Vaughan budget: draft document proposes three per cent tax hike

YorkRegion.com
Nov. 4, 2015
Adam Martin-Robbins

Vaughan homeowners could be facing a three per cent hike in their property taxes next year unless council and city staff find ways to trim a relatively pared-down budget.

City finance staff presented the draft 2016 budget, as well as the proposed 2017 and 2018 financial plans, to councillors for the first time Monday night.

And it was met with a glowing response.

For his part, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua called it the “best package” he’s seen during his tenure.

City finance staff are recommending three years of three per cent tax increases, the maximum allowed during this term under a mandated cap imposed by council in 2014.

Should the 2016 budget be approved unaltered, the average homeowner, with a home valued at $626,000, would see their property taxes rise by about $40 to $1,353, according to city finance staff.

Factor in the hospital levy and Vaughan’s portion of the property tax bill would total $1,370, city finance staff said

The city’s draft budget calls for operational spending of $264.7 million and $80.5 million in new spending on infrastructure projects.

On the operating side for 2016, the plan includes hiring 10 firefighters, four capital project managers and two purchasing analysts, among other things.

In terms of infrastructure spending next year, there’s $3 million earmarked for tree replacement, $8.1 million for road improvements and $1.4 million “to develop transit, cycling and pedestrian options to get around the city,” among myriad other projects.   

On top of Vaughan’s portion of the property tax bill, there’s the Region of York’s share and the provincial education tax, which together account for a little more than 70 per cent.

In light of that, city hall watcher Richard Lorello, as he’s done in previous years, urged councillors to ask regional officials to host a budget meeting in Vaughan so local residents don’t have to travel beyond the city limits to voice their opinions about how the upper-tier government intends on spending their tax dollars.

Council obliged and passed a motion including that request.

The next round of city budget talks is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at city hall.

Additional meetings are slated for Nov. 23 and Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.

A special council meeting to approve the budget is planned for Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.

The public is being encouraged to come out and share their views on the city’s spending plans.

Those who can’t attend the city’s budget meetings can watch online at vaughan.ca and provide feedback through a form found at vaughan.ca/budget.

You can also email questions or comments to budgeting@vaughan.ca. Alternatively, you can call 905-832-8610 and leave a message to be shared with council or join the conversation on the city’s Twitter and Facebook pages using #vaughanbudget2016.