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This petition has been placed on hold. The signatures must be submitted to the city before noon on Friday, November 22, 2024. 

This Petition will be submitted to the Mayor and Burlington City Council on November 25th, 2024.  

When it comes to Burlington Property Taxes there are two big problems:

1 – The city budget increases and tax increases are high, 15.59% in 2023, 10.21% in 2024, proposed 7.5% for 2025, without the city justifying the increases.

2 – How the city communicates the tax increase understates the actual change!

The proposed increase to the city’s budget, from 2024 to 2025, is 8.3%. The proposed increase to the M-Municipal Line on our tax bills is 7.5%. The difference will be made up by new assessments (new homes and condos).

Last year, the increase in the city’s budget resulted in a 10.21% increase to the Burlington line on your property tax bill.

Look at this table and see the percentages communicated by the city as "impacts" and the actual tax bill increase. Anyone can confirm the actual tax bill increase by looking at line 1, the M-MUNICIPAL line, on your “FINAL” tax bill compared to the “FINAL” tax bill for the previous year. The final bills arrive in late May or early June. The compounding increases are bewildering.

 

 

 

 

If the proposed 2025 increase is approved, for every $1,000 in Burlington property taxes you paid in 2022, you’ll pay $1,376.34 in 2025.

For comparison, the Region of Halton increased the R-Region line, on your final tax bill, by 2.52% in 2023 and 3.05% in 2024. Compounded over two years that’s a 5.65% increase compared to Burlington’s 27.39% increase over the same two years.

Halton Region is responsible for social housing, garbage collection, public health, paramedics, and other important services. The Ontario government's changes to development charges also affect the Region's budget.

"Our Burlington City Council has a spending problem".

Please sign this petition if you agree that the City of Burlington needs to:

1 - Pause the increases and not increase taxes at all in 2025. The budget has increased by 27.39% over two years and it takes time to put huge increases like this to work in ways that help taxpayers.

2 – Communicate the budget increase and how that increase is being funded by always stating the budget increase amount and percentage, the increase in tax revenue from new housing (assessment), and the M-Municipal line increase percentage.

3 – Share the details of the budget in a way people in the community can understand. Listen to what the community has to say about spending decisions.

City policy requires your name and postal code, so please include your postal code when signing.

References

To calculate the actual percentage increases year to year compare line 1 of your final tax bills from one year to the next.

Based on tax information from the City of Burlington, Inside Halton reported the 2022-2023 change as an overall Burlington increase of 7.08%, when in fact the City only portion of the increase was 15.59%​

Based on tax information from the City of Burlington,  Global News reported the 2023-2024 change as a budget hike of 4.99%, when in fact the City only portion of the increase was 10.21%​

Click here and scroll to page 6 to see the 8.04% "2025 Budget Change". Look carefully because the city wants you to beleive this is a 5.25% total tax increase.

The city's multi-year simulation shows another 8.13% increase is planned for next year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When compounded, the increase from 2022 to 2029 is over 77%. The $1,000 you paid in 2022 in Burlington property taxes will work out to $1,775.50 in 2029.

Please help send a message to city hall by signing this petition. Please include your postal code as city policy requires names and postal codes on petitions.