'What is your vision for Newmarket's future?': Town asks for feedback on 2022 budget

Newmarkettoday.ca
Oct. 21, 2021

Newmarket wants your feedback on the draft of its 2022 budget that could come with a 1.99 per cent tax increase.

You can rank which services are most important to you in an online survey to help council decide how to invest your tax dollars as it works on the budget over the next two months.

You can also submit feedback by attending or making a presentation at a future budget meeting, participating in a Facebook live event scheduled Nov. 16, or providing feedback to your local ward councillor.

You have until Nov. 19 to do the survey and be entered for a draw to win a $100 gift card for a local business.

The survey, which is available through this link or at heynewmarket.ca/2022budget, asks you to rank the following categories from most important to least important:

Maintaining all service levels;
Continued support for local businesses, job creation and economic development opportunities;
Bylaw enforcement (parking, property standards, bylaws etc.);
Ensuring Newmarket continues to be a leader in green initiatives and environmental stewardship;
Continued funding for parks, trails and greenspaces such as the Mulock Park;
Investing in the asset replacement fund to maintain roads, bridges, sidewalks, stormwater systems etc.;
Recreational programs and community events;
Safe transportation experiences for the community.

You can also choose to rank all the options equally important and write a comment.

Mayor John Taylor said council is committed to maintaining services while keeping tax rates in Newmarket “10 per cent lower than the rest of the GTA.”

“The world has changed these past 18 months, and we know that the financial effects of the pandemic continue to weigh on some of our residents and businesses,” Taylor said. “Your feedback matters and will help council determine where best to allocate your tax dollars so that we can continue to deliver “well beyond the ordinary” services while also preparing and moving forward on a future-ready Newmarket.”

Newmarket’s tax rate is currently set to increase 1.99 per cent in the draft budget, amounting to $44.09 per year ($3.67 a month) for the average household assessed at $702,400. That excludes the cost for a 3.8 per cent water rate increase driven by the region, which could add another $48.09 to the bill, and a 10 per cent stormwater rate increase, amounting to $4.63 on the average home.

Town council is due to review a draft operating budget Nov. 8. A final budget review is scheduled for Dec. 6, with a budget confirmation Dec. 13.