Your total property tax bill with the City of Burlington provides funds for more than just the cost of City services. We also collect taxes on behalf of Halton Region and the Province of Ontario's education system.
How your property tax dollars are distributed
Most of the City's budgeted revenue comes from property taxes. View our budget and finances for more information on a concise breakdown of the City's current budget and how it works. Like the City, Halton Region prepares a budget each year, with much of its operating expenditures funded through property taxes. The Province determines its own education tax rates.
Where your tax dollars go
The City's portion of the overall 2023 residential tax bill is 48.9 cents of every tax dollar collected. The remaining 51.1 cents goes to Halton Region and the Province's education system. We understand the importance of taxpayers understanding what City services they receive for their property tax dollars. View the details below, outlining where tax dollars are spent per $500,000 of residential assessment.
City services breakdown
For 2023, an urban residential property assessed at $500,000 amounts to $2,106.23 in property taxes for the City's 48.9 per cent share. That $2,106.23 is broken down into costs for City services, including:
- Capital - $476.45
- Public safety services - $358.95
- Internal support and administration - $289.24
- Maintenance services - $266.53
- Roads and transportation - $254.96
- Local boards and other agencies - $156.04
- Leisure services - $147.02
- Design and build - $37.85
- Net corporate revenues - $37.80
- Hospital Levy - $32.15
- Customer relations and citizen representation services - $31.27
- Mayor and Council - $17.97
Regional services breakdown
For 2023, an urban residential property assessed at $500,000 amounts to $1,435.98 in property taxes for Halton Region's 33.3 per cent share. That $1,435.98 is broken down into costs for regional services, including:
- Halton Regional Police Service - $541.03
- Road operations - $175.89
- Waste management services - $145.54
- Public health and paramedic services - $129.85
- Housing - $114.30
- Other services - $82.69
- Services for seniors - $69.85
- Planning and economic development - $50.21
- Children's services - $38.06
- Conservation authorities and heritage - $37.89
- Property assessment - $28.93
- Employment and social services - $21.74
Education services
For 2023, an urban residential property assessed at $500,000 amounts to $765 in property taxes for the Province of Ontario education system's 17.8 per cent share.
Striking the right balance
As with all municipalities, we strive to strike the right balance for our residents as we aim to maintain existing services, programs and infrastructure and provide new services, while at the same time minimizing tax increases. In a climate of increasing costs this can be a challenge, but our residential property taxes remain below the group average when compared to similar homes in municipalities across the Greater Toronto Area.