Budget

Richmond Hill's annual budget is made up of the following: Operating Budget, Capital Budget and Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Budget.

Operating Budget

Richmond Hill Council approved the 2019 Operating Budget of $180 million on February 26, 2019. The budget news release, Richmond Hill Approves Operating Budget for 2019, provides details.

Richmond Hill's budget increase is equal to a $39.32 increase on the annual tax bill of an average Richmond Hill home valued at $1.1 million.

Richmond Hill collects taxes on behalf of York Region and the Province of Ontario for education. Approximately 27 per cent of taxes remain in Richmond Hill; 49 per cent goes to York Region and 24 per cent to education.

Senior Tax Assistance Grant

The 2019 Operating Budget includes the Seniors' Tax Assistance Grant, which is $400 per eligible applicant in 2019. To qualify for the Senior Tax Assistance Grant, seniors must be 65 years of age or older and apply each year, occupy their residential property in Richmond Hill, be the assessed owner (or spouse of the owner) of the property for at least one year immediately preceding the date of the application and receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement as provided under the Old Age Security Program. Learn more and apply for the Senior Tax Assistance Grant.

Richmond Hill is committed to an open and transparent budget process. You can share your thoughts and suggestions about the Operating Budget at budget@richmondhill.ca or 905-771-8800, ext. 3656.

Budget Meetings

The Budget Committee of the Whole meetings for the Operating Budget will be held on the following dates. You are welcome to attend the meetings and you can register to speak as a delegate with the Office of the Clerk.

Tuesday, February 12 at 1 p.m. - Operating Budget Overview and Presentation
Tuesday, February 19 at 1 p.m. - Operating Budget Presentation and Richmond Hill Public Library Board Budget Presentation
Tuesday, February 26 at 1 p.m.
Tuesday, February 26 at 4 p.m. - Special Council Meeting to approve the 2019 Operating Budget

Draft 2019 Operating Budget

The Budget Committee of the Whole, made up of all the Members of Council, will discuss the following 2019 Draft Operating Budgets.

If you require a budget document in an alternate format, please call Financial Services at 905-747-6454.

Learn how Richmond Hill's budget works:

Richmond Hill's Operating Budget covers the costs of everyday operations and activities, including utilities, rent, insurance, staff wages and benefits, program supplies, transportation and repairs.

Funds for the Operating Budget come from taxes, fees and other items, such as program registrations.

The Operating Budget also determines the annual tax rate. Council approves the tax rate.

For information on past budget processes, please visit the Past Budgets page.

Capital Budget

Richmond Hill's Capital Budget outlines the financial needs for growth and maintenance of existing infrastructure, such as community centres, fire stations, pools, parks, trails, arenas, roads and sidewalks.

Our Capital Budget is funded through Richmond Hill's reserve funds, development charges and grants.

2019 Capital Budget and Forecast

Council discussed the 2019 Draft Capital Budget and Forecast at the following Budget Committee of the Whole meeting:

January 22, 2019 at 1 p.m. - 2019 Draft Capital Budget and Presentation

The $43.9 million Capital Budget and Capital Forecast were approved by Council on Tuesday, February 12, 2019.

News release: Richmond Hill Committed to Investing in the Future of the Community

If you require a budget document in an alternate format, please call Financial Services at 905-747-6454.

Capital Asset Sustainability Fee

Using Capital Asset Sustainability funds to Repair and Maintain Richmond Hill Infrastructure

Richmond Hill is responsible for the repair and maintenance of roads, community centres, trails, watermains and more. The funding for this comes in part from a fee that is added to property tax bills.

Prior to 2019, the Capital Asset Sustainability Fee was applied as a flat fee to all tax accounts in Richmond Hill. In 2019, the fee will transition to a levy on each property, based on a percentage of the Phased-In Assessment Value of a property as determined by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC).

Administering the levy based on property values is a more equitable approach to infrastructure funding.

Comparable GTA municipalities including Markham, Newmarket, Aurora, Mississauga, Brampton and Burlington use this approach for infrastructure funding and debt repayment.

Why do we need a Capital Asset Sustainability Levy?

The Capital Asset Sustainability Levy is needed to ensure the municipality has the funds to repair and maintain infrastructure such as roads, parks and buildings. Richmond Hill has $1.85 billion in infrastructure assets that need to be maintained for the safe use of residents.

As the City continues to grow and develop, more funds will be needed to build and maintain our infrastructure.

Similar to other municipalities, Richmond Hill is facing the challenge of the infrastructure funding gap – the difference between the funding needed to keep assets in a state of good repair and the funding available.

History of Richmond Hill’s Capital Asset Sustainability Fee

Council adopted the Capital Asset Sustainability Strategy in 2015, gradually moving the City towards a Pay As You Go funding approach to support the repair and replacement of capital assets. The two-part approach includes the introduction of the Capital Asset Sustainability Fee to increase available funds and the careful prioritization of capital project priorities.

From 2016 to 2018, the adoption of the Capital Asset Sustainability Strategy resulted in a flat rate fee, where all property owners pay the same fee. In 2019, the Capital Asset Sustainability Fee will change to a Capital Asset Sustainability Levy. The levy is based on the Phased-In Assessment Value of a property as determined by MPAC and the rate Council sets each year.

The levy will raise the same amount of funds as the fee; however, there will be changes in the amount payable among residents and business owners.

How much will the Capital Asset Sustainability Levy be?

Council will set the overall amount to be collected through the levy during the 2019 Budget process. The levy will appear on the Final Tax Bills, which will be mailed to residents in June 2019.

Taxes

Richmond Hill collects taxes on behalf of York Region and the Province of Ontario for education. Only about one quarter of your tax bill pays for Richmond Hill services. Tax amounts are approximate and updated once York Region and the Province of Ontario approve their final tax rates each year.

Richmond Hill receives about $0.28 for every dollar of municipal taxes collected from a residential homeowner. We receive about $0.13 for every dollar of commercial taxes collected.

For more information, please view our property tax page.

Property assessments

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) completes property assessments in Ontario. Every municipality uses these assessments to apply local tax rates on your tax bill.

Richmond Hill's Finance department is responsible for calculating, consolidating, billing and collecting municipal taxes from property owners in Richmond Hill. This includes residential and non-residential property owners.

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