At least two Durham municipalities have announced that they are having to re-evaluate upwards the 2025 property tax because of the late announcement by the Region of Durham of its tax rate.
The region announced its tax levy at the start of the Christmas holidays, hiking property tax by 7.4 per cent despite an earlier announcement capping any increase to 4.9 per cent. The region has also raised water supply and sanitary sewer user rates by 5 per cent.(see below).
Several municipalities had announced their 2025 tax levy prior to the Region of Durham announcement, perhaps going by the announced cap. They include:
- Oshawa approved a 7.87 per cent tax hike
- Clarington has proposed a 5.19 per cent tax revenue increase
- Ajax announced a 4.89 per cent rise
- Whitby has set its budget with 3.99 per cent tax increase
- Pickering has proposed a 3.75 per cent levy increase
- Uxbridge is reviewing its 2025 property tax increase from the previous 4.4 per cent to 6 per cent.
A municipality’s portion of property taxes accounts for 33 per cent of the overall tax bill, with 55 per cent allocated to the Region of Durham and 12 per cent to the school board.
Scugog announces 2025 tax rate
The Township of Uxbridge is already reviewing its 2025 tax rate (see below), and the Township of Scugog, the latest municipality to annouce its 2025 property tax rate is also doing the same.
Based on the draft budget document presented Monday, the percentage increase in total property tax for a residential property with a assessed value of $438,000 would be 4.54 per cent. 1.96 per cent of this combined increase on the overall tax bill is for township purposes, the township said.
“When this report was drafted early in December, the Region of Durham had not set their tax rate. The township’s report and subsequent calculations therefore reflect the 4.9 per cent estimated regional tax rate increase. These numbers will be updated at the end of the month when staff bring forward the report to recommend adoption of the budget as presented,” Laura E. Barta, Scugog Director of Finance/Treasurer, told Durham Post.
A township statement said in 2025, property taxpayers in Scugog will see an increase of $9.41 per month for the average residential property assessed at $438,000. Of this amount, $5.88 will be directed towards infrastructure projects, such as road improvements, while the remainder will support services like snow clearing, park maintenance, and recreational programming.
The operating budget outlines the township’s spending plan for the year, covering essential services such as fire and emergency services, recreation programs, road maintenance, by-law enforcement, and the operation of community facilities like Scugog Arena, Blackstock Recreation Complex, and Scugog Public Library.
“While no one is happy with increased costs, we all recognize that inflation and other external pressures have impacted the cost of doing business. We know that property owners are struggling, and as staff, we have put forward for consideration a bare-bones budget that considers the pressures while maintaining services for Scugog residents,” said the director of Finance Barta.
Residents can review the draft budget and submit questions in advance at my.scugog.ca/budget or by emailing budget@scugog.ca.
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