MARKHAM, ON ~ Markham Council approved its 2007 budget at its meeting May 8.
This year's budget results in a 3.98 per cent tax increase to the Town's share of the total residential tax bill. Markham's tax rate increase is the lowest for the urban municipalities in York Region and one of the lowest in the Greater Toronto Area. The average impact for residents is $40.20 on the Markham share of the tax bill.
Overall, Markham receives about 25.5 cents of every dollar of residential property taxes collected, with the remainder divided between education (25.9 cents) and the Region of York (48.6 cents).
When the Budget was presented to the community on April 16, a 4.59 per cent increase in the tax levy was proposed. Mayor Frank Scarpitti said, "This was reduced following input from residents and review by the Town's budget sub-committee and staff."
For the business community, Markham's commercial and industrial tax rates continue to be among the lowest in the Greater Toronto Area.
The 2007 Operating Budget is $151.4 million, the Capital Budget is $91.5 million, the Waterworks Budget is 50.1 million and the Building Standards Budget is $8 million, for a total of $301 million. This compares to a total budget of $269 million in 2006. The Budget was set, taking into account a 3.08 per cent increase in assessment growth in the Town.
"We have maintained our policy of not using one-time funding to balance the operating budget," said Budget Chief, Ward 6 Councillor Dan Horchik. "Within this budget, we are funding our environmental initiatives and supporting the many programs and services we provide to our residents. We also continue to ramp-up for future expenditures for staffing our new community centres, libraries and fire stations."
"This is the greenest budget Markham has ever produced. At the same time, finding value for tax dollars was one of our most important guiding principles," said Mayor Scarpitti. "For example, we partnered with local soccer organizations and the York Region District School Board, committing funds to develop Markham's first fully-lit artificial turf sportsfields at the high school being built in the Markham Centre area."
"With this year's budget we continue to maintain and improve our service levels for fire, parks, recreation and roads, while accommodating for growth. We addressed our environmental initiatives and transportation needs. Our budget builds on our quality communities and my commitment to diversity," said Mayor Scarpitti.
Throughout the fall and winter, we received presentations by Town business units and an economic forecast which examined current trends and pressures. During the public budget sub-committee meetings and community consultation, we developed funding plans for the many initiatives. The result is the 2007 budget, which supports our community priorities," said Budget Chief Horchik.
Budget pressures include the effect of wage settlements, inflation, municipal service contract escalations, and complying with the requirements of provincial legislation.
New programs funded by the Town this year include enhanced tree planting initiatives, the development of new bike routes and pedestrian pathways, and an expanded community mailbox recycling program.
Some of the key projects and priorities funded in the 2007 budget include:
Environment
- Addition of hybrid vehicles to Town vehicle inventory
- Funding for a works program aimed at generally improving the Town's watercourses and to help control erosion
- An enhanced Mission Green initiative – the recycling and anti-litter programs – at special events
- Support for the Markham Energy Conservation Office and Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund
- Development of a pesticide-free turf maintenance program for parks
- Maintenance for 33 additional hectares of parkland
- Enhanced tree planting initiatives
- Expansion to the community mailbox recycling (anti-litter) project
- Increased waste diversion/recycling programs in apartment buildings throughout the Town
Diversity
- Markham is developing a diversity strategy specifically for its organization
- Celebrate Markham grants to community groups and organizations
- Development of a translation policy for Town communications to residents
- Support to the CareerBridge internship program which provides Canadian work experience for new immigrants who have professional experience in their former country
Transportation and Transit
- Widening of Rodick Road from Miller Avenue to 14th Avenue
- Service for 55 new kilometres of roads
- $5.6 million for road resurfacing and improvements
- Construction of the first phase of Birchmount Road from 14th to Enterprise
- Improvements to bridges and culverts, including the Reesor Road bridge replacement in Ward 5 and the John Street bridge in Ward 1
- Construction of new sidewalks
- Further development of bike routes and pedestrian pathways
- Additional funding for the Transportation Demand Management program
Quality Communities and Safe Streets
- Funding for the construction of Markham's first artificial turf sportsfields
- $4.3 million funding for new parks, including Grand Cornell, White's Park, Greensborough and Wismer
- $3.2 million funding for the construction of a new fire station
- Development of tennis courts and a waterplay area in Berczy Park
- Design and construction of a community park and waterplay area in the East Cathedral community
- $500,000 for the Markham Public Libraries annual building program
- Construction of the new Ward building at Markham Museum
- Traffic calming measures for six streets under the Safe Streets program
Water and Sewer Programs
Waterworks is funded from water/wastewater revenues. Programs planned include:
- Watermain replacement on Steeles Avenue from Yonge Street to Henderson Avenue
- A sewer system upgrade program, using trenchless technology, for structural and service repairs
- Ongoing installation of corrosion protection for watermains to improve and maintain water quality
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