Newmarket passes 1.99% tax increase on town's portion of 2022 property tax bill

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 16, 2021

Newmarket homeowners, be prepared to see the town portion of your property tax bill increase by 1.99 per cent in 2022.

Council approved its $141.6 million operating and $32.8 million capital budgets -- $174.4 million in total -- at a meeting Dec. 13.

The town’s portion of the tax bill will go up $44.09 next year on an average home assessed at $702,400. That works out to $3.67 a month.

There will also be a $53.47 increase next year ($4.45 a month) on the water and wastewater bill and an increase of $5.91 (49 cents a month) for the stormwater charge.

The 1.99 per cent tax increase is a percentage point less than the originally proposed budget and includes one per cent that is going to the town’s asset replacement reserve, a piggy bank to replace water mains, pipes, vehicles, sidewalks, roads and other assets.

Highlights of the budget include:

• Increasing funding for parks, trails and green spaces.

• Finalizing detailed engineering work related to Mulock Park.

• Advancing the Newmarket outdoor arena to be located at the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex.

• Completing the final design on the Mulock multi-use path, which will run about six kilometres, from Bathurst Street to Harry Walker Parkway along Mulock Drive.

• Completing Newmarket’s first outdoor skate park at the Magna Centre

• Maintaining all levels of service as noted by residents as the No. 1 priority through the 2022 budget survey.

The budget balances fiscal responsibility with planning for the future, while at the same time recognizing the financial impacts the community is facing during the pandemic, a town statement said.

“Newmarket council and staff have been working tirelessly on the 2022 budget to find a balance between keeping taxes low while maintaining service levels, investing in our assets, and preparing for the future,” Mayor John Taylor said.

“This budget positions us to continue to build an outstanding community. I believe that we have established a responsible and balanced budget that will continue to make Newmarket ‘even better’ and ensure that we remain one of the best places in the country to live, work and play.”

For more information, visit newmarket.ca/2022budget.