Tax talk: East Gwillimbury residents could pay $56 more in 2019

Add your 2 cents to town's draft budget and proposed increase

Yorkregion.com
December 20, 2018
Amanda Persico

Have your say on the 2019 East Gwillimbury budget.

Your taxes could be going up by about $56 a year.

The town’s proposed tax rate increase is about 3.5 per cent, which includes a 2.5 per cent increase to maintain current programs and services, a 0.5 per cent tax levy dedicated to future community safety initiatives and a 0.5 per cent levy for an aquatics centre.

The plan for 2019 is to maintain the town’s core programs and services while balancing growth related services and to continue with a dedicated funding program for future services including an aquatics centre and to hire firefighters.

The 2019 proposed budget sits at $44.4 million, of which $23.5 million is dedicated to operations and $7.7 million is allotted for capital expenses.

Some of the proposed 2019 capital projects include:

• Mount Albert downtown revitalization plans;

• Library, community centre and fire station renovations;

• Town website redesign;

• Road and sidewalk repairs;

• Construction of the town’s operation centre; and

• Building a pedestrian bridge and enhancing the town’s trail network.

According to the town’s proposed 2019 budget report, the town is sitting in a debt-free position and has one of the lowest tax rates in the region.

The town is also asking you to chime in on what services are important as well as offer suggestions on how to improve the budget process.

Upcoming budget deliberations:

• Jan. 15, 16 and 21, starting at 9 a.m.

• Deliberations will be in council chambers at the East Gwillimbury Civic Centre, 19000 Leslie St.

For more information, visit eastgwillimbury.ca/budget