Finding innovative ways to fund future programs and services

Maintaining one of the lowest property tax rates in the Greater Toronto Area is one of the ways the City of Vaughan is committed to putting residents first through Service Excellence.

To help achieve this objective, the City’s Economic Development department pursues innovative financial solutions to help support City programs, projects and services without relying on the City’s tax base. In 2022 alone, the City secured $9.1 million in non-tax revenue through grants, advertising, sponsorships and donations. Now, we want to hear from you!

Get involved!
You’re invited to learn about these non-tax revenue initiatives, ask questions and share your thoughts at one of the following drop-in Open Houses taking place this month: 

Date: Tuesday, Oct. 24
Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: Rosemount Community Centre (1000 New Westminster Dr.), Activity Room 4

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 25
Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: Al Palladini Community Centre (9201 Islington Ave.), Activity Room 4

Date: Thursday, Oct. 26
Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: Maple Community Centre (10190 Keele St.), Activity Room 1

Date: Monday, Oct. 30
Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: Father E. Bulfon Community Centre (8141 Martin Grove Rd.), Youth Room

Registration is encouraged.

Can't attend in person? Visit the Have Your Say page to submit questions and learn more about some of the ways the City is generating alternative revenue. Some examples are below:

Advertising

Digital billboards are one of the many ways Vaughan collects non-tax advertising revenue. The City was one of the first municipalities in Canada to establish a revenue-share model with a private digital billboard sign company to significantly increase non-tax revenue while expanding the City’s communication network. Under this innovative partnership, awarded through a competitive bidding process, small parcels of City-owned land are leased to the sign vendor to design, finance, build, operate and maintain digital billboards — at zero cost to the City. Plus, there is dedicated space in the rotation of these signs to promote City programs and initiatives. Three signs are currently in operation and will generate an estimated $6 million for the City over 15 years. 

The City is exploring four new potential sites for digital billboards pending public consultation, including at Maple Reservoir Park (Keele Street and Teston Road), Al Palladini Community Centre (Islington Avenue and Rutherford Road), Rainbow Creek Park (Highway 7 and Highway 27) and Jean Augustine District Park (Bathurst Street and Centre Street). This proposal will be highlighted at the upcoming Open Houses. 

Grants

Grants allow the City to deliver on vital community and city infrastructure projects that might otherwise be a financial challenge. Grants are awarded by various organizations, foundations, governments and government agencies, and require the City to develop thorough applications outlining the intended use of grant funds. In 2022, about $8.6 million in grant funding was awarded to the City.

Sponsorships

Sponsorships represent significant opportunities to offset the cost of City-run programs and events. Sponsorship arrangements may take various forms, including logo placements at community events or the acquisition of naming rights for new or recently refurbished parks and recreational facilities. In 2022, about $300,000 in sponsorships were contributed to the City.

Donations

Donations are also responsible for a large portion of non-tax revenue collected by the City. In 2022, more than $16,000 in donations helped fund various initiatives, from recreation programs for low-income individuals and families to financial and in-kind contributions for the Vaughan Animal Shelter.

To learn more about City initiatives that generate alternative revenue, including how the City is harnessing the potential of digital billboards, visit vaughan.ca/AltRevenue.

To stay informed on the City’s latest tourism, business resources and initiatives, sign up for the Economic Development department’s eNewsletters at vaughanbusiness.ca/enewsletters and follow the official channels on LinkedIn and Instagram.

For the latest updates, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.