5.7% tax property increase coming to Brampton

Brampton | Caledon | Latest News |

By

Published March 10, 2023 at 3:38 pm

tax

Homeowners in Brampton will see their first property tax increase in years now that the City has approved the 2023 budget.

City Council rubber-stamped its Operating and Capital budgets at a special meeting on Thursday (March 9), approving a 2.9 per cent increase on the City’s portion of the property tax bill.

And when combined with an increase of 2.8 per cent from the Region of Peel, homeowners will see a 5.9 per cent increase on their tax bill – that’s an extra $321 for the average household residential property in Brampton.

The move does away with years of no property tax hikes from the City. And while Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown acknowledged it’s the first increase since 2018 he says the budget shows “fiscal responsibility…knowing the pressures that are facing our residents.”

“For seniors to families on a fixed income, I think this budget also takes into account their reality,” Brown said at the meeting on Thursday.

The approved budget includes $496 million for capital projects and $134 million for reserves, as well as an operating budget of $845 million.

Some highlights include:

  • $20 million support for new Toronto Metropolitan University medical school
  • $210 million toward the electrification of Brampton’s new third transit facility and the Sandalwood transit facility
  • $15.4 million for Züm service expansion along the Chinguacousy Road corridor
  • $24 million to redevelop the Howden Recreation Centre, including the construction of a new sports field
  • $9 million to develop cricket, soccer, tennis fields and buildings at Gore Meadows
  • $8 million toward new fire equipment and vehicles and 24 new full-time firefighters
  • Continuation of the Peel Memorial Centre and cancer centre levy

Brown said the budget takes a “balanced approach to growth,” and also pointed out that while it may be the first City property tax increase in years “it’s also the smallest in the Region.”

“For seniors to families on a fixed income, I think this budget also takes into account their reality,” Brown said at the meeting on Thursday.

In a statement last month, the Brampton Board of Trade again forecasted the incoming property tax hike, saying any “surprise” increase “should really not be a surprise at all.”

“The Brampton Board of Trade has been warning its members to anticipate a huge spike given 3 years of 0% from 2019-2021 and a 1% increase in 2022,” the board said in a release.

The board also raised questions about how much the City budgets for capital projects that are delayed, putting a “burden on taxpayers” long before seeing the projects built.

Brown said the 2023 budget will see major investments in the City’s recreation, transit and healthcare systems “with record contributions to reserves.”

Last year council also approved a 1 per cent tax levy to fund its portion of the Peel Memorial upgrade project. That addition required an amendment to the 2022 budget, and the levy will continue on in 2023.

insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising