Taxes up $56 for average homeowner in Newmarket

Yorkregion.com
April 23, 2015
By Chris Simon

Newmarket council has approved its 2015 budget and some of the increases are being passed down to you.

The $112.9-million operating and $29.3-million capital budgets were unanimously approved during a town council meeting Monday night. Included in the operating budget is an anticipated 3.5-per-cent tax increase - which translates into a $55.75 hike in the town’s portion of the residential property tax bill for the average home assessed at about $403,100.

It will also include several service initiatives, such as $25,000 in support for Southlake Regional Health Centre’s CreateIT Now program, $40,000 for the first phase of a sidewalk snow clearing program and $62,000 for the hiring of a transportation manager later this summer.

“The fact that we’ve been able to work so positively and collaboratively together to accomplish what’s important for our community is outstanding,” Mayor Tony Van Bynen said. “This budget ... accounts for growth and inflationary pressures and includes provisions for future replacement of our assets.”

Regional Councillor John Taylor said the budget maintains current service levels while also accounting for growth, inflation and escalating insurance premiums, utility and material costs.

“This is the most important exercise we take part in,” he said. “It reflects our collective priorities and values. There are other communities in Ontario that have attempted to try to hold taxes to a point of cutting on a yearly basis - zero per cent repeatedly or close to it. You see the impact on roads and parks. We’re able to provide more to our residents. We set a responsible target and it shows our commitment to not starving the system while being respectful of our residents’ ability to incur increased costs. We’re not a community that’s afraid to invest to make sure it’s a great place to live. It’s a great budget.”

However, the Newmarket Taxpayers Advocacy Group’s view of the operating budget is clearly less rosy. Municipal employees continue to be added to the province’s Sunshine List every year, while council appears to have ignored the $256,000 in “slush fund” expenses compiled by staff in 2014. NTAG discussed the expenses - the total of claims listed under town sundry, staff appreciation and miscellaneous accounts - with councillors during a deputation earlier this year.

“Neither staff nor council have listened to taxpayers’ concerns to reduce wasteful spending nor to aggressively pursue cost savings measures,” NTAG president Teena Bogner said. “This budget fails Newmarket taxpayers.”

The capital budget includes a $6.7-million water meter replacement program, $5.65 million in road improvements, $1.17 million in Yonge Street upgrades, a $1-million artificial turf sports field at Dr. J.M. Denison Secondary School and a $900,000 Central York Fire Services pumper truck.

Operating budgets pay for the ongoing expenses incurred by the municipality, such as wages, fuel, hydro and maintenance costs. Capital budgets usually cover large infrastructure projects - a new recreation facility or road reconstruction, for example - vehicle purchases and other one-time expenses.

“Not everything can make it into the budget,” Councillor Joe Sponga said. “But I want to commend council for sticking to this really hard line and being able to maintain a level of service our residents are accustomed to while approving some very important enhancements. Sidewalk snow clearing ... is a great step forward for a municipality that prides itself on accessibility and pedestrian safety.”