Now the “ouch” part of that budget – city passes bylaw that allows them to send out the tax bills.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON    May 1, 2012 – It took all of 30 seconds to pass the bylaw – there wasn’t a word of debate.   It authorized the city to send out tax bills in June and September.

The city collects tax money for the Region and for the school board.  The 2012 tax levy bylaw reflects the results of the budget processes of both the city and the Region of Halton.  The overall tax increase is 1.79 per cent or $16.96 for each $100,000 of urban residential assessment.

The assessment level for your property is determined by MPAC – Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.  They figure out what they think your property is worth and the city works from that number.  So if MPAC says they think your property is worth $ 358,000 your taxes will amount to 3.58 x$964.36

The 2012 tax levy includes an additional $1.2 million, for a total 2012 contribution of $2.4 million to the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital redevelopment fund.  The first $1.2 million was part of the surplus from the previous fiscal year.

Included in the tax levy was $1.2 million dedicated towards the city’s local roadway resurfacing program.

For every $100,000 of property assessment the city will collect $964.36 in 2012   Here is where those tax dollars went in 2011 and 2012.

                                                                         2011                                2012

City – General                                 $     366.62                    $     375.12

City – Hospital                                $         3.78                    $         7.49

  Region – General + Waste             $     232.40                    $     232.92

Region – Police                               $     123.60                    $     127.83

Education Purposes                        $     221.00                    $     221.00

Total                                                 $     947.40                    $     964.36

City and regional councils set the tax rates for their respective levels of government. The province sets the tax rates for education.

This is where your tax dollars went

The City of Burlington’s 2012 annual operating budget is $196.7 million of which very close to 90% is used to pay for the more than 1000 full time equivalent employees the city has on staff. .

A total of $2.4 million was placed in the holding account for the city contribution to the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital redevelopment.  The city and the hospital are still dickering away on an agreement that will set out exactly what the city dollars will be used for.

The city also has a capital budget of $45.8 million.

When you open that envelop with the tax bill inside do you feel that you are getting full value for the money they expect you to pay?

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