Get involved – 2021 Budget
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There are many ways to learn
about and participate in the process
Be involved. Be informed. The City is developing its 2021 Budget and 2022 Financial Plan – and your input is needed. Vaughan’s annual budget process is open and transparent, with public consultation being a vital component. Visit vaughan.ca/budget to learn how your hard-earned tax dollars are being invested and all the different ways you can get involved.
Be involved. Be informed. The City is developing its 2021 Budget and 2022 Financial Plan – and your input is needed. Vaughan’s annual budget process is open and transparent, with public consultation being a vital component. Visit vaughan.ca/budget to learn how your hard-earned tax dollars are being invested and all the different ways you can get involved.
The City of Vaughan’s budget is built on
the principles of integrity, accountability and responsibility. It is focused
on keeping property tax rates low, respecting taxpayers’ money and delivering
quality public services that residents, businesses and visitors rely on each
day. The City’s 2021 Budget includes an operating budget and capital
investments to support and advance the priorities in the Council-approved
2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan. The City’s
operating and capital budget have two distinct components: property
tax-supported budget, and water, wastewater rate and stormwater-charge
supported budget. The property tax budget funds the many programs and services
families enjoy and expect, including garbage collection, snow clearing and fire
prevention education. The water, wastewater and stormwater budgets fund water-related
services to ensure the City can provide safe drinking water, collect wastewater
effectively, manage stormwater to mitigate flooding and save for future
infrastructure needs.
Each
year, the City passes a budget to determine how funds will be allocated. The property
tax budget and the water, wastewater and stormwater budgets are discussed at
the same time. The City is holding three electronic-participation public
meetings in December to address the 2021 Budget:
- Special Committee of the Whole (Budget): Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.
- Special Committee of the Whole (Budget): Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m.
- Special Council (Budget): Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.
Vaughan engages citizens in a variety of ways to provide
budget-related information and gather feedback in its development. There are many ways to
get involved in this stage of the process:
- Watch a livestream of the City’s budget meetings at vaughan.ca/LiveCouncil. A video feed will become available at the start of each meeting.
- Provide input through an online budget feedback form at vaughan.ca/budget.
- Join the conversation on the City’s Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages using #VaughanBudget2021.
- Email any questions or comments to the City at budgeting@vaughan.ca.
- Call 905-832-8610 to leave a message that will be shared with staff.
- Subscribe to the City’s eNewsletter for regular updates.
The
residential property tax bill may come in a City
of Vaughan envelope, but only 27 cents of every dollar stay with the City to
provide more than 200 programs and services. Despite the global COVID-19
pandemic, city-building has not slowed down. Essential services continue and staff have pivoted quickly
to also offer many programs and services online or via telephone. In terms of
tax allocation, 49 cents go to York Region for regional services, such
as health, social services, police and emergency medical services, 1 cent goes
to the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct Development
Levy and 23 cents go to the
Province of Ontario for education.
Vaughan has one of the lowest tax rates in the Greater
Toronto Area. During the 2015 budget process, Council committed that taxes
would not increase by more than three per cent each year over the next four
years. The 2021 Budget builds on this commitment to prudent fiscal management
by maximizing the responsible use of every tax dollar collected – in fact, earlier this
week, Vaughan Council
approved staff’s plan
to support Mayor Bevilacqua’s
Members Resolution
for a zero per cent property tax increase.
Vaughan’s comprehensive budget process is a testament
to the City’s sound approach to public finances and dedication to accountable
governance, a
priority outlined in the 2018-2022 Term of
Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan. Under this directive, the City aims
to:
- effectively pursue Service Excellence in governance and fiscal responsibility.
- hold the public’s trust through inclusive, transparent and accountable decision-making.
- undertake responsible financial management.
- have superior service delivery and effective communication.
For additional
details on the City’s 2021 Budget process, or for more information on what
makes up the budget, what the budget funds and where your tax dollars go, visit
vaughan.ca/budget. The City’s 2021
Budget Book will also be made available on this webpage in the coming weeks.
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