Province to provide stable funding for 2021

TORONTO - The Ontario government has promised to maintain funding to municipalities through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) at $500 million for 2021.

Finance minister Rod Phillips made the commitment while speaking on Jan. 20 at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference.

He also announced consultations on next year’s program to ensure the funding delivers results for small, northern and rural municipalities.

“Municipalities told us how vital the OMPF is to their communities and they need information sooner to plan their budgets,” said Phillips.

“That’s why we announced allocations for 2020 earlier than ever before, and why we’re committing today to maintain the funding envelope for next year.”

Here are the local OMPF allocations for 2020, as announced in October:

- Minto, $1,540,800;

- Wellington North, $1,283,700;

- County of Wellington, $1,281,900;

- Mapleton, $832,700;

- Erin, $591,100;

- Guelph-Eramosa, $494,200;

- Puslinch, $417,400; and

- Centre Wellington, $271,700.

Ontario is also consulting with stakeholders on the province’s property tax system to enhance the accuracy and stability of property assessments.