York Region plans to pass a 3.55 per cent property tax rate increase that will cost Newmarket homeowners an extra $83 and Aurora property owners $102 on their annual tax bill.
The $4.6 billion budget features $1.26 billion in capital spending, a 154-person increase in police staff this year, and an additional $8 million for homelessness services.
“I believe this is a good budget for our residents going forward,” said Wayne Emerson, York Region chairman and CEO, at a council meeting on Oct. 24. “I think because of what’s happening out in our communities, it’s time for police to have it.”
Regional council reviewed the budget on Oct. 24 and plans to pass a final version on Nov. 28.
Based on the average assessed value of a home in York Region, roughly $805,077, the proposed tax levy increase of 3.55 per cent to fund operations and reserves would equate to about $103. Amounts, however, vary by municipality.
“The region needs to pay for new growth-related infrastructure, manage the lifecycle costs of new and existing assets, renew aging assets, and provide quality services to a growing and changing population,” the budget report said. “These factors all put pressure on the tax levy, user rates, and debt. The region has shown and continues to show its ability to adjust capital plans and priorities to address such pressures.”
The tax increase is slightly lower than the 2023 increase, which was 3.75 per cent. That increase also includes a one per cent levy for rapid transit infrastructure, approved by regional council on an ongoing basis to help pay for the upcoming Yonge North Subway Extension.
The proposed budget includes additional resources needed by York Regional Police. To address rising crime, police sought a 7.1 per cent budget increase this year.
The budget includes an additional $8 million to address homelessness, including adding new emergency and transitional beds and expanding existing programs. The budget includes three replacements and two new emergency and transitional housing facilities.
The region plans to fund 287 emergency and transitional housing beds and 400 community housing units over the next 10 years. Newmarket Mayor John Taylor said the target is tepid, concerned that more is needed.
“We have 16,000 people and families that are applicants on our wait list,” said Taylor. “My simple math does not even have that as ambitious as what we’re currently doing. That is probably below our 10-year average.”
He said there are significant police pressures with crime rates up and that communities want it addressed, but he is concerned about the lack of funding for homelessness programs.
“If we’re not investing in areas for people experiencing homelessness, affordable housing, and subsidized housing, the police are going to have a greater and greater burden,” said Taylor. “Planning for 400 units over 10 years and 287 emergency transitional units will continue to put pressure on police budgets for the next decade, in my opinion.”
Regional Councillor Mario Racco agreed with Taylor, saying they need to prevent problems rather than respond to them.
“We see so many incidents, so many people being killed in our region and in Toronto, which is next door to us,” said Racco. “There is a problem, which is why I understand there is a need for more police officers, but I want to make sure we don’t forget the most important thing, in my opinion, is that we prevent things from happening and not that we respond.”
The budget will also add 38 new permanent staff positions to paramedic services in 2025, a $9.2-million increase half-funded by the province.
On the capital side, much of the budget is spent on road work, wastewater expansion, and the ongoing Yonge-North Subway Extension.
The budget notes plans to increase the fare costs for York Region Transit Service by three per cent in July 2025 and 2026 to offset rising service costs. Those increases are projected to bring in $1.3 million and $3.8 million in new revenue, respectively.
The budget notes that several priority projects like community housing and bus rapid transit are excluded from the capital plan as they await senior government funding projects.
“The plan does include pre-construction costs for initial investments to ensure these projects can reach a state of readiness as the region continues to advocate for new funding opportunities,” the budget report said.
You can see the budget breakdown on the York Region website.
