Newmarket homeowners will see property taxes jump average of almost $60
Water/wastewater rates also going up almost $60, stormwater rates up $4
Yorkregion.com
Dec. 16, 2019
Lisa Queen
Newmarket homeowners will see their property taxes go up 2.39 per cent -- nearly $60 for the average homeowner -- next year.
The all-in tax hike includes the town’s portion, plus anticipated Region of York and school board increases.
The average homeowner, with a property assessed at $618,750, will see an increase of $59.74 on their 2020 tax bill.
They will also be slapped with a water/wastewater rate increase of $59.72, a 4.92 per cent increase, and a stormwater rate increase of $4.12, a 10.86 per cent increase.
The town’s budget, approved in early December, includes an operating budget of $134.6 million and a capital budget of $172.4 million.
Highlights from the 2020 budget include:
- $2.4 million toward trails and active transportation;
- $2.2 million for the continued implementation of the Recreation Playbook (including a new skate park design and splash pad construction);
- $1.3 million for new park developments;
- $5.4 million for the design and construction of Central York Fire Services Station 4-5;
- $6.6 million for road rehabilitation;
- $1.6 million for fleet replacement;
- $1 million for road resurfacing;
- $623,000 for theatre renovations;
- $300,000 to advance the Mulock Property.
The town continues to set aside one per cent of its tax increase, which works out to $600,000 townwide in 2020, for its asset replacement fund.
The fund was created in 1998 to ensure there's money available to replace and repair the town’s $1 billion worth of infrastructure now and in the future.
The town engaged residents in the budget process through its online engagement tool Hey Newmarket! and via the budget game, which asked residents how they would like to see their tax dollars invested by ranking the town’s eight primary services by level of importance, the municipality said in a statement.
The survey found 85 per cent of respondents felt they were receiving at least fair value for their tax dollars and user fees spent in support of town services, the town said, adding a BMA Management Consulting survey showed Newmarket’s property taxes are 10.9 per cent lower than the Greater Toronto Area average.
Meanwhile, the town is undergoing an administrative and service delivery review, aimed in part at improving services for residents, the municipality said.
