Average Aurora homeowner could pay an extra $84 in property taxes

Draft budget comes in at 3.3 per cent increase with remaining 0.2 per cent left for council consideration

Yorkregion.com,
Feb. 26, 2019
Teresa Latchford

The average homeowner in Aurora can expect to pay an additional $84 in property taxes this year.

If the operating budget is approved by council, this would be a 3.5 per cent tax hike based upon an average home value of $800,000 for the municipal portion of a homeowner’s property tax.

In March 2018, council set direction for a tax increase of 2.5% to maintain current service levels, address core budget needs, contain inflation where possible and cover the index on non-tax revenues.

Inflation budget drivers include snow management, town facility utility and heating costs, and salary increases for union and non-union employees, according to the town’s acting director of financial services, Jason Gaertner.

An additional 1 per cent was tagged on the tax levy for fiscal strategies including the increase of cash to capital for infrastructure sustainability and to reduce the town’s reliance on supplementary tax revenues and other growth revenues such as development charges.

Town staff have come up with an operating budget increase of 3.3 per cent to cover budget pressures, leaving 0.2 per cent, about $94,000, to put toward other budget items council may wish to approve, he said.

“The tabled draft budget meets the needs of service expansion needs for new growth and the pressures discussed,” he said.

This draft will maintain infrastructure, sustain current service levels, and allow the town to continue hosting community events and a variety of recreation and cultural opportunities.

There are four service enhancement budget items worth $128,600 not included in the draft, which council can consider. These include $40,000 for an administrative support communications specialist for the mayor and council; $49,600 for Sport Aurora’s Breakfast of Champions, Sport Volunteer Recognition, School Athlete of the Year, Athlete of the Year, workshops, All Kids Can Play, Sport Tourism and communication events and initiatives; $28,100 for the Aurora Sport Hall of Fame; and $10,900 for a parks co-op student specializing in invasive species for the 2019 calendar year.

The water and wastewater rates are estimated to increase another 9 per cent this year, having increased about 10 per cent per year as the Regional Municipality of York and local municipalities work to comply with legislations requiring water budgets to be fully recovered through their respective rates.

For residents, this means a water and wastewater increase from a rate of $4.73 per cubic metre in 2018 to $4.83 this year, and an increase in stormwater rate from a flat rate of $5.25 last year to $5.44 this year.

Gaertner’s presentation to council was received for information and a more detailed discussion about the operating budget is expected to take place at meetings to be held March 4 and March 18 in council chambers from 7 to 10:30 p.m.

Council is expected to consider final approval of the operating budget as well as water and wastewater rates at a meeting on March 26.