Residents invited to offer input on Toronto’s proposed 2025 budget and 6.9 per cent property tax hike

By AUNALYA TURNER

Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher will be hosting a virtual Town Hall meeting for local residents on the City of Toronto’s 2025 Budget early next month.

The Zoom meeting will take place on Monday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m.  

The City of Toronto’s budget is proposing a 6.9 per cent hike in the property tax for city residents. This proposed hike comes on top of last year’s 9.5 per cent increase in property taxes.

This year the city is proposing to fund an $18.8 billion operating budget to cover the costs of services. The 6.9 per cent total tax hike is made up of 5.4 per cent increase to the direct property taxes paid by homeowners and a 1.5 per cent city building fund levy that was first established in 2016 and helps cover costs of major infrastructure projects.

The city budget is a financial plan that describes how much money the City of Toronto will raise and spend. It determines the level of service provided to residents and guides decisions on what city infrastructure will be built and repaired. The plan is still in the discussion stages and must receive final approval from Toronto Council before being finalized.

Fletcher’s meeting on Feb. 3 is among a number of opportunities city residents will have to weigh in on the proposed budget prior to it being voted on by councillors.

 For more information on taking part in Fletcher’s virtual Town Hall budget meeting, please visit https://www.councillorpaulafletcher.ca/2025_budget_townhall  

Other opportunities for residents to have their say on Toronto’s 2025 budget include Telephone Town Halls set for Wednesday, Jan. 15, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.; and on Thursday, Jan. 23, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

To participate in the Telephone Town Halls, please joining by dialing toll free to 1-833-380-0687 during the scheduled times. Other residents may expect to receive an incoming call from the city inviting them to participate.

Also, public meetings on the budget are slated for Toronto City Hall and the Scarborough Civic Centre on Tuesday, Jan. 21; and at the Etobicoke Civic Centre and the North York Civic Centre on Wednesday, Jan. 22. There will be three meeting times for residents to address members of Toronto’s Budget Committee at these sessions. The times are 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; 1:30 to 4;30 p.m.; and 6 p.m.

For information on taking part in the public meetings next week, please email buc@toronto.ca or call 416-392-4666 before 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20. Individuals may only make one presentation and will be provided with instructions on how to take part, said the city a news release.

The public meetings at the civic centres will also be live streamed and can be watched on the Toronto City Council You Tube channel at https://www.youtube.com/TorontoCityCouncilLive.