MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release

 Canadian Taxpayers Federation commends Markham's 2009 Budget  (23k/1p)

 2009 Budget Presentation  (1.03MB/48p)

2009 Markham Budget – Meeting Economic Challenges
Efficiency and effectiveness helps Markham achieve zero tax increase

MARKHAM, ON — February 11, 2009 —Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti and Council approved the 2009 Capital and Operating Budget at the February 10 Council meeting. The budget brings in a zero per cent tax increase and holds the line on Markham's tax rate for homeowners.

"I asked Council and staff to rethink how Markham does business," said Mayor Frank Scarpitti. "We engaged employees in all lines of business in a program called E3 – Excellence through Efficiency and Effectiveness. And, our efforts brought rewards. Through this process we found operating savings of $4.5 million and developed a 2009 budget with a zero increase in Markham's net taxes. More importantly, we did this without reducing services. We also hired an Auditor General who is making sure that Markham has an independent review of its operations and expenditures."

Markham's 2009 budget includes a $161.8 million Operating Budget, $117.6 million Capital Budget, $64.3 million Waterworks Budget, and $7 million a Building Standards Budget for a total of $350.7 million.

"After conducting a fiscal scan looking at economic pressures, we needed to find $6.6 million dollars in our operating budget, so that there would be no tax increase in the Markham portion of the budget," said Budget Chief, Councillor Dan Horchik. "Staff and Council rose to the challenge. We found long-term savings in our operating budget and were able to increase revenues and use of other funding sources to balance the budget." 

Overall, Markham receives about 26 cents of every dollar of residential property taxes collected, with the remainder divided between education (25 cents) and the Region of York (49 cents). For the business community, Markham's commercial and industrial tax rates continue to be among the lowest in the Greater Toronto Area.

"Through the E3 process, we transformed a number of business processes, took advantage of our investments in technology, found revenue enhancements and reorganized our work to find savings. The budget also takes into consideration the expected impacts of 2009 wage settlements, inflation, municipal service contract escalations, rising energy costs, rising construction costs and costs of complying with new provincial legislation," said Mayor Frank Scarpitti.

Markham has also been working with recent changes in municipal property tax assessments that took place through the Province's 2009 Municipal Property Tax assessment program (MPAC). The change in assessed property values, and the phased-in assessment values for the 2009-2012 property tax years are listed on each property owner's 2008 Property Notice from MPAC. The average residential increase in Markham's 2009 assessment values is 4.65 per cent. Markham reduced the 2008 tax rate by 4.65 per cent to offset the reassessment to ensure this is revenue neutral.

2009 BUDGET PROJECTS AND PRIORITIES

Some of the projects and priorities funded in the 2009 budget include:

• Ongoing development of the Green Print Community Sustainability Plan – a community and corporate environmental management plan with an annual report to the community
• Continuing to fund Trees for Tomorrow –  over 50,000 trees have been planted on the way to the goal of 75,000 by the end of 2010
• Continuing the organic collection program in multi-residential buildings and the community mailbox recycling program, along with special events recycling and becoming a zero waste community
• Ongoing maintenance of  storm water management ponds
• Purchase of three additional hybrid vehicles for the Town's fleet
• Connecting the Civic Centre to the Town-owned Markham District Energy plant

Diversity

• Increased support for accessibility program and training along with a diversity strategy and competence training
• Continuing to be involved in the Career Bridge/Ability Edge program – an internship program that provides employment opportunities for foreign trained immigrants in their field of expertise
• Work to increase the diverse representation of residents on Markham committees and boards
• Continuing to provide Language Line interpretive services in more than 170 languages

Transportation and Transit

• Work on the Rodick Road extension from MillerAvenue to 14th Avenue and 14th to Esna Park Drive 
• Construction of the second phase of Enterprise Drive
• Road reconstruction, bridge rehabilitation, watermain construction and streetscape work on Main Street, Unionville, south of Highway 7
• Continuation of the pathways, trails and bike path program
• Work on traffic control signals and intersection improvements
• Design of 404 ramp extensions at various cross streets
• Construction of the Woodbine by-pass (Lord Melborne to Woodbine)
• Continuation of the travel demand management program – a car pooling program to promote the reduction of single-person vehicle use
• New train anti-whistling project

Managed Growth

• Ongoing construction of new parks including: Angus Glen Community Park; Berczy Park; Leitchcroft Times Galleria Community Park; SE Community Centre Park and Box Grove, South Village Neighbourhood Park
• Development of guidelines and policies to support a made-in-Markham strategy for community growth
• Design for the Cornell fire station

Parks, Recreation, Culture& Library Master Plan/Public Safety

• Funding for construction of the  East Markham Community Centre and Library
• Expansion of the Varley Art Gallery to provide more exhibition space
• Ongoing work on the integrated parks, recreation, culture and library master plan to provide strategic direction for these services being delivered to residents

Service Levels

• Facility improvements at community centres, libraries, fire stations, the Civic centre and culture sites
• Replacement of arena equipment at the Crosby Community Centre
• Upgrades to the Thornhill storm sewer and sewer construction on the Glynwood site
• Replacement of the Milliken Mills soccer dome field
• Funding for permanent public washroom
• Resurfacing of tennis courts.

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Media Contact:
Dennis Flaherty, Corporate Communications, Town of Markham
Tel: 905-415-7520
Email: dflaherty@markham.ca

Markham, a municipality of close to 300,000 residents centrally located in the Greater Toronto area, is Canada’s most diverse community and home to many of Canada’s leading life science and technology businesses. It is renowned for a rich heritage, vibrant neighbourhoods, and leadership on the environment and urban design.