Ajax Council approved the town’s 2020 Operating Budget on Monday night, said a town announcement.
It said residents can expect a 2.55% blended tax rate increase, or $ 11.44 per month (based on average assessed home) on their next tax bill. The property tax bill includes taxes levied by the Town, Region and Province. The Town’s portion of the $11.44 is $5.29.
The 2020 Interim Residential Tax Bill is due in two instalments — on February 28 and April 24. The 2020 Final Residential Tax Bill is due in two instalments — June 26 and September 25.
The approved Operating Budget is approximately $70.9 million, an increase of $3.4 million from 2019.
The new $3.4 million investment will fund strategic services and enhancements that are essential to ensuring high quality of life for residents, highlights include:
- 6 full-time and 13 part-time positions to support customer service, asset management and maintenance, sustainability and community beautification.
- Investing $456,300 for 5 new staff and contracted services to increase and improve winter control services.
- In addition to the Ajax’s 65th anniversary celebrations, $113,200 is dedicated to the expansion of festivals and events programming, including new staff position and launch of a signature night event at Greenwood Conservation Area.
- $1.5 million to support our newly opened and popular Audley RecreationCentre Phase 2, featuring a new state-of-the-art library, community hall, active living area and outdoor spaces.
- $300,000 to support the Lakeridge Health Ajax Pickering Hospital, Durham Community Foundation charities and IMPACT Ajax initiatives.
Ajax has developed an information page and budget snapshot infographic on the Town’s public engagement platform – In My Opinion Hub – at ajax.ca/budget.
“As this council committed to on day one, our priority has been to identify efficiencies and innovative opportunities to off-set tax increases. The Town has secured $700,000 in new non-tax revenue, $2 million reserve transfers, $375,000 library surplus and is leveraging $302,400 in Ajax Casino revenues. Council has also adopted a new naming rights program to solicit large scale, high value sponsorship opportunities for Town assets. In addition, the Town initiated an internal staff engagement program to identify operating efficiencies,” said Councillor Rob Tyler Morin, Ward One, Budget Chair, Town of Ajax.
On December 20, 2019, Ajax Council approved the Town’s 2020 Capital Budget and 2021-2024 Long Range Capital Budget.
Whitby Town Council Approves 2020 Budget
Whitby Town Council, at a Special Council meeting on Monday night, approved the Town’s proposed 2020 Budget, concluding the 2020 budget process. The approved budget will result in a 1.73 per cent increase on the total residential bill for Town services or $7.71 per month per household*.
The approved budget is available online at whitby.ca/budget.
“Council took a very hard look to ensure that we are making smart investments in the necessary resources, while also making sure to deliver the services, infrastructure and facilities residents need and want, and to support our growing community in the future,” said a statement by Steve Lee, Councillor and Budget Chair, Town of Whitby.
“There was a strong debate about ways to reduce the property tax impact while maintaining existing levels of service and that outcome was achieved. I want to thank the members of council who made the hard, but necessary, decision to do that,” said Don Mitchell, Mayor.
Quick Facts
- Over the next 12 years, Whitby’s population is expected to grow by more than 40 per cent.
- Only 9 per cent of all taxes the average household pays are property taxes and only 3 per cent of the taxes you pay go to the Town of Whitby.
- The Town’s portion of the total property tax bill is 34 per cent. The Town is responsible for collecting property taxes on behalf of the Region of Durham and the School Boards.
- Roads, recreation and parks represent the highest capital investments in the proposed 2020 budget.
- More than 80 per cent of participants in the Town’s 2018 Community Survey reported that they felt they are getting “good” or “very good” value for their tax dollars. The next survey will be in the spring of 2020.
* Based on the 2019 average assessment value of $470,000 as identified by MPAC Property Notice Assessment.