Mayor Frank Scarpitti presented  A Markham Milestone: Budget 2025 of $674.7M. The tabled 2025 budget represents the 20th year Markham has had the lowest average tax rate increase in the GTA. This year's budget enhances services, ensures facilities are well maintained, protects against the impacts of climate change, invests in programming while recognizing affordability challenges.

The budget was designed to support residents and businesses during continued uncertain times while making important investments in strengthening our community. It includes a property tax rate increase of 3.88%. This represents an increase of $53.54 on the City portion of the tax bill for the average home in Markham.

"Budget 2025 marks a Markham Milestone. We have achieved the lowest average tax rate increase for 20 years in the GTA," said Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. "This year's budget will make necessary infrastructure investments to keep our community strong and resilient while maintaining our assets in a state of good repair. We continue to provide the exceptional services our residents and businesses have come to expect. We know how much our residents love to come together through community celebrations. We're increasing funding to the Celebrate Markham program to provide more community groups grant funding to showcase arts, culture and sports. This milestone budget keeps affordability in mind while continuing to operate an efficient government with strong fiscal management."

Markham's  Budget 2025 demonstrates Markham's continued track record of lean, efficient and prudent fiscal management. Maintaining assets in a state of good repair, while proactively planning for the future, ensures the City is:

• Ensuring climate resiliency with a historic $81.7M investment in flood control, stormwater management construction, ponds and culverts.
• Investing in road repairs, rehabilitation and traffic management improvements ($40.3M)
• Constructing and maintaining our parks and trails ($10.3M)
• Incorporating leading-edge technology to modernize systems and services ($6.7M for systems and technology infrastructure)
• Keeping our facilities in good condition with $12.1M for exterior interior improvements and repairs.

Our 2022 and 2024 community surveys told us that residents place a high value on coming together through various cultural and sporting events. A focus of Budget 2025 will on increasing funding for community events through the Celebrate Markham grant program.

Markham is enriched by the diversity of people and businesses that call it home. Over 90% of residents are satisfied with their quality of life in Markham and over 70% believe they get good value from the City for their tax dollar.

This year's budget continues Markham's efforts to streamline service delivery. From 2009 to 2025, the City's Excellence through Efficiency and Effectiveness (E3) Program will have delivered $36.8M in annual operating savings, equal to a tax rate increase avoidance of 28.8%.

As part of the City's ongoing efforts for budget transparency, a Public Meeting has been scheduled for  Budget 2025 on November 4th at 7 PM at Markham Civic Centre.