Web Stats 
Niagara Region's tax levy supported operating budget for 2009 has been approved at $280.3 million. The operating budget pays for broad categories of ongoing services including Planning, Economic Development, Community and Social Services, Policing, Public Health, Transportation (Roads), and related administrative costs each year.
Based on an average property assessed at $200,000, homeowners can expect an extra $22 added to their regional tax bill for the operating budget, an increase of 1.3%.
This rate does not include increases for:
The above rates still need to be set for the 2009 year and will impact homeowner's final 2009 property tax bill.
Each year Regional Council leads the budget process by providing "budget guidance" at the start of the annual budget preparation process, which for 2009 was the direction that staff present an operating budget with a maximum increase of 3.4%. In response, combined Regional and Police expenditures will result in a 2.5% increase. After adjusting for assessment growth of 1.2%, the net effect on taxpayers will be an increase of 1.3%.
| 2008 | 0.04% |
| 2007 | 2.19% |
| 2006 | 1.95% |
| 2005 | 3.87% |
| 2005 | 4.30% |
Regional staff limited or reduced operational costs through:
Changes to provincial uploading/downloading of services, an increase in the Federal Gas Tax and new Assessment Values also kept operating costs lower.