Oakville Council holds overall tax increase to 1.6%
Budget includes $2.3 million in savings while maintaining programs and funding facilities
December 15, 2009 - For Immediate Release
Oakville Town Council has approved combined operating and capital expenditures of $311.1 million for 2010 to meet the needs of Oakville's growing community while finding savings and efficiencies where possible. The town's portion of the levy will rise by 4.5 per cent for a total property tax increase to the homeowner of 1.6 per cent, which amounts to $16.50 per year for each $100,000 of assessment, or $66 for a house assessed at $400,000.
"We received very valuable input from our residents throughout the budget process with a common theme asking us to deliver value for the taxes paid. This is reflected in Council's decision to accelerate our hot mix paving program and set a goal of reducing the percentage of roads with poor pavement quality to zero by 2021," said Councillor Tom Adams, chair of the 2010 Budget Committee. "Our performance-based, program-based budgeting process is geared to ensuring we target spending to measurable outcomes."
The 2010 budget for Halton Region will go before Regional Council for approval on December 16, 2009. The region's Budget Review Committee recommended a zero per cent increase to the regional component of property taxes on December 14. The final overall property tax increase is dependent on the Halton Region budget for 2010 and provincially set education tax rates.
"Managing the overall tax burden on local taxpayers is an important consideration by members of council," said Councillor Adams, who is also a member of the region's Budget Review Committee.
"I'm happy Council approved a budget that is focused, streamlined, and tailored to meet our residents' needs while keeping taxes among the lowest in the GTA," Mayor Rob Burton said. "We'll improve our roads, enhance services, and maintain the quality of our programs and facilities - all important parts of becoming the most livable town in Canada."
The 2010 Budget includes funds to replace aging infrastructure and construct new facilities including the quad pad arena, the new transit facility, and renovations to the Queen Elizabeth Park Community Centre. It also has money for the expansion of road capacity, Oakville Transit's new grid service design, and an expansion of the loose leaf collection program. A transit fare increase was rejected due to the current economic climate.
For more information please visit the 2010 Budget web page.
-30-
Media Contacts:
Nancy Sully
Acting Director, Budget and Forecasting
Town of Oakville
905-845-6601, ext. 3143
nsully@oakville.ca
Gisele Shaw
Manager, Corporate Communications
Town of Oakville
905-845-6601, ext. 3166
gshaw@oakville.ca
 Sign up for the town's RSS feeds to get information delivered right to your desktop.
|
