Municipal government is involved in many aspects of your day-to-day living. Municipalities also work alongside provincial and federal governments; In Thorold, we also have the regional tier of government. Each government uses tax dollars to fund different services and projects.
What Services are Covered by The City of Thorold?
Community Planning: The municipal government is responsible for new development and improvements to established neighbourhoods. City councillors will also review the planning of a new community, such as the zoning requirements, green space, and wastewater collection.
Libraries: Libraries are not only a space to borrow books! Libraries also host programs and workshops, offer internet service, and offer access to tech such as 3D printers and borrowing devices.
Arts & Culture: Cultural planning and land use planning share common objectives, including building healthy communities and contributing to the economy. Cultural planning considers economic prosperity, social equity, environmental responsibility, and cultural vitality. Not every municipality in Ontario has a cultural plan, but Thorold has included 'Cultural Heritage' in the latest Strategic Plan (pg. 19).
Parks and Recreation: Cities manage parks through regular maintenance, permits for special occasion use, and playground equipment. Both new and established parks can be reviewed with such features as accessible equipment, natural features, and washroom facilities.
First Responders: A considerable portion of your tax dollars will go towards police, fire, and ambulance. Not only will this cover daily emergency services, but tax funding will also help support new builds, such as our new Fire Hall on Collier Road.
What is NOT Covered at the Municipal Level
Although municipal governments may work alongside the upper tiers of government, through partnerships and lobbying efforts, here is a short list of services that are NOT covered by the City of Thorold:
Healthcare: Cities may fundraise or develop programs to attract physicians to establish a practice, but funding and regulations related to healthcare come from the Province of Ontario.
Schools: Although funding comes from your property taxes, how money is spent and the overall management of school boards falls upon the Province.
Regional Roads and Highways: Your road conditions and road safety (e.g., traffic lights, maintenance, crosswalks, etc.), may also be the responsibility of the City of Thorold. But regional roads would need to be assessed by the Niagara Region, and 400 series highways are assessed at the provincial level.
You can read more about municipal responsibilities here.
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