Mayor reminds his colleagues that a bylaw has to be approved before they go home allowing for the collection of taxes.

By Staff

April 25th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

The meeting was running late and everyone on council wanted to adjourn and go home.

They had already agreed to extend the meeting for an additional half hour – then the Mayor advised council that they needed to take a break and approve a bylaw that would allow for the collection of taxes.

They did that – here are the results:

Burlington City Council approved the 2018 Tax Levy Bylaw at its meeting on April 23, 2018. The bylaw allows the city to bill 2018 property taxes and set payment due dates for final tax bills on June 20 and Sept. 20, 2018.

The 2018 Tax Levy Bylaw reflects the budget processes of both the city and Halton Region. The province provides the education tax rates. The overall tax increase is 2.64 per cent or $20.93 for each $100,000 of urban residential assessment. Tax impacts will vary by property based on actual changes in the assessed value of the property relative to others.

While the overall tax increase is reported as 2.64% – the tax increase imposed by the city is slightly less than 4% – well above inflation.  The city collects the Regional taxes and has some impact on the Regional tax levy and absolutely no impact on the school board tax levy.

It is a little disingenuous to quote that 2.64% number – but they do it every year.  Tax discussions apparently don’t come under the transparency rule.

The City of Burlington collects property taxes for the city, Halton Region and the Halton district school boards. The total combined tax levy for all three entities is approximately $405 million. The city’s levy is $160 million; the city collects $130 million on behalf of Halton Region; and $115 million on behalf of the Halton district school boards. The taxes levied for Halton Region and the Halton district school boards are remitted to them.