A Fiscal Accountability Policy for Oakville
Fiscal accountability, better budgeting, and a stronger tax base.
What This Means for You
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Protecting taxpayers does not mean arbitrarily cutting the services that make Oakville a great place to live. It means managing those services responsibly, planning further ahead, measuring results, and identifying savings.
Key Actions
Grow the Tax Base, Not Just the Tax Rate
Work toward a healthier residential/non-residential assessment balance so commercial growth helps share the cost of services.
Introduce a Four-Year Budget
Build a budget around a four-year Strategic Plan developed through extensive public consultation, reviewed annually as required by law.
Create an Oakville Budget Chief
Appoint a member of Council to chair the Budget Committee and challenge spending assumptions for the full term, while Jeff remains accountable for the budget.
Strengthen Independent Internal Audit
Ensure Oakville's new Internal Auditor position becomes a strong, permanent and genuinely independent value-for-money function.
Put That Approach to Work on Transit
Use value-for-money review to improve Oakville Transit's service and financial performance together, not cut service.
Protect Infrastructure, Reserves and Financial Strength
Tie the four-year budget to long-term capital and asset management needs, and use debt and reserves only for their intended purposes.
Start With the Facts
Base scrutiny of Town finances on accurate numbers and context, not charts and graphs presented without the full picture.
Make Municipal Finances Easier to Understand
Push for clearer public reporting of budgets, capital projects, financial variances, and whether promised savings were actually achieved.
Want to Go Deeper?
Growing the Tax Base, Not Just the Tax Rate
Oakville’s tax base remains heavily weighted toward residential property. In 2024, non-residential properties represented only about 11.4% of Oakville’s total assessment base while contributing over 16% of all Town taxes levied — proof of how important commercial and employment assessment is to residential taxpayers.
A Long-Term Objective — Oakville’s 2006 Official Plan set a goal of roughly 80% residential and 20% non-residential assessment. Jeff believes that remains a useful financial benchmark, not a development quota.
Red Carpet, Not Red Tape — Attracting responsible new employers and helping existing businesses grow is also part of Jeff’s tax policy.
An Annual Assessment Growth Scorecard — Show residents, in plain terms, whether Oakville is actually broadening its tax base.
A Four-Year Budget Tied to a Four-Year Plan
Independent Audit: Asking the Right Questions
Start With the Facts
Protect Your Tax Dollars, Protect Our Town
Before Town Hall asks taxpayers for more, it should demonstrate that it is making the best possible use of what taxpayers already provide. Better planning, stronger oversight, greater value, and a broader tax base — that is how we protect your tax dollars and protect our town.
