Town of East Gwillimbury passes 2022 budget with 1% tax increase

Thestar.com
December 17, 2021

Your taxes are going up in 2022, but not by much.

East Gwillimbury council unanimously approved the 2022 business plan and budget Dec. 14 that carries a one per cent tax increase. The increase is dedicated to support operating the Health and Active Living Plaza and additional front-line operations staff.

Council deliberated the budget over two days, during which staff presented operating and capital budget forecasts, which were driven by council’s mandate for a zero per cent property tax levy increase.

“Council recognizes that COVID-19 continues to have a financial impact on East Gwillimbury residents and businesses,” said Mayor Virginia Hackson. “That’s why we continue to prioritize the needs of our community and ensure that East Gwillimbury delivers the exceptional services that residents expect, at the lowest cost.”

The operating budget, which is comprised of $28.3 million from property taxes and $4.9 million from development and fees, will continue to support town services including waste collection, recreation and library programs, road and sidewalk maintenance, and parks/trail operations.

The approved $22.8 million capital budget includes $3.4 million for the East Townline bridge rehabilitation project, $1.2 million for road rehabilitation work, funds for equipment and fleet replacement and building upgrades and funding for modernization initiatives such as a new Customer Relationship Management software to track service requests and provide real-time information to staff and residents.

The capital budget also includes $10 million in funding to advance the Health and Active Living Plaza project. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $67.3 million over the next four years (2022-2025) with the majority of funding coming from development charges and reserves. Council approved a dedicated one per cent tax levy increase to support operating the facility once it is complete, which equates to approximately $20 on the average home.

“I applaud staff for bringing forward a budget and business plan that puts the community first and amplifies a culture of continuous improvement and innovation,” Hackson said. “The 2022 budget keeps EG at the lowest relative taxes in York Region, maintains service levels, uses technology to improve service delivery and prepares us for the future.”

East Gwillimbury taxes make up approximately 40 per cent of the residential tax bill. The remaining 60 per cent is comprised of York Region and school board taxes. For details about the 2022 budget, visit www.eastgwillimbury.ca/budget.