Region of Waterloo property taxes could go up almost 13% in 2025 budget

Your Region of Waterloo property taxes could be going up by almost 13 per cent in next year’s budget.

A statement from the Region blames it on population growth and efforts to deal with homelessness, transit, roads, and paramedic services.

The possible tax hike of 12.8 per cent does not include the Waterloo Regional Police Service’s budget.

The numbers are set to come up at Tuesday’s Administration and Finance Committee meeting at 4:00 p.m.

Regional chair, Karen Redman, says “Growth is coming whether we plan well for it or not.”

She says council can not support future generations without support from the provincial and federal government, adding, “Property taxpayers cannot shoulder the full cost of this growth. We need a new deal like other rapidly growing regions in Ontario and across Canada.”

A statement from committee chair, Regional Councillor Michael Harris, says the population of the Region last year alone grew by as many people as live in the whole City of Stratford.

Members of the provincial and federal government will be invited to the June gathering for the Waterloo Region of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

The statement from the Region says those reps will be pressed to come up with a new fiscal funding framework for Waterloo Region, with the current framework described as “outdated revenue tools” in a rapidly growing area.

Staff will work on the budget all summer, and Harris says there will be decisions coming for council that will not be easy.

He says council must invest in essential services that people rely on, while considering the affordability crisis.

Council is set to get its first look at the 2025 budget with a staff presentation on October 16, and final approval is set for December 11.

In an interview with CityNews June 3, Harris said he will be bringing a motion to council tomorrow asking staff to find ways to reduce the 12.8 per cent tax hike proposed.

“The projected increase is definitely higher then I would have liked to see it. I’ll be bringing a motion tomorrow to really ask staff to really get down to work and help provide council with potential options for getting that budget down, but also ensuring those critical services, the ones that we deliver, are maintained.”

Harris reiterated that they are asking provincial and federal governments to help foot their part of the bill.

“The 2024 budget funded a $188 million in services that we believe should be funded by higher levels of government. In 2025 were looking at $216 million so that’s a significant increase,” said Harris.

“This growth is greatly outpacing the funding that we have to support it, to really keep programs and services as they currently are, with no new additions to programs and service extensions. We’re looking at around a $34 million increase last year. So when you add in planned growth and essential services – like were adding more ambulances and paramedics, more housing, more buses on the road – we’re looking at a 13 per cent increase.”

Harris added that council and staff will do everything they can to balance the needs of the community with the budget for next year.