Whitby residents’ property tax payments fund more than Town services: each bill includes municipal, regional and education portions, with only the municipal share going to Whitby.
The Town of Whitby said in a property tax explainer that its share helps pay for road maintenance, snow clearing, parks, recreation facilities and fire services. Those ongoing services are among the costs supported by tax payments, even when residents do not see a noticeable change in a particular area.
The explanation addresses a concern the Town says it hears often: residents see their tax bills rise but question where the additional money is going.
Understanding the bill starts with separating its three components. The municipal portion belongs to the Town of Whitby, the regional portion belongs to the Region of Durham, and the education portion is set by the Province.
That division means the total amount a property owner pays is not the same as the amount received by the Town.
According to the Town, changes to a property tax bill can have several causes. They include adjustments to property assessments by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, known as MPAC, as well as the cost of maintaining and delivering services in a growing community.
The Town says increases help support the continued delivery of services residents use every day, rather than necessarily producing a visible change in one specific service or location.
Residents looking for more information about how their property taxes are calculated can visit whitby.ca/Tax.
