Aurora draft budget includes 6.1% increase

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 29, 2015
By Teresa Latchford

You could be facing an $86 tax hike this year.

There are a number of pressures driving the nearly 5-per-cent proposed budget increase, town director of financial services Dan Elliott told council at a special meeting held earlier this week.

Central York Fire Services accounted for 25 per cent of last year’s 3.8-per-cent increase and, while the final numbers of the CYFS budget have yet to be finalized, it is proposing a $1.5-million hike to its budget.

If approved as is, which Town of Aurora representatives say isn’t likely, it would push the proposed municipal tax increase to $106 or 6.1 per cent for the average home assessed at $500,000.

Salary and benefit costs - including a cost of living adjustment of 2 per cent come April - will account for 1.08 percentage points of the proposed increase for 2015.

The opening of The Loft, the dedicated youth space at the Aurora Family Leisure Complex, will require money to operate but some revenue is also expected.

The cost of normal operations and costs associated with consumer goods and services is increasing due to inflation, including sidewalk snow removal services, energy, software licences, facility repair, maintenance, health care plans, liability insurance and more.

The town’s 10-year capital plan and reserve fund strategy also calls for an annual direct tax increase to ensure the town has enough money set aside to maintain existing infrastructure.

Just to maintain current service levels delivered to citizens would require a 3.7-per-cent increase, Elliott said.

When combined with the tax levy from the region and school board, the average homeowner could see a $166 increase this year.

Throughout the general overview of the budget, which will be discussed in detail at future meetings, Elliott discussed the town transitioning to a three-year operating budget outlook to allow council and staff to look at future tax pressures.

Councillor Harold Kim applauded the idea.

“I fully support having a multiple-year budget that would help us look farther down the road,” he said. “With a one year budget I think it’s possible to only focus on the now instead of having a long-term vision.”

Elliott confirmed council would still have to approve the budget annually.