Council decides on 2019 property tax levy increase

By a narrow 5-4 vote on February 4, 2019, members of Milton Council ruled that the Town of Milton’s portion of the property tax levy will increase this year by 8.30% or almost four times the rate of inflation.

However, when blended with the estimated 2019 budgets of the Regional Municipality of Halton and the public and Catholic school boards, the property tax levy will increase this year by 3.67% or about twice the current rate of inflation.

The average home in Milton is valued at $789,162, according to current Milton Multiple Listing Service (MLS) figures. That equates to a $158.70 increase in local property taxes for the average Milton homeowner. Including Region and school board property tax increases, that equates to a $202.42 total property tax increase this year for the average homeowner.

Mayor Gord Krantz, Regional Councillors Colin

Best and Rick Malboeuf and I voted against the tax increase. Best, Malboeuf and I brought numerous budget reduction proposals before Council, most of which were rejected out-of-hand.

As I said during the election campaign, the current financial situation at the Town of Milton is not sustainable. While I am very disappointed by the 2019 tax increase, particularily for seniors on fixed incomes and young families with mortgages, I hope that the Core Services Review this year and other review measures planned by Town staff have the effect

of returning future operating budgets to a fiscally responsible rate of inflation level. CR