Access Richmond Hill
The Access Richmond Hill Contact Centre provides assistance for general inquiries, responds to questions or concerns regarding programs and services as well as accepts in person payments.
Contact Us
905-771-8800
Hours of Service:
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Report Feedback
Report a problem with a service, e.g. missed garbage collection, overnight parking, potholes, street lights, etc.
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's Operating Budget covers the costs of everyday operations and activities, including utilities, rent, insurance, staff wages and benefits, program supplies, transportation and repairs.
2020 Operating Budget
Richmond Hill Council approved the 2020 Operating Budget of $184.5 million on February 12, 2020. The budget news release, Richmond Hill’s 0.73% Tax Increase Lowest in GTA, provides details.
Richmond Hill collects taxes on behalf of York Region and the Province of Ontario for education. Approximately 28 per cent of taxes remain in Richmond Hill; 49 per cent goes to York Region and 23 per cent to education.
Senior Tax Assistance Grant
The 2020 Operating Budget includes the Seniors' Tax Assistance Grant, which is $404 per eligible applicant in 2020. 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.
Draft 2020 Operating Budget Documents
The Budget Committee of the Whole, made up of all the Members of Council, will discuss the following 2020 Draft Operating Budgets on Tuesday, January 28.
- 2020 Draft Operating Budget - Corporate Overview
- 2020 Community Services Draft Operating Budget
- 2020 Corporate Accounts Draft Operating Budget
- 2020 Corporate and Financial Services Draft Operating Budget
- 2020 Environment and Infrastructure Services Draft Operating Budget
- 2020 Office of the City Manager Draft Operating Budget
- 2020 Planning and Regulatory Services Draft Operating Budget
- 2020 Richmond Hill Public Library Draft Operating Budget
- 2020 Water, Waste Water and Stormwater Draft Operating Budget
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.
Richmond Hill collects taxes on behalf of York Region and the Province of Ontario for education. Approximately 28 per cent of taxes remain in Richmond Hill; 49 per cent goes to York Region and 23 per cent to education.
Budget Meetings
Upcoming Budget Committee of the Whole meetings 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, January 28 at 1:30 p.m.
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Tuesday, November 26 at 9:30 a.m.
- Presentation: Third-party Review of Non-Personnel Operating Budget
- Presentation: 2020 Operating Budget Update
- Presentation: Reserve Fund Status
- Tuesday, October 22 at 9:30 a.m.
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Presentation: 2019 Interim Year-End Operating Forecast
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Presentation: Tariff of Fees Update
- Presentation: 2020 Operating Budget Update
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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.
The Capital Budget is funded through Richmond Hill's reserve funds, development charges and grants.
2020 Capital Budget Meeting
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. – 2020 Draft Capital Budget
2020 Capital Budget news release - Richmond Hill to Invest $37 Million in Community
Richmond Hill Council approved the 2020 Capital Budget at the December 18, 2019 Council Meeting.
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:
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? |
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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 |
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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.