December 7, 1998
To:Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee
From:City Clerk
Subject:Assessment And Tax Policy Task Force - Proposed Terms Of Reference
Recommendations:
The Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force recommends:
(1)that the following Terms of Reference be adopted for the Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force:
(a)To meet as a working reference group to provide political direction to Finance Officials in the preparation of
comprehensive tax policies in advance of the return of the 1999 Current Value assessment, (taking effect in 2001)
including:
(i)review the tax burden for each property class, including the advantages and disadvantages of different tax rates for the
residential, multi-residential, commercial and industrial property classes;
(ii)develop comprehensive tax policies for the multi-residential, commercial and industrial classes, including a permanent
solution (ie. 2001) to ensure property tax equity between property classes;
(iii)develop long term (ie. 2001) tax policies to protect charitable and similar organizations in the commercial and
industrial classes;
(iv)work towards a recommendation that a portion of a resident's property taxes be based on income;
(b)To develop a process to consult interested stakeholders on proposed tax policies for the 2001 reassessment;
(c)To review hardship cases arising from the 2.5 percent cap on charitable and similar non-profit organizations during the
1998-2000 period;
(d)To review criteria for an enhanced tax relief program for low-income seniors and disabled persons;
(e)To review a mechanism to establish a general tax deferral program for all low-income home owners;
(f)To review ways and means to protect the City's tax base;
(g)To continue efforts to persuade the Provincial Government to exempt veterans' club houses from the education portion
of the property tax; and
(h)To provide options for Council, should legislation change in the future; and
(2)The Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force report directly to City Council because deputations are made at the Task
Force level and not at the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee level.
Background:
The Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force on November 20, 1998, gave consideration to a communication from
Councillor Adams forwarding the proposed Terms of Reference. The Task Force also had before it a copy of Clause 1 of
Report No. 17 of The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, headed "Status of Special Committees and Task
Forces", which was adopted, as amended, by the Council of the City of Toronto at its meeting held on October 1 and 2,
1998.
The Task Force's recommendations are noted above.
City Clerk,
Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force
Belinda Bains/tk
981120.1
