Oshawa taxpayers looking a 7.87 per cent property tax increase after 2025 budget adopted

Oshawa has adopted its 2025 budget, a document Mayor Dan Carter called “one of the hardest” processes he’s gone through in the last decade.

The budget calls for a 7.87 per cent increase to city taxpayers, which represents an extra $168.86 on an average assessed property value of $350,000 and $474.31 for a home assessed at $1 million.

The increase, the city said in a news release Thursday, will fund investments in current and new infrastructure like roads, parks, watercourses and bridges and downtown revitalization while addressing growth and increasing demands on city services.

The budget and future forecasts to 2027 includes $82.5 million in capital projects in 2025 and a forecasted tax increase of 7.87 per cent, with another 5.36 per cent hike in 2026.

“Without a doubt this was one of the hardest budget processes I’ve encountered in the last 10 years,” Carter said, while noting the city and other municipalities in Ontario are “feeling the impact” of downloading from the province while facing “historic economic challenges” such as aging infrastructure, record high inflation, supply chain disruptions and more.

“I am committed to the principals of financial stewardship and building the strongest foundation possible for our future generations, and I believe that we were able to do just that.”

Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter

The budget reflects the Oshawa’s Strategic Plan and Financial Strategy and focuses on maintaining service levels and making long-term financial sustainability decisions like cost mitigation, building reserves and investing in an ageing infrastructure.

Recent emergencies throughout the province, like this summer’s flooding in Toronto, are a reminder of the importance of maintaining infrastructure and budgeting for future repairs.

Some of the bigger ticket items in the budget are $23.68 million for road work (including $12.86 million for work on Conlin Road), $13.78 million for the Rotary Park redevelopment project; $10.66 million for additions to the corporate fleet; $5.1 million for upgrades to Easton Park and Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park; $4.3 million for safety and noise abatement at Oshawa Executive  Airport, $2.3 million for track replacement at the Civic Complex; and $1 million for a new roof at Donevan Recreation Complex.

Oshawa collects property taxes for not only itself, but also for the Region of Durham and for the local school boards. The city is responsible for providing building permits and inspections, fire protection and prevention, licensing, parks and recreation, city road and sidewalk maintenance and other local services.

While services and programs addressing housing, homelessness, mental health, addiction and social services are the responsibilities of upper levels of government, “local governments like Oshawa are facing these challenges daily,” the mayor said, with the city budget also including $3 million to address the impacts of these social issues, including a unique fire response unit to address to medical calls, additional security, municipal law enforcement, maintenance costs for the downtown and, proactive parks patrol and cleaning of trails and parks across the city.

Learn more on the Budget webpages.