York Region approves 2016 budget

NRU
Dec. 23, 2015

At its December 17 meeting, York Region council approved a $2.8-billion budget, including a $783-million capital plan and a $1.99-billion operating budget. The 2016 budget includes a 2.85 per cent property tax increase. Effective April 2016, the regional portion of water and wastewater rates for the average household will increase 9 per cent annually until 2021, in an effort to reach full cost recovery.

The 2016 capital plan includes $168-million for new regional roads, $165-million for the York Region Rapid Transit Corporation, $45-million for York Region Transit, as well as expenditures for water, wastewater, property services and community and health services. The region’s capital budget emphasizes significant investment in transportation infrastructure to address traffic congestion, cited as a top concern by the region’s residents and businesses.