JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report
The owners of an average single-family home in Vaudreuil-Dorion will see their property taxes rise by 5.4 per cent next year, according to the town’s $120.5-million budget for 2025 approved during a special council meeting last week.
The value of an average single-family home, which is now pegged at $588,200, will be assessed a municipal tax bill of $2,671 next year, which is $163 more than the $2,586 in taxes for the same property this year.
The average tax bill includes an annual water tax charge of $275, which remains unchanged from the previous two budgets.
“While some might find the 5.4-per-cent increase high,” said Mayor Guy Pilon in a prepared statement, “the tax bill for an average home remains among the lowest for a city our size.”
But during the budget meeting he went even further, pointing out that the tax increase means the average homeowner will pay about $14 more per month, or just over $3 more per week, adding that a cup of hot chocolate is more expensive.
“That’s just to say that the raise is more than reasonable,” Pilon said.
The tax bills for 2025 will be calculated based on a new three-year property valuation roll, which will be in place until 2027. The new roll saw an overall average increase in the value of homes of 40.3 per cent, forcing the town to lower its taxation rate.
The residential property tax rate for 2025 has been set at $0.4541 per $100 of valuation, down from $0.5984 in 2024.
Overall, the city’s spending is going up 8.9 per cent, hitting $120.5 million, which represents $9.9 million more than in 2024.
Fixed expenses, which include operating costs, snow removal, debt service, and garbage and recycling collection, represent 83 per cent of the total budget, or more than $100 million, budget documents show.
The cost of the Sûreté du Québec will hit $8 million in 2025, up from about $7.3 million, while the city’s charges from the MRC Vaudreuil-Soulanges; the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal; and the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain, which operates public transit services; has increased by more than a quarter of a million dollars, hitting $8.3 million in 2025. That includes $2.68 million for transport and $5.6 million for the MRC and CMM.
Commenting on local spending, the mayor pointed out the city is investing in upgrading aging infrastructure in certain sectors, including in the Harwood-De Lotbinière and De la Gare areas, to accommodate an expected increase in residential development linked to the opening of the hospital.
“It is important to remember that Vaudreuil-Dorion is still in the midst of a development phase, which requires major investments in structuring projects such as the municipal centre, infrastructure linked to the new hospital, the addition of sports facilities and improvements to our road network,” Pilon said.
“Our financial situation is excellent, and our land wealth continues to grow remarkably,” Pilon said.