Protecting and maintaining essential service delivery for an additional 11 cents per day
Whitby, November 16, 2021 – Last night, Whitby continued its 2022 budget planning process with its business plan and budget target report. Whitby Town Council approved a budget target of 2 per cent increase or an estimated 0.7 per cent increase on the overall residential bill for Town services. This represents an increase of approximately 11* cents per day, per household for the delivery of important services residents rely on every day, like waste collection, snow clearing and parks maintenance. This target focuses on maintaining affordability and continued essential service delivery.
The budget target approved by Council considered the community feedback collected through the Town’s Citizen Budget Tool, which saw nearly 2,000 people engaged in the budget process earlier this year. Through the tool, almost half of participants indicated comfort with the current levels of Town services and taxation, representing the majority of the responses received. Nearly three-quarters of participants also reported they enjoy a “good” or “excellent” quality of life in Whitby. Top budget priorities shared by participants were local job creation, more green spaces and the continued revitalization of the community’s downtowns.
Staff will refine service levels and programs in the proposed 2022 budget based on the budget target established last night and the next steps in the 2022 budget planning process are:
To learn more about participating in the process and speaking at Council meetings, visit whitby.ca/delegation. For comments or questions about the budget, contact the Financial Services Department at treasury@whitby.ca or by phone at 905.430.4300 x1952.
“The 2022 Business Plan and Budget Target Report outlines investments in priority areas that matter to our residents and budget pressures faced by the Town. With the budget target now set, staff will continue to refine the 2022 Business Plan to balance the pressures of continued growth in Whitby and investments in priority areas with affordability for our residents.”
Fuwing Wong, Treasurer and Commissioner of Financial Services, Town of Whitby
The 2022 Budget Target Report and results of this year’s Citizen Budget Tool are available online at ConnectWhitby.ca/Budget.
* Approximately eleven cents per day (or $39 per year) is based on the 2021 average residential assessment value of $503,000 as determined by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Erin Mikaluk, Manager, Communications and Creative Services, Town of Whitby
Phone: 289.314.6913; Email: mikaluke@whitby.ca
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