Savings Achieved in Richmond Hill’s Draft 2020 Operating Budget

RICHMOND HILL – The Budget Committee of the Whole approved Richmond Hill’s draft 2020 operating budget on Tuesday, representing a less than one per cent tax increase, and forwarded the budget for approval at the February 12 Council meeting.

Richmond Hill achieved the low property tax increase in the draft 2020 operating budget while managing to enhance services like the introduction of the City’s snow windrow clearing program. Efficiencies were found through process improvements, reorganization, technology updates and increased revenue through user fees.

Richmond Hill Public Library Board were able to introduce new Sunday service at the new Oak Ridges Library while reducing costs by more than $1 million in their 2020 budget. Savings were achieved predominantly by developing a shared-services model between the City and the library for Information Technology (IT), Human Resources (HR), Finance and Communications.

In addition, the Committee voted to modernize the way citizens receive information about official notices and events through enhanced electronic media, achieving a savings of over $100,000.

The Budget Committee also approved the Village of Richmond Hill Business Improvement Area (BIA) Board of Management budget. The $129,940 BIA budget for 2020 is funded through levies on properties in the improvement areas, not the general tax levy, demonstrating the property owners’ commitment to revitalizing Richmond Hill’s historic downtown.  

Staff will present the final numbers to Council for operating budget approval on February 12.  

Quotes

“We are on track for a tax increase less than one per cent for the residents of Richmond Hill. I appreciate the work staff have done, creating efficiencies and finding cost savings while maintaining all the services that a great city needs.”

       ~ Mayor Dave Barrow

“As Budget Chair, I’m proud of the hard work staff and Council are doing to deliver a responsible budget with a much lower tax increase than in the past. We made this commitment and we did it. When we work together we can achieve great things for the community.” 

       ~ Budget Chair, Deputy Mayor Joe DiPaola

“This year’s budget will include Richmond Hill’s lowest tax increase in recent memory. We are achieving this in a year where we are still adding valued services like the citywide windrow snow clearing program and Sunday Library service at the new Oak Ridges branch.”

       ~ Budget Vice-Chair, Ward 1 Councillor Greg Beros

“As Richmond Hill staff, our mandate is to find new ways of doing business to continue to serve the community in the best way possible. Our employees continue to identify opportunities for cost savings and I’m extremely proud of the work we’ve done for the 2020 operating budget.”

        ~ Neil Garbe, City Manager 

Quick Facts

• The draft 2020 Operating Budget is available at RichmondHill.ca/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. Funds for the Operating Budget come from taxes, fees and other sources, such as program registrations.
• 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.

Associated Links

• RichmondHill.ca/Budget

Contact

• David Dexter, Treasurer and Director, Financial Services, 905-771-2484, david.dexter@richmondhill.ca