Ever wandered through a Whitby festival, concert or movie night and assumed your property taxes were paying for all of it? The Town says that's a myth worth correcting.
In the latest instalment of its "Facts. Not Fiction" series, the Town of Whitby is explaining how community events are actually bankrolled — and it's rarely through municipal funding alone.
"Tax dollars pay for all of Whitby's events," the Town wrote, calling it an understandable assumption residents might make when they show up to a community celebration. But according to a Town of Whitby news release, the reality is more layered.
Where the money comes from
The Town says its events are funded through a combination of sources. That mix can include municipal funding, sponsorships, partnerships, vendor fees, grants and other revenue opportunities.
One notable contributor is the Municipal Accommodation Tax, known as MAT — a levy paid not by residents, but by visitors staying in Whitby hotels and motels.
Property taxes, in other words, are often just one piece of the funding picture.
Many events also lean on local businesses, community organizations, event partners and sponsors who help offset costs and add to the programming residents see on the ground, the Town said.
Depending on the event, money may also flow from external grants or cost-sharing arrangements, which the Town says reduces the impact on municipal budgets.
Accountability through the budget process
Like other municipal services, event budgets go through the Town's annual budget process and are subject to Council approval, according to the Town of Whitby.
The Town says community events are planned with a variety of objectives in mind — beyond making Whitby what it calls an amazing place to live, work and explore.
What it means for residents
The takeaway, according to the Town: while taxpayers do contribute to many Town services and programs, community events are not typically funded by property taxes alone.
So the next time you take in a festival or a summer concert in a Whitby park, there's a good chance you're seeing the result of many partners working together behind the scenes.
"Knowing how the system actually works beats the comments section. Every. Time," the release concluded.
Residents looking for details on upcoming events and programs can visit whitby.ca/Events, and more information on the Municipal Accommodation Tax is available through the Town's website.
The Town is also encouraging residents to subscribe at Whitby.ca/Subscribe, noting that new subscribers are automatically entered into a draw for a gift basket valued at $150, with the draw taking place June 30.
