Have your say on top priorities in Newmarket's 2021 budget

You will be entered into a draw to win a $100 gift card from a local restaurant of your choice

Newmarkettoday.ca
November 19, 2020

The Town of Newmarket wants to further engage the community in the budget process through a budget survey that will help council determine where to invest your tax dollars. The survey will be open until Dec. 3 and all residents who participate will be entered in a draw to win a $100 gift card from a local restaurant in support of our Choose Local campaign.

“This has been a particularly challenging year for council and staff to move the budget forward, while managing the effects of a global pandemic, which has created many variables and much uncertainty about what the coming year will look like,” says Newmarket Mayor John Taylor.

“We truly value the thoughts and ideas of our community and strongly encourage everyone to get involved in the budget process. Now more than ever we need to hear from you, as we try our best to balance the financial impact of COVID-19, while also continuing our commitment to building one of the best communities to live in Canada.”

Newmarket’s taxes per capita continue to be approximately 10 per cent below the GTA average. The Town’s preliminary draft budget proposes a 2.99 per cent tax increase for the average household assessed at approximately $700,000. This equals an additional $64.79 per year for the average household.

Council has directed staff to provide options to reduce this increase by at least one per cent. This budget survey will provide an opportunity for residents to help inform the budget recommendation.

The survey provides background information on budgeting challenges due to the pandemic and asks residents to rank the priorities that are the most important to them. The higher the ranking, the more important and the lower the ranking, the less important.

Priorities include, the creation of a contingency fund to help manage costs associated with COVID-19, the Town’s contributions to asset replacement and long-term financial planning, financial support for businesses to help manage the impact of COVID-19 and more.

As part of the Town’s Choose Local campaign to help garner community support for local businesses this holiday season and beyond, all participants of the budget survey will be entered into a draw to win a $100 gift card/certificate from a local restaurant of their choice in Newmarket. The budget survey will close on Dec. 3.

To find out more about the Town’s 2021 budget, attend an upcoming virtual budget meeting on Dec. 7 and Dec. 14, watch the Town’s Facebook Live budget meeting or visit newmarket.ca/2021budget.