priorities are,” Van Bynen said. “There needs to be a little bit of flexibility. We need to take a look at the impact of what it is we’re taking out and are we prepared to accept a compromise in service levels? In the (next budget), staff have undertaken to...take a look at (whether) we are in certain businesses that we should reconsider being in. There are a number of services where the cost and the number of people benefiting is disproportionate to the number of base services we’re providing the general taxpayer. We should take a look at all of our major areas.”

Budget deliberations have been scheduled for Jan. 16 and 30 and Feb. 6 and residents are invited to attend and provide feedback. The document is expected to be approved Feb. 13.

To help residents better understand the budget and changes to their tax bills, the town will introduce an online calculator in the coming weeks.

“This will allow residents to enter their address and determine how much money they are saving with the switch,” treasurer Mike Mayes said. “We are targeting (release) early in the new year. This will be well in advance of the stormwater charges going out with the final tax bills in June. The fee will be included with the property tax bill because that is the most cost-effective way of distribution to the majority of property owners.”

For more information on the budget, visit newmarket.ca.