Georgina's draft 2023 budget comes with whopping 6.99% proposed increase -- the largest increase in 5 years

Georgina's proposed 6.99% increase reflects a rise in costs on all fronts

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 6, 2022
Amanda Persico

Brace yourselves, property taxes are going up.

Buy how much depends on council deliberations set for the new year.

Georgina council recently received the 2023 draft budget, which comes with a 4.99 per cent tax increase and an additional two per cent infrastructure levy.

The total proposed increase for 2023 is 6.99 per cent -- reflecting a rise in costs on all fronts.

The $84-million operating budget includes an $11-million investment into the town’s capital reserve funds.

Add to that the town’s proposed $25-million capital budget, bringing Georgina’s total operating and capital budget to $109 million for 2023.

The town’s proposed 6.99 per cent tax increase is the largest increase in five years -- zero per cent in 2022, 1.45 per cent in 2021, 3.9 per cent in 2020, 3.6 per cent in 2019 and 2.9 per cent in 2018.

THE 2023 DRAFT BUDGET INCLUDES:

$4 million for roads and pavement management and resurfacing;

$2.5 million for emerald ash borer tree removal;

$2.4 million for fleet replacement;

$1.2 million on the building condition assessment program for building repairs;

$563,000 toward additional resources for corporate information technology projects;

$500,000 for a development tracking solution to meet the requirements of all development applications, approvals, permitting and inspections;

$400,000 for redevelopment designs for High Street; and

$200,000 on playground and picnic table replacement projects.

The town’s budget also includes a 6.6 per cent increase in overall expenses as a result of rising commodity and energy costs. Not to mention, high inflation prices as well a general labour shortage had a significant impact on the town’s operating costs.

The province’s recent More Homes Built Faster Act, Bill 23, is also expected to hamper the towns capital budget.

TOWN EXPENSES INCLUDE:

$38.5 million in staff salary and benefits -- about a 10 per cent increase compared to 2022;

$1.8 million in hydro and gas -- about a 1.7 per cent increase compared to 2022;

$540,000 in donations and grants -- about a 13 per cent decrease compared to 2022; and

$2.8 million in supplies and maintenance costs -- about a 6.8 per cent increase compared to 2022.

The town upped its staff count from 297 in 2022 to 309 in 2023, which includes new firefighters and seasonal parking bylaw officers. Not to mention, town council voted in mayor and councillor salary increases for the new term of office.

Georgina is also proposing a 5.84 per cent increase for water and wastewater services.

About 280 residents participated in the town’s budget survey earlier this fall.

Council will deliberate the budget Jan. 24 and 25 with final approval expected on Jan. 25.

To provide feedback on the draft budget, email budget@georgina.ca.

For more information or to view a copy of the draft budget, visit georgina.ca/budget.