Ajax Council approves lowest tax increase in Durham

News Release

February 26, 2008

Ajax Town Council has approved the lowest property tax increase in Durham Region for the second consecutive year.

"In 2007, Council committed to gradually lowering tax increases by a quarter point per year throughout this term of Council," said 2008 Budget Chair Shaun Collier, councillor for Ward 1. "This budget delivers on that promise and more. The budget protects existing services and invests in new services that will advance Council's Strategic Plan and highest priorities for today and the future."

The 2008 Budget includes a net operating budget of $34.9 million and a capital budget of $23.7 million, for a combined total of $58.6 million. The Town's tax increase of 3.25 per cent results in a $34.09 increase for the average home assessed at $277,300.

The Slots at Ajax Downs and Veridian revenues continue to play a major role in minimizing property tax increases, accelerating road and trail capital projects and reducing future debt to ensure long term financial and tax rate stability.

"The Town is very well positioned for the future and has been for the last two or three years," said Rob Ford, Director of Finance. "However, we still face tough decisions and challenges, including a demand for new Recreation facilities, higher operating costs, expenditures to meet population growth and a decrease in assessment growth."

 Highlights of the 2008 Budget include:

• Expanding full-time staff by 11 new positions
• Making a safe community safer by providing funding for safety initiatives ($55,000)
• Enhancing existing and introducing new community events ($42,900)
• Establishing a new public art reserve ($25,000)
• Keeping streets safe by incorporating new traffic calming measures ($95,000)
• Constructing Kerrison Drive and a new bridge structure over Carruthers Creek ($5,275,000)
• Completing Commercial Avenue to further assist in revitalizing the downtown core ($1,195,000)
• Opening a LEED certified Operations and Environmental Services Centre ($18 million)
• Retrofitting the former St. Francis de Sales Church as a future venue for Town and community programming ($700,000)
• Participating in an international study to carry out testing and analysis of water quality to improve Ajax's waterfront, and Duffins and Carruthers Creeks ($75,000)
• Constructing the Millers Creek Trail ($479,000)
• Continuing construction of the Taunton Road Multi-use Trail ($295,000)
• Developing an Urban Forest Cover Strategy ($50,000)
• Investing approximately $1.3 million in Town reserves
• Reducing future interest charges for the Operations Centre by $2.9 million
• Controlling the operating budget; increase for 2008 is 4.5 per cent as compared to 7.6 per cent in 2007
• Increasing capital spending by $14.5 million over the next five years, of which less than 1 per cent is funded by property taxes 

The Town's portion of the final tax bill is about 28 per cent. The Regional portion is approximately 53 per cent and education is about 19 per cent.

 -30-

Media Contact:
Christie McLardie, Manager of Communications, 905-619-2529, ext. 362 or 905-999-8254