On Monday night, Milton’s Town council approved the 2020 budget.
This budget will result in the Town’s property tax rate being increased by 5.68%.
Miltonians will have a 2.86% increase blended with the Town, regional and educational components.
Councillor Zeeshan Hamid breaks that down.
Councillor Kristina Tesser Derksen was one of the councillors pushing for the increase to be between 3 and 5%’
The budget resulted in some cuts they know that not everyone is happy with.
She feels that pain is involved with keeping taxes reasonably low considering growth and the needs of our residents.
Councillor Tesser Derksen says she doesn’t want to under invest in our community.
Adding that as long as taxpayers see the Town is managing their money effectively and are getting a corresponding result out of the money, they’ve done their job.
Councillor John Challinor understands says that at the end of the day all he wanted was to stay within the 3-5% increase they had directed staff to stay within.
Challinor says that when coming to the table to discuss budget, council and staff has to be prepared not only to discuss the budget but to consider how they are going to make these goals happen.
Councillors goal was to get to The town’s blended property tax rate at 5% on the nose.
