Click on the questions below to open the answers.
What are budget documents? |
Budget documents tell a city's financial story and set spending targets for municipal programs, services and initiatives. The budget is an important element in the accountability cycle and provides a standard against which subsequent performance can be judged. |
What is a Capital Budget and Forecast? |
A Capital Budget and Forecast is where the city plans for upcoming years and identifies how to pay for city infrastructure projects such as road reconstruction, park improvements and public buildings. |
What pays for the Capital Budget? |
The City of Burlington relies on a number of funding sources, some that occur each year and others that are one-time funds. These funding sources include:
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What are capital projects? |
A capital project is a project that helps maintain or improve a city asset, often called infrastructure. It is a new construction, expansion, renovation, or replacement project for an existing facility or facilities; or purchases of major equipment, or; major maintenance ore rehabilitation project. The project must have a total cost of at least $25,000 over the life of the project. Project costs can include the cost of land, engineering, architectural planning and contract services. |
Who determines what is included in the Capital Budget? |
The capital budget process involves consideration of priority capital needs, financing capabilities, council directions, community needs and goals outlined in the city's 25-year Strategic Plan. Along with the input received from community consultation, city staff develops a one-year capital budget and 10-year forecast. This budget is then reviewed by the city's Community and Corporate Services Committee and approved by City Council. |
What is an Operating Budget? |
The Operating Budget is where the city plans for its day-to-day operations, including salaries, utilities and supplies to deliver city services. |
What pays for the Operating Budget? |
The operating or current budget is primarily funded from property taxes, though it can also include revenues received from:
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Who decides how my city taxes are spent? |
Burlington City Council ultimately decides, based on feedback from community stakeholders - including taxpayers - and recommendations from city staff. Almost all of the city taxes collected go to the operating budget (about 90 per cent). The rest go to the capital budget (about 10 per cent). |
Where are my tax dollars spent? |
The city collects property taxes on behalf of both the Halton Regional government and the school boards. Of your property taxes, approximately 43 per cent funds city services, 36 per cent funds the region and 21 per cent funds the school boards. City share (43 per cent) pay for municipal services such as:
Halton Region share (36 per cent) pay for regional services such as:
Education share (21 per cent) is directed to:
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If there is a budget surplus, where does it go? |
Municipal budgets in Ontario are provincially legislated to be balanced annually. The city cannot budget for a surplus or deficit. To ensure a municipality's long-term stability and protect against unforeseen circumstances, (snowstorms, flooding, etc.) legislation allows municipalities to allocate surplus funds to reserve funds. |
I don't take the bus/use the parks/ walk on the trails/use the arenas. Why should I pay for these services. Why can't I just pay for what I use? |
Depending on the stage in your life and your interests, you will use city services differently. Whether we use them or not, we all pay for the many services the city must provide. If you don't drive a car, you still pay for roads. If you don't use our parks, a portion of your taxes are still used for their upkeep. If you do not have school aged children you still pay education taxes. |
How are house values assessed? |
The Municipal Property Assessment (MPAC) assesses all properties in Ontario. The assessed value is based on valid property sales (arms length transaction from a willing seller to a willing buyer) in your community. This method is called Current Value Assessment (CVA). MPAC can be reached at 1-866-296-MPAC, ext. 6722. |
What date is my house value based on? |
All properties in Ontario are now being assessed for the taxation years 2017 to 2020 based on property assessment values at Jan. 1, 2016. The provincial government has mandated that reassessments will occur every four years. In addition, the government has introduced the phasing in of residential assessment increases as part of the reassessment. Decreases in assessment will not be phased in and are effective in the first year. Example: Property value increases from $200,000 to $240,000 due to the current re-assessment. A $40,000 assessment increase will be phased in gradually in increments of $10,000 each year over four years as follows: 2017: $210,000 2018: $220,000 2019: $230,000 2020: $240,000 |
How do I know if my assessment is correct? |
To find out if your assessed value is accurate, simply ask yourself this question - could you have sold your property for its assessed value on Jan. 1, 2016? If the answer to this question is yes, then your assessed value is probably correct. |
Can I check or compare the assessment on my neighbor's property? |
Yes, you can get detailed information about your property and information on up to 24 additional properties of your choice and up to six selected by MPAC, free of charge. To do so, visit AboutMyProperty at www.mpac.ca and enter your personalized User ID and password included on your Property Assessment Notice, or call 1-866 -296-MPAC, ext. 6722. You may also send a written request to: MPAC Fax: 1-866-297-6703 |
What should I do if I don't agree with my assessment? |
For residential, farm and managed forest property classes you must first file a Request for Reconsideration (RfR) with MPAC by March 31 in a given year. For additional information on how to file, visit MPAC. There is no cost to file an RfR. MPAC will mail the RfR results no later than Sept. 30. If you are not satisfied with MPAC's RfR results, you can file an appeal to the Assessment Review Board (ARB) within 90 days of the mailed RfR response from MPAC. There is a cost to appeal. For all other property classes you have two options: File an RfR with MPAC by March 31. There is no cost to file an RfR. File an appeal to the Assessment Review Board (ARB) by March 31. There is a cost to appeal. |
Will my taxes go up based on my new assessment? |
As a general rule, if your percentage increase year over year is larger than the average municipal change (4.5 per cent), you may experience an increase due to the reassessment. If your percentage change is relatively close to the average, you may not experience an assessment related tax increase or decrease. If your percentage change is less than the average, you may experience an assessment related tax decrease. A simple calculation you can do to see if you have had an assessment related increase is to multiply your interim tax bill by two and compare it to your prior year's total tax bill. |
How is my tax bill calculated? |
Your tax bill is determined by multiplying your assessment by the tax rates determined by the municipality, region and province (education). |