City Issues

2008 Final Property Tax Bills (City Issues)

News Release

June 18, 2008

2008 final property tax bills are in the mail

All City of Toronto 2008 final property tax bills have now been mailed.

Payment due dates for the ... (more) regular instalment plan and the withdrawal dates for the 6-Instalment Pre-Authorized Tax Payment Plan are July 2, August 1, and September 2.

For the 2-Instalment Pre-Authorized Tax Payment Plan, the withdrawal date is July 2.

For the 11-Instalment Pre-Authorized Tax Payment Plan, the withdrawal date is on the 15th of every month or the nearest business day thereafter from July to December.

There are several ways to pay a property tax bill:

• At most financial institutions (there may be a charge for this service). If paying tax bills through an automatic teller machine (ATM), customers should pay before the due date and retain their receipt.
• Via telephone or internet banking, if this service is provided by a customer’s financial institution.
• By mail to: Treasurer, City of Toronto, P.O. Box 5000, Toronto, ON, M2N 5V1
• In person at the enquiry/cashier counters at all civic centres and City Hall:
- Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen St. W.
- East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Ave.
- Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall
- North York Civic Center, 5100 Yonge St.
- Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Dr.
- York Civic Centre, 2700 Eglinton Ave. W.

Regular hours at all civic centres and City Hall are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Extended hours are from Friday, June 27 to Wednesday, July 2, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The City also offers the option of paying property taxes through a Pre-Authorized Tax Payment Program (PTP). This plan allows taxpayers to pay their taxes in two, six or 11 installments over the course of the year. The next enrolment deadline is September 12, 2008, for 2009 interim property taxes. Before applying for the PTP program, all installments of the current tax bill just issued must be paid (post dated cheques are accepted). Applications for the PTP program along with a void cheque can be mailed to Box 2500 Terminal A, Toronto, ON, M5W 1H2 or delivered to one of the locations listed above.

Customer service information phone line:
For property tax inquiries, call 416-338-4829. TTY users call 416-392-0719.
Regular hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Extended hours are offered until Wednesday, July 2, 2008, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Property Tax information is also available on the City’s website at www.toronto.ca/taxes/property_tax.

(less)

Collection of Old Recycling Bins (City Issues)

April 11, 2008

The City will offer a special pick-up day for unwanted blue boxes a few months after you receive your new recycling bin. Please watch your community newspaper and www.toronto.ca/target70 for more ... (more) details. Old blue bins will not be accepted at Community Environment Days.
(less)

2008 Operating Budget (City Issues)

March 31, 2008

Yesterday City Council voted in support of the 2008 Operating Budget. The following attachments contain pertinent information resulting from the budget.

Budgt Tax Shifts (MS Word, 41 KB)
2008 Budget Backgrounder (MS Word, 64 KB)

Toronto District School Board - Pool Closures (City Issues)

March 4th, 2008

Since losing its ability to levy taxes in 1998, the Toronto District School Board has been wrestling with operational funding for school pools. There are three schools in City Ward 16 / TDSB Ward 8 ... (more) (Eglinton-Lawrence) that have pools - Allenby, Glenview and Lawrence Park Collegiate. These pools are used by school students during the day and community groups outside of school hours . None of these schools receive operational funding by the City of Toronto.

The Minister of Education has determined that school pools are not essential to delivering the physical education curriculum. The TDSB has recently announced that budget pressures, combined with the fact there is no dedicated operational funding for school pools, will force the closure of these facilities.

TDSB school trustee Howard Goodman and I met to discuss whether or not the City, the School Board and the community can work collaboratively to keep the pools open in our neighbourhood. We are currently gathering information and intend to set up a meeting in the upcoming weeks to discuss available options.

I want to thank everyone who has contacted me with their concerns and I will keep everyone apprised of the status of our meetings.

(less)

Fixing Potholes in Toronto (City Issues)

February 25th

The City of Toronto will increase the number of crews that fix potholes on city roads as it winds down its snow removal program.

During the last three years, the City of Toronto has repaired ... (more) an average of 165,000 potholes per year. The City spends approximately $4 million per year to fix potholes.

Potholes are created when water penetrates the top layer of asphalt through cracks in the road. After the moisture freezes and expands, sections of the pavement are forced up and the weight of vehicles going over this section of the road breaks the pavement and forces the asphalt up. Potholes are more common during the winter months, especially during repeated freeze/thaw cycles.

You can assist by reporting potholes. Call the pothole hotline at 416-599-9090, push the pound key (#) then 164 to leave a message about the location of the pothole.


(less)

Mayor's Fiscal Review Panel - Report (City Issues)

February 22, 2008

Yesterday the Mayor's Fiscal Review Panel released its report "BluePrint for Fiscal Sustainability and Economic Prosperity - A Call to Action".

I am excited about the ... (more) recomendations made in the report. I believe they will provide City Council with an opportunity and framework to not only improve the financial position of the City, but to also improve accoountability and service delivery to the public and business communities. They will also assist Toronto in better competing as a global city.

The report is attached below.
(less)

Executive Summary (PDF, 890 KB)
Final Report (PDF, 1.4 MB)

Snow Removal Services (City Issues)

November 29, 2007

For information on City snow clearing services, please
review the following web link.

http:/www.toronto.ca/transportation/snow

Land Transfer & Vehicle Registration Taxes (City Issues)

At the October 22nd, 2007 meeting of City Council, Council approved the Land Transfer and Vehicle Registration taxes. Though I voted against the Land Transfer & Vehicles Registration Taxes, I wanted to provide you with an ... (more) understanding of how much revenue these taxes will generate and how they will be implemented.

The land transfer tax takes effect on February 1, 2008. The vehicle ownership tax will be implemented in the fall of 2008. These two new taxes, combined, will generate $175 million in revenue in 2008. In future years, revenue is projected to grow to over $300 million annually.

LAND TRANSFER TAX

For all purchasers:
- one-half of one percent of the value of the consideration on sales up to and including $55,000;
- one per cent of the value of the consideration on sales exceeding $55,000 up to and including $400,000;
- two per cent of the value of the consideration of land containing one and/or two single family residences exceeding $400,000;
- one and a half per cent of the value of the consideration on commercial properties including multi-residential units exceeding $400,000 up to $40 million;
- one per cent of the value of the consideration which exceeds $40 million.

Where the net revenue after transaction fees would result in revenue to the City of less than $2.00, the purchase would be exempt from the Toronto Land Transfer Tax.

Purchasers with a Purchase and Sale agreement on or before December 31, 2007 will receive a full rebate of the Toronto Land Transfer tax regardless of the closing date.

Purchasers with a Purchase and Sale agreement signed after December 31, 2007 with a closing before February 1, 2008 will not be required to pay the Toronto Land Transfer tax.

Purchasers with a Purchase and Sale agreement signed after December 31, 2007 with a closing on or after February 1, 2008 will be required to pay the full Toronto Land Transfer tax.

For first time purchasers:
A rebate of up to $3,725 will apply to first-time purchasers of both new and existing homes. This means a full rebate for first-time buyers of homes valued at $400,000 or less. For example, a first-time purchaser of a home valued at $600,000 would pay land transfer tax according to the scale shown above, and receive a rebate of $3,725. A first time home buyer of a home valued at $300,000 would get a full rebate on the land transfer tax.

For all reports and presentations on Toronto Land Transfer Tax please visit our website at www.toronto.ca/finance/revenue_tools.htm

Provincial land transfer tax information: www.rev.gov.on.ca/english/bulletins/ltt/2_2005.html

VEHICLE REGISTRATION TAX

The personal vehicle ownership tax is set at $60 for cars and $30 for motorcycles, annually.
(less)

Downspout Disconnection Program (City Issues)

November 23, 2007

The attached document provides information on the City's Downspout Disconnection Program.

Downspout Disconnection Q&A (PDF, 195 KB)

Speech at The Economic Club of Toronto (City Issues)

October 18, 2007

The Economic Club of Toronto was kind enough to afford me the opportunity to speak at the National Club today and share my perspectives on some of the important issues Toronto must address if we are to ... (more) become a liveable and competitive city on the global stage.
(less)

Economic Club of Toronto Speech (PDF, 1.3 MB)

Noise By-law Changes approved at City Council (City Issues)

On June 14th, the City of Toronto officially endorsed the changes to the Noise By-law that will limit construction noise on Sunday's and Statutory holidays. This was an initiative that started with a Notice of Motion by ... (more) Councillor Karen Stintz to ban construction noise on Sundays and Statutory holidays. Previously, construction was permitted to take place between the hours of 9am to 7pm on Sunday and Statutory holidays.
Councillor Stintz would like to thank the number of residents that assisted her in making this important change. The following link will provide details of the report that was approved at Council.
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/2006/agendas/committees/plt/plt060501/it009.pdf

(less)

Construction Noise to be limited in the City of Toronto (City Issues)

Our community has experienced a high volume of redevelopment. In some areas, construction noise exists 365 days a year, including the holidays.
In September of 2004, I had moved a motion to request City staff to review ... (more) the Noise By-law in an effort to limit construction noise on Sundays and Statutory Holidays.
Currently, the noise by-law permits construction 7 days a week, including Statutory holidays.
I believe that it is important to give the community a reprieve from construction noise, which is the reason for my motion. I am happy to report that the recommendations from City staff concur with this perspective.
In addition to eliminating construction noise on Sundays and Statutory holidays, the report recommends to require developers to post specific info signs in front of a property that is being developed. The information on these signs will include:
- The restrictions found in the noise by-law
- The name and contact information of the general contractor
This recommendation will increase the builders accountability to address and resolve any questions or issues that local residents may have regarding the construction site.
Please refer to the attachments for more information.
(less)

Planning Report - Construction Noise (PDF, 2.6 MB)
Notice of Motion re Noise By-Law (PDF, 805 KB)