2.9% property tax hike could be coming to Brampton
Published February 16, 2023 at 4:04 pm
After years of no hikes, property taxes could be going up nearly 3 per cent in Brampton.
Members of City Council have often boasted about how property taxes have remained flat in Brampton since 2018. But the City’s proposed 2023 shows an end to the no-hike trend with a recommended 2.9 per cent property tax increase on the city portion of the tax bill.
That’s on top of an already approved 2.8 per cent tax hike from the Region of Peel, meaning the combined increases could see a 5.7 per cent jump on tax bills in Brampton.
The proposed budget was released on Thursday (Feb. 16) and the City says the average home can expect an increase of around $177. Commercial or industrial properties could see a hike between $648 and $2,269 depending on the value assessment of the property. The increase would net $36.5 million in additional property taxes, according to the budget documents.
Additionally, the average home in Brampton will see an increase to their utility bill of around $58 per year, while the average commercial or industrial property will see an increase of $152 per year.
Council also previously approved a 1 per cent tax levy back in April to help fund its portion of the Peel Memorial Centre hospital upgrade project and a new cancer treatment centre.
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Some highlights of the proposed 2023 budget include:
- $4.9 million towards the Peel Memorial Centre redevelopment, bringing the City’s contribution to $72.2 million of a $ 125-million target
- $492 million investment in Capital projects like roads and facilities, and $21 million over three years for revitalizing the downtown
- $83.1 million for asset repair and replacement
- More than $650,000 to deliver on the Community Safety Action Plan
- $8 million for new Brampton Fire and Emergency equipment and 24 new full-time firefighters
- $14.6 million for Brampton Transit (a year-over-year increase of $3.4 million) and 84,800 additional public transit service hours
- $2 million for the Brampton Legacy Fund
- $29 million for stormwater operations and management
But the City’s budget has yet to be finalised, and residents still have time to voice their comments or concerns to City staff and politicians at a series of telephone town halls, ward-specific coffee chats, and a business roundtable. The Ward Coffee Chats start on Feb. 21 and run until Feb. 24. with a Virtual Business Roundtable on Feb. 23 and a Telephone Town Hall on Feb. 25.
The City will begin budget deliberations on Feb. 27 with a final budget approval planned for March 8.
Brampton’s Chief Administrative Officer Marlon Kallideen says public input is “crucial” to the budget process and is encouraging residents to attend the sessions. Kallideen said the proposed budget “reflects what is most important to Bramptonians” and is a full 1 per cent below the current estimated inflation rate.
“We are dedicated to maintaining a strong fiscal position while meeting the needs of our community to prepare the City for future prosperity and stability,” Kallideen said in the budget.
While the 2022 full accrual budget shows a surplus of $49.2 million, the City says those funds are “largely due to the City of Brampton’s current growth cycle and cannot be used to offset property taxes.”
For more information on the proposed City of Brampton 2023 budget or to learn how you can share your input on the budget visit www.Brampton.ca.
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