Mayor Mark Gerretsen to lead Ontario Mayors at “Heads and Beds” Levy Discussion

Published on: 2011/08/19 - in Releases

Mayor Mark Gerretsen will lead a delegation of Ontario mayors before provincial government leaders, to discuss the “Heads and Beds” levy at the upcoming Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in London, Ontario.

Since 2007 the City of Kingston has made attempts to encourage the provincial government to increase the Heads and Beds levy that municipalities receive in lieu of property taxes for provincial colleges, universities, hospitals and provincial correctional facilities. The current amount of $75 per head/bed has not been adjusted since 1987.

“There is a shared understanding among municipalities that the current Heads and Beds rate does not reflect a fair compensation for providing the local resources necessary to support these provincial services,” Gerretsen said.

Calculations, if indexed to inflation, would reflect an increase to approximately $135 per head/bed to municipalities for the provincial services they provide.

To date, Kingston has received positive support from over 30 municipalities across Ontario on this important issue.

“An increase to the Heads and Beds levy would have a significant positive impact on Ontario municipalities and their budgets,” said Mayor Gerretsen.  “I have had many conversations with my mayoral colleagues from across the province.  There is widespread consensus that our provincial government can do more to provide ongoing financial resources to improve and sustain our local communities.  Big cities and small towns alike can benefit from a phased-in, incremental increase to the levy to reflect today’s dollar.  I am encouraged, not only by the support Kingston has received from my colleagues, but also the provincial leaders’ willingness to listen to our collective concerns.”

Mayor Gerretsen, along with Mayor and City Council representatives from 11 major Ontario cities,will meet with The Honourable Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance and M.P.P. Christine Elliott, Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition, on Tuesday August 23.

Despite the fact that he is going to be at the conference, M.P.P. Tim Hudak, Leader of the Official Opposition, declined the request to meet with the delegation personally due to time constraints.

A meeting with M.P.P. Andrea Horwath, Leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party, was also requested.  However, Ms. Horwath is unavailable and was not able to offer an alternate M.P.P. to meet with the delegation.

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Release source: City of Kingston