Markham eyes 3.46% tax increase for 2017

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 5, 2016
By Amanda Persico

Gone are the days of zero per cent tax increase.

Markham's 2017 proposed tax increase is 3.46 per cent.

The tax increase encompasses increasing hydro rates, the cost of inflation and a 0.5 per cent infrastructure investment to ensure there is enough funds in the life-cycle reserve for 25 years.

Based on the average home value of about $637,000, which includes detached, semi-detached and townhouses, the tax increase amount to about $42.

For the average condo valued at $350,000, the tax increase amounts to about $23.

The average taxpayer with a home valued at $586,000 can expect to pay about $181 in additional property taxes - $66 from the region’s proposed 2.87 per cent tax increase, $27 for Markham’s storm water fee and $30 from the city’s 7.8 per cent increase in water and wastewater fees.

The city’s 2017 capital budget - $81 million - includes 228 projects such as 18 new park designs and construction, flood control construction in Thornhill, energy projects, speed display boards for each ward and improvements to community centres and libraries.

The city saved about $1.67 million through the Excellence though Efficiency and Effectiveness (E3) program.

The efficiencies include costs savings from reduced waste collection tonnage and the recently launched textile recycling program, energy retrofit projects and a recreation user fee recovery plan.

Since 2009, the city has achieved more than $24 million in savings through the E3 program.

Final approval for the budget and proposed tax rate increase is set for the Dec. 13 council meeting.

Markham’s 2017 budget breakdown:

The 2017 budget is about $443 million, which includes:

• $200.5 million - operating costs;

• $123.5 million - waterworks;

• $81.5 million - capital projects;

• $13.3 million - library services;

• $8.8 million - building services;

• $8.3 million - planning and design; and

• $7.1 million - engineering services.
  
  How your tax dollars will be spent:
  
  

• 8.5 kilometres of new roads, which require maintenance, cleaning and winter maintenance;

• 1,116 new street lights, which require power, maintenance and repair not to mention a 5 per cent increase in hydro rates;

• $12.31 million - 93 acres of new park design and construction, which amounts to 18 new parks, of which 15 are to be completed in 2017;

• $10.12 million - west Thornhill flood control construction;

• $5.90 million - asphalt resurfacing;

• $5.21 million - improvements at community centres, libraries, fire stations and the Civic Centre;

• $4 million - investment in Markham District Energy Inc.;

• $2.61 million - library collections;

• $1.86 million - multi-use pathways, including the Lake to Lake cycling route and path environmental study and design for Markham Centre;

• $1.37 million - maintenance and replacement of park structures, rubberized floors, sportsfields and basketball courts;

• $1.16 million - water meter replacement and upgrades;

• $830,000 - intersection improvements;

• $530,000 - replacing the program registration system;

• $240,000 - PowerStream energy projects and municipal energy plan implementation;

• $190,000 - park signage program;

• $120,000 - Trees for Tomorrow imitative;

• $40,000 - speed display boards for each ward; and

• $30,000 - traffic improvements.