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Caledon Council is calling on the Peel Transition Board to keep responsibility for regional roads and waste management at the Region of Peel, citing concerns about potential tax impacts on local residents.
During its regularly scheduled council meeting on Tuesday, February 3rd, council broke a more than year-long commitment to confidentiality around the Peel transition process. While the Town says it remains committed to the overall transition, council members expressed concern that one option under consideration could see Caledon taxpayers footing the bill for transitioning these services.
According to the Town, that scenario could result in a minimum 70% tax increase for Caledon residents. Councillor Doug Maskell, Chair of Caledon’s Single Tier Transition Committee, said the Town has yet to see a funding formula that ensures Caledon will be “kept whole” financially, despite assurances made throughout the process.
“A report will be submitted to the Province within weeks, and we still have not seen the funding formula that protects Caledon taxpayers now and, in the future,” says Maskell.
Mayor Annette Groves echoed those concerns, saying the Town cannot support any option that would place a significant financial burden on residents. She said without a firm financial commitment, council believes regional roads and waste management should remain with the Region of Peel under the current funding model.
The Town noted it has invested in independent analyses of regional services as part of the confidential transition process, with the goal of protecting local taxpayers as decisions move closer to finalization.
