York Region set to raise property taxes at least 3.37% or $81 on average
Council could hike taxes 4.37% to speed up road projects

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 5, 2019
Lisa Queen

Get ready to see the regional portion of your property tax bill climb by 3.37 per cent this year -- and it could go up even more than that.

The hike would include paying for 53 new York Regional Police staff, including 23 for cannabis-related costs, and hiring 12 new paramedics.

But council could also boost taxes by one additional percentage point to speed up road construction projects, a measure rejected for last year’s budget in advance of the municipal elections.

With the 3.37 per cent increase, the average homeowner with a house assessed at $687,000 would see the regional portion of their property tax go up $81.

With the 4.37 per cent, the average increase would be $105.

However, the average is different depending on the municipality in which you live.

If you live in Georgina, the average increase would be $43 if the 3.37 per cent tax increase is approved and $55 if the 4.37 per cent hike goes through.

In East Gwillimbury, the average increase with the lower tax increase would be $57 and with the higher increase, it would be $74.

In Newmarket, the average tax increase would be $64 or $83, in Aurora it would be $76 or $99, in King it would be $95 and in Whitchurch-Stouffville it would be $77 or $100.

In the south part of the region, the average increase in Vaughan would be $86 with the lower tax increase and $112 with the higher increase, while it would be $92 or $199 in Richmond Hill and $84 or $109 in Markham.

The regional increase does not include the local municipal or school board portions of your property tax bill.

Regional council will pass a four-year budget that sets out anticipated tax increases 2.96 per cent in each of 2020, 2021 and 2022.

That would be 3.96 per cent in each of those years if the additional roads projects allocation is approved.

The region’s operating expenses this year are $2.3 billion, while its capital expenses are $1.1 billion.

The region’s debt now stands at $2.7 billion, down from a high of $2.9 billion in 2017.

Council is expected to pass the budget on Feb. 28.