On March 10, North Glengarry council unanimously approved a 3.27 per cent increase for the municipal portion of the tax rate. The united counties council of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry (SDG) had increased 4.94 per cent while the education tax rate remained unchanged.
According to the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund, the average assessed value for a residence in North Glengarry is $246,608. Taxes would, therefore, increase to approximately $123 annually.
A report to North Glengarry council explained that tax rates are calculated by dividing the tax levy by the weighted assessment values. The weighted assessment is calculated by multiplying each property class by the property assessment and weighted ratio.
It further explained that property assessments are set by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) and are normally assessed every four years. However, property assessments have been frozen since 2020, not allowing the municipality to have accurate and increased tax revenue from changes in assessment.
The operating budget for North Glengarry was approved in January with a total of $7,146,198 being required in tax dollars to meet the municipality’s needs. SDG requires $8,200,178.59, and the provincial government (education) portion requires $2,623,448.75, bringing the final total to $17,969,825.34. Of that total, 45.63 per cent will be sent to SDG, 14.6 per cent sent to the province for education, and the remaining 39.77 per cent staying in North Glengarry.
Council unanimously approved the tax rate increase with Councillor Jacques Massie absent.
