Brampton city council approved the 2020 budget on Wednesday (Feb. 26) night with a freeze on the municipal portion of the annual property tax levy for a second straight year.

While Brampton property owners will see a 1.3 per cent increase on their tax bills as a result of the regional increase approved by Peel Region council in its budget in December, both the city and school board portions of the combined levy will remain at current rates.

The city’s proposed budget, released earlier this year, included a 0.5 per cent increase, but the budget committee and city staff ultimately found a way to get that down to zero.

“What will be on the 2020 tax bill? City’s 0.0% + Region’s 1.3% + School boards 0% = 1.3% (average of $64 per household),” said the city in a release shortly after the budget was passed. “The 2020 Budget includes a 1% levy for Transit and 2% levy for Infrastructure to keep assets such as buses, roads and facilities in good working condition and to ensure that City-building can continue.”