Monday, February 1, 2021

City of Markham earns an “A” rating from C.D. Howe Institute

MARKHAM, ON – February 1, 2021 – The City of Markham has earned an “A” (85% score) in the C.D. Howe Institute’s annual report card on municipal fiscal transparency. Markham’s score places the City in the top 5 out of 31 major Canadian municipalities in the report.

“Once again, the City of Markham has scored top marks and placed first amongst Ontario municipalities," said Mayor Frank Scarpitti. "This is a reflection of our transparent, informative and accessible budget process. We continue to deliver exceptional services to residents while keeping taxes low. Markham maintains the lowest 16-year average property tax increase in the GTA and froze property taxes in 2021 to provide residents with further financial relief given the uncertain times. This acknowledgement by the C.D. Howe Institute is a testament to the hard work of Markham Council and staff to ensure our budgets are well-communicated, timely and transparent.”

The “Time for an Upgrade: Fiscal Accountability in Canada’s Cities, 2020” report card grades 31 major Canadian municipalities on the clarity, comprehensiveness, and timeliness of their financial presentations. Ten different criteria are used to score municipalities’ most recent budgets and financial statements. According to the C.D. Howe report, Markham presented a comprehensive, clear and timely budget.

The C.D. Howe Institute is an independent not-for-profit research institute whose work focuses on economic policy intelligence and research. In publishing the “Time for an Upgrade: Fiscal Accountability in Canada’s Cities, 2020” report, it encourages all municipalities to “produce information that is more accessible and timely” in reference to financial reporting, a commitment central to the City of Markham’s annual financial review process.

Read the C.D. Howe Institute’s “Time for an Upgrade: Fiscal Accountability in Canada’s Cities, 2020” at https://www.cdhowe.org/sites/default/files/attachments/research_papers/mixed/Commentary_589.pdf

Related links:

- 立即阻止第二波COVID-19!
- நிறுத்துங்கள்2 வது கோவிட் -19 அலையை இப்போதே!

-30-

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti's Office:
Bryan Frois, Chief of Staff at bfrois@markham.ca or 416.567.1177.

All other media inquiries / interview requests for the City of Markham:
Jennifer Yap, Coordinator, Communications and Media Relations at jyap@markham.ca or 437.229.2450.

For COVID-19 announcements from the City of Markham:
Visit markham.ca/covid19 or listen to 105.9 The Region – Markham’s information and emergency radio station.

About Markham: Markham, an award-winning municipality with over 355,000 residents and the largest of nine communities in York Region, is home to over 650 corporate head offices and more than 1,500 high tech and life science companies. Markham is a leader in attracting foreign direct investment with more than 240 foreign companies located in the City. Founded in the 1790s, today Markham is Canada’s most diverse community and enjoys a rich heritage, outstanding community planning and services, and a vibrant local economy. Markham has received the Excellence Canada Gold Award for Organizational Quality & Healthy Workplace, and multiple heritage and environmental awards.

Stay Connected: Visit our newsroom or search #MarkhamNews and #MarkhamEvents for the latest information on City programs, services and event.