Stouffville passes 5.2% property tax hike for 2020

The average homeowner will pay $113 more in 2020.

Yorkregion.com
February 26, 2020
Simon Martin

The good news is you own property. The bad news is your taxes are going up.

The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville approved its 2020 Operating Budget of $59,510,130 with a tax levy increase of 5.38 per cent. The average homeowner will pay $113 more in municipal taxes in 2020.

The operating budget includes the budgets for water and wastewater and the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library grant.

The town’s portion of the tax bill includes a 5.38 per cent tax levy increase. This levy includes 2.38 per cent for day-to-day operating expenses and 3.0 per cent capital levy.

“The operating budget is the heart of all that we do as a municipality. It’s where all our services lie,” Mayor Iain Lovatt said. “There is no question this was a difficult budget to be considered but staff and council have worked diligently to be fair and responsible. We had to make some tough decisions today for the benefit of Whitchurch-Stouffville’s tomorrow.”

Highlights of the 2020 budget include maintaining and increasing service levels. The town is also prioritizing managing and planning for increased future development. There will be increased focus on innovation such as new Virtual Town Hall software, mobile app and enhancements to the town’s technology infrastructure.

There will also be an emphasis on community events like holiday and farmers’ market and events at Nineteen on the Park.

The 2020 Operating and Capital Budget and other supporting documents are available online at townofws.ca/budgets