Rising cost of insurance drives Halton Hills tax increase of 6.62%

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Published February 14, 2023 at 10:47 am

Halton Hills taxpayers will see the Town portion of their taxes rise by 6.62 per cent this year.

When combined with the rates at Halton Region and the school boards, the blended tax increase will be 4.26 per cent. The final approval came at yesterday’s Town council meeting.

Included in the local increase of 6.62 per cent is an increase of 1.83 per cent for the special levy dedicated towards rising insurance costs and an increase of 0.6 per cent for the infrastructure special levy.

For the average residential property in Halton Hills assessed at $623,500, residents can expect an overall increase of $217.40 in their 2023 property taxes.

“It has been a particularly challenging time, but I applaud our council for their diligence in providing residents with a restrained tax increase while maintaining the services our community expects,” said Mayor Ann Lawlor.

“Many of the financial pressures are beyond the control of the municipality such as the rising cost of insurance. This has necessitated the need for an insurance levy for the second year in a row. Similarly, the infrastructure levy provides continual investment in assets such as roads and facilities to keep them in a state of good repair.”

Key initiatives in the 2023 budget include:

  • Permanent delivery and enhancement of the ActiVan service pilot project providing transportation to Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital
  • Implementing a new automated speed enforcement program
  • The addition of a new fire prevention inspector and aerial ladder truck

The municipality’s annual cost of liability insurance premiums has grown by 196 per cent or $1.4 million over a five-year period.

“Many of the challenges faced by the Town are not unlike that of other municipalities,” said Chris Mills, the Town’s CAO.

“We are also in a period of uncertainty with legislated provincial changes to our planning processes that will limit our ability to fund growth and are causing additional strain on our already limited resources.”

Mills said the 2023 budget reflects council’s desire to minimize the tax impact to residents while maintaining core services.

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