Richmond Hill council delivers second consecutive property tax freeze

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 13, 2021

Richmond Hill council has delivered a zero per cent tax rate increase for Richmond Hill residents and businesses for the second year in a row. The city's residential tax rate remains the third lowest of all municipalities in Ontario.

As part of the 2022 Operating Budget, council also approved the hiring of 16 new firefighters. The cost will be phased in over five years, to limit the immediate impact on taxpayers while ensuring the Fire and Emergency Services have the resources necessary to help keep the community safe.

One-time draws from the city's reserve funds will support key projects in 2022, including the development of Richmond Hill's Age-Friendly Community Strategy and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy.

Richmond Hill also continues to invest in community infrastructure by contributing to reserves and directing some tax-supported funding toward capital projects.

In October 2021, council approved a total capital budget for 2022 of $77 million to improve existing infrastructure, including Rouge Woods, Richvale, Bayview Hill and Oak Ridges community centres, Twickenham stormwater ponds and a new aerial fire truck.

Council further delivered on its commitment to fiscal responsibility by approving the 2022 Water, Wastewater and Stormwater budget, including a new multi-tiered rate structure for Richmond Hill's stormwater management rate.

This new approach, based on property type and land area, is more equitable as higher-density and non-residential areas account for a greater portion of urban stormwater run-off.

It includes six tiers: residential, multi-residential, commercial/industrial, agricultural land/farm, golf courses and vacant land. The rate for each tier is available at RichmondHill.ca/StormwaterRate.

Water and wastewater rates will increase by 3.3 per cent effective April 1, 2022. Water rates finance the delivery of clean, safe water to households and businesses, including the cost of water, daily testing, water main maintenance and the staff to perform these functions.

Quick Facts

• Richmond Hill's Senior Tax Grant for 2022 is $404. Residents over age 65 who own their home should visit RichmondHill.ca/TaxAssistancePrograms to determine if they qualify. Applications will be available in early 2022.

• The Capital Asset Sustainability Levy increases by one per cent to fund the repair and replacement of aging infrastructure such as roads, parks and buildings. The increase is equal to $19.55 on a property valued at $1,146,000.

• Only 64 per cent of Richmond Hill's operating budget is funded by property taxes, with 22 per cent of funding from user fees and fines and the remaining portion from grants and donations, investment income and reserve funds.

• In 2022, Richmond Hill will keep only 26 per cent of residential property taxes, with 51 per cent sent to York Region for regional services and 23 per cent sent to school boards for education funding. Richmond Hill council controls only the local portion of taxes.

• Residential taxes are calculated by multiplying the tax rate with the assessed value of the home, which is set by MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation). Due to COVID-19, assessed values in 2022 remain at 2020 levels.