Both Oshawa and Whitby yesterday announced that their city budgets are now available online for viewing by the residents.
Oshawa City Council approved the 2020 City Budget in December 2019. It is now available online and demonstrates investment in the future of the city’s infrastructure and its residents and property owners. This includes maintaining current and building new infrastructure, including roads, sidewalks, active transportation, trails and parks; saving for the future by increasing our reserves to ensure the financial health of the city; and, including a decrease in debt payments, said a city media release.
It said the 2020 city budget requires a 2.03% increase on Oshawa’s portion of a resident or property owner’s tax bill (41% of total tax bill) and represent an increase in the total tax bill of approximately $42.65 on a property (based on a home assessed at $356,000). The increase is driven by a number of unavoidable costs and pressures, including: inflationary and contractual labour increases as well as improved service delivery.
Property Tax Increase
The 2.03% increase is only on the city portion of resident or property owner’s taxes. The City of Oshawa is part of a two-tier government system and collects property taxes on behalf of the City, the Regional Municipality of Durham and the Province for local school boards. In the past, the City has only kept approximately 41 cents of every dollar collected – of the remaining 59 cents, 41 cents is allocated to the Region and the remaining 18 cents to local school boards.
The 2020 Regional Budget deliberations begin this month; once the Regional Budget is approved, Oshawa homeowners will see a combined City, Region and education increase on their tax bill.
Infrastructure Levy
The budget submission includes a 0.1% increase to the dedicated infrastructure levy and will help support the city’s future capital infrastructure requirements.
The capital budget focuses on investing in and renewing the city’s core infrastructure and providing the infrastructure necessary to respond to our growing city. Capital projects for 2020 include fleet replacements, replacement of sand surfaces in playgrounds, pathways, radar speed control devices, speed signs, Next Generation 911 upgrade, replacement of the HVAC system at the Oshawa Executive Airport, and the replacement of the dehumidification system at Delpark Homes Centre.
For additional information, visit Oshawa budget webpage.
Whitby budget public meeting on February 18
The Town of Whitby’s proposed 2020 Budget is now available online at whitby.ca/budget and in-person at Town Hall.
Whitby reminded residents of the following opportunities to provide feedback on the proposed budget:
Budget Public Meeting
- When: Tuesday, February 18 7 pm.
- Where: Town Hall, 575 Rossland Road East, Whitby
Residents will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed 2020 Budget prior to council consideration and approval on February 24. Those interested in speaking at this meeting are not required to register prior to the meeting, but are encouraged to notify the Town Clerk of their intention to speak by emailing clerk@whitby.ca.
Special Council Meeting (final approval of the proposed 2020 Budget)
- When: Monday, February 24, 5:30 pm.
- Where: Town Hall, 575 Rossland Road East, Whitby
Residents interested in speaking at the Special Council Meeting must register with the Town Clerk by 10 am on Wednesday, February 19. Delegation Forms are available online at whitby.ca/delegation and should be submitted to clerk@whitby.ca.
ALSO READ: