Chamber Approves City of Windsor Tax Policy
The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce has adopted a municipal tax policy calling for a multi year plan to lessen the business property tax burden. The policy contains guiding principles and recommendations for the Chamber and the City of Windsor in addressing business property taxes in the upcoming budgets.
Click Here for a copy of the Chamber's Municipal Tax Policy document (pdf).
2011 Tax Policies Presentation to City of Windsor Council
May 3, 2011 - The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce made a presentation to City of Windsor Council on the City's 2011 Tax Policies. The Chamber welcomed accross the board reductions in business tax ratios as well as additional $1.2 million in total savings for business property taxpayers.
Chamber's City of Windsor Council Presentation on 2011 Tax Policies (pdf)
Chamber Makes Presentation to City of Windsor Council on 2011 Operating Budget
March 7, 2011 - The Chamber's Finance & Taxation Committee Chair, Robert Rea and Jason Ilijanic, Vice Chair, presented the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber comments on the 2011 City of Windsor Operating Budget. The Chamber applauded the City of Winsdor for delivering a net zero tax levy increase while holding the level of services needed by businesses this year. The City's Tax Policies will be discussed for approval at a future date. At that time the Chamber will address the issues related to municipal business taxation policies.
Chamber's 2011 City of Windsor Operating Budget Comments - March 7, 2011 (pdf)
City of Windsor Business Property Tax Rates Comparison Table - March 7, 2011 (pdf)
Chamber Hosts Access to Capital Seminar
March 4, 2011 - The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber's Finance & Taxation Committee presented a unique Access to Capital Seminar for its members at the Caboto Club. The seminar featured four different presentations on the subject of financial lending and support from the perspective of the private lending institutions and the government.
Presentations:
Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber's Presentation - Private Sector lending (pdf)
Business Development Bank of Canda (BDC) (pdf)
Export Development Canada (EDC) (pdf)
Government of Ontario - Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (pdf)
Chamber Supports Auditor General for the City of Windsor
February 28, 2011 - the City of Windsor has approved funding that will eventually result in the City having an Auditor General. Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce expressed support for the Auditor General function at the City. In a media release prior to the decision by City Council the Chamber stated that Auditor General reporting to council would be consistent with with the views and expectations of the Chamber membership.
Annual Economic Outlook Luncheon
February 22, 2011 - The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted its Annual Economic Luncheon, providing valuable economic information and forecast for the local and the national economy. You can download the presentation's presentation slides at the following link:
2011 Annual Economic Outlook Luncheon Presentation (pdf)
City of Windsor Community Improvement Plan
January 31, 2011 - The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce released its comments on the City of Windsor's Economic Revitalization Community Improvement Plan.
Chamber's Reaction to the City of Windsor's Community Improvement Plan - January 31, 2011
2011 Ontario Budget
January 25, 2011 - the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce made a pre-budget presentation to the Ontario Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs.
2011 Ontario Pre Budget Presentation (January 25, 2011)
City of Windsor 2010 Budget
2010 Operating and Capital Budget
The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce supports the City of Windsor in approving its 2010 Budget as presented. The Chamber continues to be a strong advocate for fiscal prudence and adopting best business practices. These include finding cost savings, providing efficient delivery of City services and continuous improvement in financial management and reporting. This year, the Chamber observed a City of Windsor budget process that is truly addressing all of these issues and are pleased with the end result.
Chamber's Letter on the City of Windsor's 2010 Operating Budget (March 9, 2010)
2010 City of Windsor Tax Policies
Although 2010 levies are lower for all business classes, this is more a product of fiscal restraint in the budget we prevoiusly supported. The City still needs to review the actual tax policy and shift more of the tax burden away from the businesses and to the residential sector.
Chamber's Letter on the City of Windsor's 2010 Tax Policies (May 3, 2010)
Financing Your Business
Select Government Finance Incentive Programs
Municipal Budgets 2009
2009 City of Windsor Tax Policy
On May 25, 2009, the Chamber sent a letter to the Mayor and Windsor City Council regarding the City's 2009 Tax Policies. The Chamber asked that the City consider three important principles for our business community: transparency, fairness and competitiveness.
The May 25 letter states, “while the City deserves praise for its increasing transparency and openness of the budget process, it falls short on the principle of more equitable and fair taxation as well as competitiveness with other Ontario jurisdictions and surrounding communities.”
2009 Tax Policy Letter to Mayor and Windsor City Council (May 25, 2009)
City of Windsor's 2009 Tax Policies (Administrative Report to Council)
2009 City of Windsor Budget
On May 6, 2009, the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce made a presentation to City Council on the City of Windsor’s 2009 Budget. Robert Rea, Chair of the Chamber’s Finance & Taxation Committee, expressed support for the Budget on behalf of the Chamber.
The Chamber recommended continuation of the successful debt reduction and pay as you go policies. The goal for the City should be to reduce the overall budget where possible, provide fair distribution of the tax levy among the various business classes and to balance the tax impacts between residential and business taxpayers.
The Chamber emphasized the importance of better realignment of City resources with its key priorities with more focus on completing the most important economic initiatives needed to attract new businesses to the region.
Chamber's 2009 City of Windsor Presentation
2009 Pre-Budget Analysis
According to early budget documents the biggest challenge for municipal budgets will not be containing costs.
The City of Windsor's operating budgetary needs may even fall short of last year's budget.
Because of lower assessments, revenues from businesses in Windsor and Essex County are expected to dip noticeably below previous levels.
If the comparison is made to business tax revenues from a decade ago they are significantly lower.
The Municipal property tax system in Ontario does not allow for budgetary deficits. Revenues must come from tax increases elsewhere if they don't match municipal budget needs. The only other option is higher tax rates for residential properties.
The early calculations of projected tax impacts on different business tax classes show increased variations in assessments for different business categories. This could translate into more variable tax rates than before once municipal tax policies are approved by councils.
The Chamber is a key stakeholder and monitor of municipal budgets advocating for reductions in business property taxes. With the target dates for final budget approvals for the City of Windsor in April the Chamber is currently reviewing the operating budget.
Members can contact the Chamber to obtain more information about the budget process and the Chamber's advocacy efforts.
2009 Post-Budget Breakfast - March 27, 2009
Sponsored by: Deloitte & Touche LLP.
On March 27th, 2009, the Chamber's Finance & Taxation Committee hosted a post-budget breakfast event sponsored and presented by Deloitte & Touche LLP. The topics of the presentations were the 2009 Ontario Budget (March 26, 2009) and the 2009 Federal Budget (January 27, 2009).
For more details of the Deloitte & Touche LLP. analysis click on the following link:
2009 Ontario Budget Highlights