Citizens first through Service Excellence

Jan. 18, 2023 8:00 p.m.
​The City of Vaughan’s proposed 2023 Budget and 2024 to 2026 Financial Plan are tabled


This evening, during the first of three public budget meetings, the City of Vaughan tabled its draft 2023 Budget and 2024 to 2026 Financial Plan. The proposed budget reflects the continued commitment to keep property tax rates low, respect taxpayers’ money and deliver quality public services that residents, businesses and visitors rely on each day.    

The 2023 Budget and 2024 to 2026 Financial Plan represents the City’s commitment to transparency, accountability and good governance. They were created to balance investing in the community and maintaining financial sustainability. They were also developed factoring in uncertainties of the current environment, as a result of issues impacting the global supply chain, higher inflation and interest rates, and the potential of an economic slowdown. A prudent approach was taken that provides flexibility to respond to these challenges while planning for a gradual recovery from the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

The proposed 2023 Budget outlines how Vaughan’s administration will move the city forward while delivering more than 200 programs and services effectively and efficiently. It also fulfills the City’s mission of Citizens First Through Service Excellence and balances the needs of managing unprecedented growth, investing in infrastructure and supporting economic development. 

Details are as follows: 

Property tax-supported operating budget

The property tax-supported operating budget for 2023 is $355 million. This includes a 2.9 per cent property tax levy increase. With this, Vaughan still maintains one of the lowest and most competitive tax rates in the Greater Toronto Area. This operating budget funds the many programs and services families rely on, including garbage collection, snow clearing and fire prevention education. Twenty-eight cents of every property tax dollar stay with the City to provide these and many other services. The remainder is split between York Region (50 cents) and the local school boards (22 cents). In the context of the average $6,576 annual property tax bill, only $1,836 stays with the City. 

Bill 23 and the City of Vaughan’s 2023 Budget 

There have been media reports about potential future property taxes ranging from 77 per cent to 88 per cent as a result of the Province of Ontario’s Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022. 

These media reports are based on a City staff report from Tuesday, Nov. 29, in response to the Ontario government’s Bill 23. Read the staff report here, starting on page 50. Vaughan's proposed 2.9 per cent property tax rate increase for 2023 addresses existing and immediate operating pressures for the 2023 fiscal year. It does not offset growth-related revenue losses expected to occur because of Bill 23. 

However, since Vaughan Council began discussing Bill 23 in November, there have been repeated public statements by the Ontario government promising to make municipalities "whole" if cities cannot fund housing infrastructure and services due to Bill 23. City staff continue to monitor Bill 23's impacts on growth-related revenue moving forward, as this legislation will have longer-term effects on the size and timing of Vaughan's ability to implement critical city-building projects. 

For further questions regarding Bill 23, consider contacting your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), who is your representative in the provincial legislature. Use the Find my MPP tool on the Legislative Assembly’s website to find your riding, MPP’s profile and contact information. Enter your address in the search field and select “Find.” For the most accurate results, use your full address, including city and postal code. 

Water, wastewater and stormwater budget

The water, wastewater and stormwater budgets fund programs and services to ensure the city can provide safe drinking water, collect wastewater effectively, manage stormwater to mitigate flooding and save for future water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure needs. The proposed increase for the combined water, wastewater and stormwater rate in 2023 is $0.1602 per cubic metre, or 3.3 per cent.

 Capital budget

Finally, the capital budget was also presented with proposed projects for 2023 and a forecast financial plan up to 2026 with investments of $583.8 million in 2023 to help the City grow sustainably and build and repair City infrastructure, including roads, pipes and buildings. 

The budget and financial plan propose a variety of major infrastructure projects in 2023: 

  • $118.9 million in capital projects related to Transportation and Mobility. This will support 62 projects to maintain existing road infrastructure and construct new roads to improve traffic flow, including extending Kirby Road and Bass Pro Mills Drive, reconstructing Portage Parkway, advancing the Vaughan Super Trail and much more.
  • $53.9 million in capital projects related to City-Building. This will support 47 city-wide developments that encompass good urban design and community well-being, including further developing North Maple Regional Park, improvements to the Highway 7 culvert crossing and construction of the new West Woodbridge Library.
  • $184.2 million in capital projects related to Environmental Stewardship. This will support 28 initiatives to foster a sustainable future and preserve the natural environment, including the Black Creek Channel Renewal and various stormwater management improvements throughout the city.
  • $51.4 million for capital projects related to Active, Safe and Diverse Communities. This will support 82 initiatives aimed to help residents live active and healthy lives, including the multi-year Pedestrian and Cycling Infrastructure Implementation Program, the multi-year Erosion Control Program, the multi-year Parks Infrastructure Renewal Program, Library Capital Resource Purchases, and a New Fire Station 7-12, to name a few.
  • $1.6 million in capital projects related to Good Governance. This will support 11 projects aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability, demonstrating value for money and showcasing Vaughan’s commitment to financial stewardship.
  • $12.2 million for capital projects related to Citizen Experience. This will support 43 new projects, including City programs that demonstrate commitment to citizen service and transform services through technology. 
  • $22 million in capital projects related to Operational Performance. This will support 302 projects to foster a culture of continuous improvement and data-driven innovation.
  • $100,000 in capital projects for Staff Engagement. This will support three initiatives to empower staff, develop leadership skills and help manage performance. 

The 2023 Budget Book and 2023 to 2026 Financial Plan (PDF) further details how the City’s revenues and other sources of funds are allocated to programs, services, and maintaining and building infrastructure. 

Join the conversation

Public consultation is a vital component of the budget process. You are encouraged to get involved and help shape Vaughan’s promising future. Additional public meetings to discuss the budget are taking place on:

  • Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m.: Special Committee of the Whole (Public Meeting)
  • Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.: Special Council Meeting (to approve the budget) 

Here’s how you can participate:  

  • Watch a live broadcast of the meeting. As each meeting begins, a livestream will be made available at vaughan.ca/LiveCouncil.
  • Attend in person at Vaughan City Hall to speak to Members of Council. Pre-register by completing the online Request to Speak form or calling Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 by noon on the business day before the meeting.
  • Speak live via teleconference to Members of Council during a meeting. To pre-register to speak, fill out the online Request to Speak form by noon on the business day before the meeting. You will be provided instructions on how to connect to the meeting. You can connect through your computer, smartphone or tablet.
  • Speak live from a telephone (regular landline or cellphone) during the meeting. To pre-register to speak via telephone, contact the Office of the City Clerk at clerks@vaughan.ca or call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281.
  • Submit a written communication for review by Members of Council as part of an agenda item. All written communications can be emailed to the Office of the City Clerk at clerks@vaughan.ca. 

There are many other ways to get involved:

More about Vaughan’s budget process

The City’s goal is to ensure the budget is rooted in fiscal sustainability and serves to secure greater efficiencies and maximize every dollar it is entrusted to invest. The 2023 Budget will build upon the City’s existing strong foundation and account for sustainable growth with opportunities to enrich lives through arts, culture, parks, trails and recreation. In addition, it will deliver on the City’s mission of Citizens First Through Service Excellence, investing in the community’s future and factoring in the impacts of COVID-19. 

For more information on the City’s budget process or how you can get involved, visit vaughan.ca/budget. 

For updates and news as they happen, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

QUOTE 

"Vaughan's 2023 Budget and 2024 to 2026 Financial Plan represents our commitment to transparency, accountability and good governance. The proposed property tax increase this year is 2.9 per cent. Our City proudly maintains one of the lowest and most competitive tax rates in the Greater Toronto Area. We are focused on keeping property taxes low and respecting taxpayers' hard-earned money while investing in the critical services citizens rely on daily. Residents will notice the hospital levy is gone – our contributions ended in 2022, seven years ahead of schedule. On June 6, 2021, Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital officially opened as a full-service community hospital. After more than a decade-long journey, Vaughan is emerging as an epicentre of healthcare excellence in Canada. I look forward to the significant role this state-of-the-art facility will play in addressing the healthcare needs of our community for years to come. In Vaughan, we take the management and stewardship of public funds very seriously and continue to demonstrate financial leadership and discipline. I want to express my gratitude and appreciation to my Council colleagues, members of our administration and the citizens of Vaughan for their dedication, hard work and valuable contributions to the City's budget process.”

- Mayor Steven Del Duca

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