Regional council approves budget with 3.4 per cent tax increase

Local residents will be digging a bit deeper in their pockets to pay for regional services this year.

During its Wednesday meeting (Jan. 25), regional council approved a $306-million tax-supported budget for 2023, along with $186 million for Halton Regional Police Services, resulting in a combined tax increase of 3.4 per cent.

This equates to an additional $9.31 per $100,000 of the assessed value of your home — $5.19 for regional services, and $4.12 for police services.

So if your home is currently assessed at $500,000, this will be a $46.55 tax increase on the regional portion of your bill this year.

“Once again – and for more than 20 years – we have delivered a strong budget that keeps property taxes at or below the rate of inflation for regional services while investing in the critical services and infrastructure the people of Halton need,” said Regional Chair Gary Carr.

Halton also manages the region’s water and sewer services and sets the annual rates. For 2023, the rate will rise by 4.1 per cent for both services, or $42 more for a typical household for the year.

Halton staff says the 2023 budget addresses “significant pressures” related to challenging economic conditions and high inflation impacting the cost of goods and services.

Key expenditures include:

• Paramedic services: Investing in six paramedic full-time equivalent (FTE) positions to address growth-related pressures that have resulted in increased call volumes.
• Services for seniors: Using Ministry of Long-Term Care funding for almost 20 personal support worker FTEs to provide increased direct care hours to residents at Halton’s three long-term care homes.
• Housing services: A $1.2-million increase in assisted housing provider grants, and $750,000 more for the Halton Rental Assistance Program and provincially-mandated housing program.
• Public health: Hiring staff to support the healthy living and oral health programs, and investing in the transition to a mobile delivery model for sexual health services in north Halton.
• Children’s services: Continued implementation of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Childcare Plan, or $10/day childcare.
• State of good repair program: $7.9-million increase to support the water and sewer capital program, and $1 million more for the transportation capital program.

Property tax bills include regional/police services, provincial education taxes and local municipal services. There will be no education tax increase this year. The total 2023 property tax bill increase for each municipality will be final once the town/city councils in Halton approve their respective budgets.