Tue, 22 Jan 2019
Achieving Council’s direction to keep the town’s property tax increase in line with inflation, Oakville’s 2019 Budget Committee is recommending a 1.99 per cent increase to the town’s portion of the tax bill, for an overall property tax increase of 1.53 per cent when the approved regional and expected educational tax levies are included.
The proposed increase would mean that residential property taxes would increase by $11.72 per $100,000 of assessment or that the owner of a home assessed at $800,000 would pay an additional $93.75 per year or $1.80 per week.
The proposed budget will go forward to Council for approval at its January 28 meeting.
“For over a decade, it has been a priority of this Council to keep overall property tax increases in line with inflation, and once again we have met that goal,” said Budget Committee Chair Tom Adams. “The town continues its steady path of identifying efficiencies, while building and maintaining infrastructure, and delivering high quality programs and services in the community. Oakville’s property tax increases continue to be lower, more predictable and on a downward trend.”
For 2019, staff recommended a $337.3 million operating budget to provide a wide range of programs and services including the maintenance of roads and community facilities, fire services, transit, parks and trails, recreation and culture, senior services, and libraries, along with a variety of other valued services. Program enhancements recommended for 2019 include funding for the newly opened Trafalgar Park Community Centre, the Sixteen Mile Branch library and final phase of the Municipal Enforcement Strategy.
In addition, as part of the town’s goal for continuous improvement and improved efficiency, $2.1 million in anticipated savings are being recognized from efficiency review work undertaken in 2018 and 2019.
The 2019 recommended capital budget sees $116.3 million of funding to support new facilities, transportation, infrastructure renewal and other elements related to growth. Some of the capital projects for 2019 include:
The Budget Committee recommended that capital funding of $250,000 for a study to replace Town Hall be deferred.
Finally, the Budget Committee also approved the proposed 2019 Rates and Fees. On average, rates and fees will increase between two and three per cent which will generate close to $1.5 million in revenue to help fund valued programs and services.
“The proposed budget supports our commitment to ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of our community,” said Mayor Rob Burton. “Oakville’s finances are stable and the healthiest in Ontario because the town continues to reap the benefits of the program-based, performance-based (PB2) budgeting that allows staff to identify efficiencies and still deliver on much needed programs and services.”
Throughout the budget process, which began on December 11, 2018, the Budget Committee welcomed feedback from residents, local businesses and community partners.
This is Councillor Adams’ eleventh year as budget chair. He holds an MBA from McMaster University and is a former senior risk manager to one of Canada's major financial institutions.
The recommended 2019 Budget and 2019 Rates and Fees will go forward to Council for final approval on January 28, 2019 at 7 p.m. Join the meeting in person in Council Chamber at the Halton Regional Center at 1150 Bronte Road. Residents who wish to appear before Council as a delegate may register in person at the meeting, or in advance by emailing townclerk@oakville.ca or by calling 905-815-6015. For those who cannot attend the meeting, live coverage will be available on the town’s YouTube channel.