Vaughan approves 2.85% tax hike in $320-million budget
Increase means tax bill for average homeowner will rise by $49 annually
Yorkregion.com
Dec. 23, 2019
Dina Al-Shibeeb
Vaughan’s council unanimously approved a property tax hike of 2.85 per cent, an increase of nearly $49 annually, or just more than $4 per month for an average residential property assessed at $891,000.
“For the tenth consecutive year, the city has once again delivered a property tax rate that is at or below three per cent,” it said in a statement.
Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, meanwhile, said that he’s “proud” that Vaughan is maintaining the lowest tax rates in the GTA.
“The city works very hard for many many months to get to tonight’s results,” he added.
Vaughan’s budget for 2020 has a combined tax and user rate operating budget of $515.5 million in gross expenditures, and capital investments of $172.6 million.
The property tax supported operating budget for 2020 is about $320.3 million in gross expenditures.
The capital budget amounts to $172.6 million. The 2021-2022 capital plan forecast is $467.2 million.
Residential property taxes are split between Vaughan at 28 per cent, York Region at 48 per cent, local school boards at 23 per cent, and the Hospital Precinct Levy at one per cent.
So far, the city’s total operating budget, which is used to run facilities, programs and services, includes $195.2 million for water, wastewater and stormwater; $56 million for public works, such as snow clearing, maintenance of parks and waste collection services; and $43.3 million for community services including recreation programs and by-law and compliance services.
- $62.4 million for transportation and mobility aimed at improving the municipal road network, support for the development of transit, and an increase for cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.
- $27.6 million for City Building, to create what Vaughan describes as a “world-class city.”
- $26.9 million for environmental stewardship, to protect the environment and foster a sustainable future.
- $27.1 million for Service Excellence Strategic Initiatives, including “Citizen Experience, Operational Performance and Staff Engagement, to ensure citizens receive the best experience in person, by telephone or electronically."
- $22.6 million for Active, Safe and Diverse Communities. This includes “community engagement and cohesiveness by supporting and promoting community events, arts, culture, heritage, sports and fire prevention awareness.”
- $4.2 million for Good Governance. This is to cover “service excellence in governance and fiscal responsibility.”
- $1.9 million for Economic Prosperity, Investment and Social Capital.
