After hours of deliberation and discussion, our council passed an overall tax increase of 2.83% based on Milton’s budget increase of 5.63%.
I think it is imperative that people know how exactly this impacts them and for that reason I am presenting the following stats:
On an average single detached home, valued at approximately around 650,000, your tax increase will be $88 per annum which comes to $7.35 per month.
Over the past year, my colleagues and I have had many discussions with you and what we heard was that you want better and “proportionate to growth” services. Also, the one thing we have learned over the last several years on council is that you can not build a community without a long term vision and certainly not one based on cuts. We have to build our town and our homes based on long term investments. This budget is a good start in that direction.
We received a lot of input from Milton taxpayers and the 2020 budget provides for a $45 million investment in building & improving current roads as well as the maintenance and rehabilitation of existing roadways.
In 2020, a fifth Fire Station is planned to open near Regional Road 25 and Louis St. Laurent and the Sherwood Community Centre will celebrate its first full year of operation. These new facilities help to maintain and deliver important services for Milton’s growing community.
Based on the Youth Strategy recommendations approved in 2019, the Town will also implement a pilot project in 2020 focusing on youth-specific spaces and programming at facilities.
Milton’s 2020 budget also maintains our position of having one of the lowest property tax rates in the GTA & Ontario while preparing us to be more sustainable as we continue to grow.
I want to thank my colleagues Kristina Tesser Derksen Councillor John Challinor, Councillor Zeeshan Hamid Councillor Rick Di Lorenzo & Councillor Sameera Ali for supporting this budget and going forward I hope the three who did not will continue to support council direction as we work towards building a complete community.