by Rick Crouch | May 22, 2026 | Community Issues, Municipal Affairs, Real Estate General, Uncategorized
This fall, residents of Ontario will be going to the polls to elect new Council members in their respective municipalties. Given the current uncertain economic times, some of which are driven by global issues including trade tariffs, with wars in Ukraine and Iran, there has perhaps never been a more importamt time to do your research and cast a vote.
In every municipal election, spending is a key issue. No one likes taxes, but let’s face it, taxes are a fact of life, and property owners are often among the most vocal groups about how money is spent and where. This is not only a hot topic federally and provincially but also at the municipal level and perhaps even more so. Your property tax bill arrives showing yet another annual increase, you cringe trying to reconcile the value you are getting for the money paid.
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding municipal budgets is the idea that every spending decision is purely political. For a long time I have been a believer that municipal government has little to do with politics. It was, in fact, one of the reasons why I ran for municipal Council in 2014. When going to the poll to vote for a Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Council Member(s), there is no connection to those running as to whether that are Liberal, Conservative, NDP or a member of the Green Party etc. Invariably, your choice is about money, the key issues as to how it is spent and to whom in your opinion, will do the best job of managing the finances that primarily you and other taxpaying property owners provide.
The six municipalities around the bottom of Georgian Bay are primarily as follows: Clearview Township, Town of Collingwood, the Blue Mountains, Grey Highlands, the Municipality of Meaford, and Wasaga Beach. These are municipal “corporations,” with annual revenue and expense budgets that run into millions of dollars not to mention significant capital budgets for major projects.
In reality, much of municipal governance comes down to something far less emotional than politics and far more practical: sound financial management. Municipalities are responsible for maintaining the infrastructure and services that residents rely on and require every day such as roads, bridges, water/sewer systems, fire protection, snow removal, waste management, policimng and long-term community planning. Recreational amenities while nice to have, should not take priority over “essential services” buit often they do. Everyday essential services don’t maintain themselves, and many communities across Ontario are now facing aging infrastructure that requires significant capiutal reinvestment.
The challenge municipalities face is balancing service expectations with financial sustainability and for residents, ultimately comes down to the fact that the major portion of a municipality’s revenue comes from property taxes. To be clear, property taxes are not based on what your home, condo or other property is worth in the current market. Your property taxes are calculuated using the assessed value as established by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). Your assessed value is then multiplied using the tax multiplier set forth by your specific municipality. Based on municipal tax multipliers for 2025, the chart below shows the municipal only portion of property taxes payable in 2025 for a home with an MPAC assessed value of $500,000 in each of the municipalities mentioned above.
2025 Municipal Only Property Tax Payable by Municipality
In addition to the municipal tax, a portion of your property tax goes to your respective county in the case of the above, it’s Simcoe or Grey each of which has their own tax multiplier. Lastly a portion of your property taxes is for education. Combining these factors together yields the total property tax payable for the year as illustrated in the chart below.
Full 2025 Property Taxes Payable by Municipality
Note that on both charts, the Municipality of Meaford ranks highest in municipal-only property tax payable and total property tax payable. This has been the long standing case, largely reflecting that the Municipality of Meaford lacks a large commercial tax base with limited manufacturing or commerical businesses, no large big box retait stores etc. which are taxed at a much higher rate than residential properties. As such, the financial burden of running the municipality rests largely on the shoulders of residential property owners.
As shown above, property taxes can vary significantly across the Southern Georgian Bay region, and understanding those differences is an important part of evaluating the true cost of home ownership. Whether you are considering Collingwood, Meaford, The Blue Mountains, Wasaga Beach, or the other neighbouring communities, looking beyond the purchase price can help Buyers make more informed long-term decisions. Local insight and careful analysis remain essential when comparing properties across these multiple municipalities.
In addition to potential Buyers, for those that already reside and or own property(s) of some type in the area, property taxes and more importantly, sound municipal financial management should be a key factor in your decision when it comes to voting in this year’s municipal election. Understanding this information is a critical step in evaluating those candidates running for a position on a municipal Council. Ultimately, the candidates you elect, and their ability to make sound financial decisions impact the affordability, lifestyle, long-term desirability, and value of area real estate in general.
Whether you are buying, selling or both, the property tax information I have provided herein is aimed at not only helping you with your real estate decisions, I hope it gives you some worthwhile insight in preparing for making good choices in this fall’s municipal election.
As a Broker, Market Value Appraiser (MVA) and an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) with over 25 years of experience, my role as a professional Advisor is to provide advice tailored to today’s evolving market conditions. Contact me should you have any questions about this or anything related to your real estate needs and or goals. Email 📧 rcrouch@sothebysrealty.ca Direct 📞 705-443-1037
NOTE: The author is a Broker, Market Value Appraiser-Residential with Sotheby’s International Realty Canada and a Past President (2008) of the One Point Association of REALTORS®.
This post is not intended to solicit homes or other properties already listed for sale.
