Here’s How Much Property Taxes Will Increase in Mississauga

Mississauga is one of province’s most rapidly developing municipalities, and one that’s quickly becoming known for tackling ambitious (and exciting) transit and development projects.

And while development is always positive, it can translate to slightly higher costs for the city. 

This year, residents will notice a 2.75 per cent increase on their property tax bill. As for what’s driving the increase, the city says it will need to dedicate additional financial support to the growing MiWay transit system, central library redevelopment, maintaining the Small Arms Building and more.

The budget, which has been posted online, describes the city’s proposed program and service enhancements and how they will be funded for 2019. 

According to the city, the total proposed 2019 operating budget is $874.2 million.

The city says this amount is offset by revenue from various sources, such as transit fares, recreation fees and development charges. These revenues total $362.5 million.

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Residents should note that property tax they pay funds the budget amount not covered by these revenues.

So, how much more can homeowners expect to pay the city and the Region of Peel in 2019?

The proposed overall impact is a 2.75 per cent increase on the 2019 residential property tax bill. Of this, 1.69 per cent is for the city’s services and 1.07 per cent is for Region of Peel services.

How much more cash will the average homeowner be parting with?

For the owners of an average detached, single-family home in 2018 valued at $645,000, a 2.75 per cent overall tax increase comes to $146.32–before any phased-in assessment change. 

The proposed 2019 net operating budget is $511.6 million, compared with $485.2 million in 2018. This represents an increase of approximately $26.4 million over 2018.

The city says the majority of the 2019 gross operating budget, or $847.1 million, is targeted to keep the City’s services operating at current levels.

These services include:

• MiWay – Ontario’s third largest municipal transit service, MiWay operates 81 routes with 500 buses. Customers board a MiWay bus over 55 million times per year.
• Fire and Emergency Services – responds to an average of 29,000 incidents  each year; conducted over 8,200 fire safety inspections in 2017 to ensure Fire Code compliance and completed 1,298 building permit applications to ensure compliance with fire and life safety requirements stated in the Ontario Building Code.
• Roads – keeping motor vehicle, pedestrian and bike traffic moving on the City’s 5,660 lane kilometres of road network; maintaining a cycle network that includes approximately 500 kilometres of multi-use trails, park paths, bicycle lanes and signed bike routes.
• Parks and Forestry – maintaining our City’s 3,121 hectares of parkland and open space, including one million City-owned trees, 356 sports fields, 263 playgrounds, two marinas and 11 publicly-owned cemeteries.
• Library Services – includes the Central Library and 17 branch libraries that saw 4.5 million in-person visits and 6.1 million loans, including digital loans; 161,000 people attended library programs in 2017.
• Recreation – providing over 180,000 hours of programs each year, including swimming, fitness, skating and more; accommodated 13.3 million visits last year to Recreation facilities, including 11 community centres.

Proposed new services account for $9.9 million.

The new services include:

• a contribution to a new four-year Public Safety Fire Reserve Fund that accounts for $4.9 million in 2019.
• continuing MiWay service growth, adding 31,000 service hours at a cost of $1.13 million.
• addressing pressure on existing MiWay service that will result from construction for the new Light Rail Transit (LRT) line along the Hurontario corridor.
• transit and public safety priorities, with over 13,870 additional hours of security staff time.
• using funds raised through Mississauga’s Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) to support the City’s Tourism Unit and cover the cost to increase arts spending per capita over the next four years, fund Culture grant programs (Arts and Culture, Cultural Festivals and Celebrations, Heritage and Project grants) and live music initiatives.
• the Central Library redevelopment project with infrastructure for more modern and future-focused digital offerings; redevelopment of underutilized and ancillary spaces and expansion of the fourth floor.
• operating the recently-opened Small Arms Inspection Building, the City’s newest cultural facility.

On Dec. 5, the City of Mississauga’s Budget Committee will begin discussions on the proposed 2019 Business Plan and Budget. 

The City has set aside January 14, 15, 21, 22 and 28, 2019 to continue the discussions.

Residents can address the Budget Committee through deputation by contacting the City Clerk’s Office. Council is expected to approve the proposed 2019 Business Plan and Budget on Feb. 6, 2019.

You can actually read the city’s 2019 proposed Business Plan and Budget online.