Per person spending up almost 10% since 2009 across the GTHA; City of Toronto remains the highest spender

Comparing per-Person Spending and Revenue in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, 2009–2019

Summary

• Municipal governments play an important role in the lives of Ontarians by providing key services and collecting taxes and fees.
• There were very wide variations in per-person spending and revenue across the 26 municipalities of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) from 2009 to 2019.
• The municipal average for growth in per-person spending (adjusted for inflation) was 9.6%.
• Toronto—the region’s most populous city—was the highest spender in 2019 ($4,605 per person), while Milton spent the least ($2,629 per person).
• Spending per person in the region’s next largest cities, Mississauga ($3,072), Brampton ($3,045), and Hamilton ($3,108), was below the municipal average.
• From 2009 to 2019 four municipalities recorded decreases in per-person spending (adjusted for inflation): Hamilton (11.2%), Milton (3.8%), Caledon (0.9%) and Toronto (0.8%).
• The four greatest increases in spending per person all topped 20%: Aurora (22.6%), Whitchurch-Stouffville (21.3%), East Gwillimbury (20.4%), and Georgina (20.6%).
• The municipal average for growth in revenue per person was 16.3%.
• King Township collected the most revenue (inflation-adjusted) per person ($5,935), followed by Vaughan ($5,810) and Toronto ($5,173).
• Halton Hills collected the least revenue per person in the GTHA ($2,794), followed by Brampton ($3,226) with the second lowest revenue.
• Between 2009 and 2019, King Township’s per-person revenue grew the most (67.4%), while Halton Hills saw the greatest decrease (7.9%).