Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund
Technical Manual
March 2005
The Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund
Upper, Lower, and Single Tier Distribution of Funding
Introduction
This document outlines the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) that is being introduced for 2005 to replace the Community Reinvestment Fund. It is intended to provide a technical overview of the new funding model and the accompanying transition strategy.
Overview
The Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund is replacing the Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF) as the province's main transfer payment to municipalities. The new municipal funding model replaces a model with a number of shortcomings with a clear and understandable system of grants. The Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund will assist municipalities with their social program costs; include equalization measures; address the challenges faced by northern and rural communities; and respond to policing costs in rural communities.
The OMPF will provide $656 million to 386, or 87 per cent, of municipalities. This represents a $38 million, or 6.1 per cent, increase over CRF funding received in 2004. As part of implementing the OMPF, the province is providing municipalities with $233 million in one-time funding to meet the province's reconciliation obligations for 2003 and 2004 under the old CRF model and to ensure a manageable pace of change for municipalities.
Replacement of the CRF with a fairer funding model and the allocation of a transition fund to support its implementation are both part of the province's overall commitment to municipalities.
This commitment includes:
- $680 million in gas tax funding over the next three years;
- Increasing the province's share of public health funding
to 75% by 2007;
- $298 million towards the $1 billion fund for the Canada Ontario
Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF); and
- $1.2 billion to date in infrastructure loans through the Ontario Strategic Infrastructure Financing Authority (OSIFA).
Community Reinvestment Fund
The Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF) was introduced in 1998. Eligibility was based on the property tax and program exchange undertaken as part of the Local Services Realignment in 1998. Over time, additional grant components were added to the CRF to accompany the partial or complete upload of several programs.
There have been longstanding concerns with the CRF associated with its complexity, inequity, and administrative burden. In an attempt to understand these concerns, the government invited its municipal partners to participate in a review of the CRF as part of the Strong Communities initiative.
The discussion of municipal concerns through the Strong Communities initiative assisted the government in the design of the new Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund.
The Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund
The Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund will provide municipalities with $656 million in funding through four grants:
- Social Programs Grant - $179 M:
Provides funding to municipalities with limited property assessment to support their share of social program costs.
- Equalization Grant - $170 M:
Provides funding to municipalities with limited property assessment through two components:
- Assessment Equalization - $138 M
- Farmland and Managed Forest Assessment - $32 M
- Assessment Equalization - $138 M
- Northern and Rural Communities Grant - $249 M:
Provides funding to northern and rural communities to recognize their unique challenges through four components:
- Rural Communities - $139 M
- Northern Communities - $80 M
- Northern and Rural Social Programs - $21 M
- Stabilization - $9 M
- Rural Communities - $139 M
- Police Services Grant - $58 M:
Provides funding to rural communities to support policing costs.
One-Time Funding
The province is addressing a key municipal concern in allocating $100 million to reconcile to 2003 program costs and $35 million to reconcile to estimated 2004 costs. Funding that municipalities receive will be final payments.
In addition, the province is providing $98 million in one-time transition assistance to ensure a manageable pace of change for municipalities in the move to the new Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund.
The Stable Funding Guarantee announced in January 2005 will ensure that municipalities receive, at a minimum, as much funding in 2005 as they received through the CRF in 2004. The specific details of each municipality's Stable Funding Guarantee were included as part of the January 12, 2005 memo to Treasurers and Clerk-Treasurers from the Deputy Ministers of Finance, and Municipal Affairs and Housing.
The Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund
I. Social Programs Grant
This grant provides funding to municipalities with limited property assessment to support the municipal share of eligible social program costs (for a definition of eligible costs see Appendix A). This grant provides funding to municipalities whose costs for these programs exceed the revenue that could be raised by levying a 0.2% property tax rate on their assessment base.
This grant assists municipalities in meeting the municipal portion their portion of the established cost-sharing arrangements for social programs. The province will continue to fund its portion of the cost-shared programs, as well as provide additional funding through the OMPF to help municipalities pay for their share of these arrangements.
Distribution: The Social Programs Grant is distributed to upper
and single tier municipalities.
Example 1.1
Municipality A:
- Municipal share of eligible social program costs: $125,000
- Total assessment: $25,000,000
Threshold amount: $25,000,000 x 0.2% = $50,000
Grant: $125,000 – $50,000 = $75,000
II. Equalization Grant.
This grant provides funding to municipalities that have limited property assessment through two components:
- Assessment Equalization Grant Component
This component provides funding to municipalities with limited property assessment due to lower property values and limited non-residential assessment. Municipalities will receive funding if their total assessment per household is less than $170,000.
An overall assessment differential for each eligible municipality is calculated in order to determine the grant amount.
If a municipality has a total assessment per household of less than $170,000, it will receive funding based on the following scale:
Every $10,000 increment in a municipality's total assessment differential will result in an additional $62 in funding.
($62 is the assessment equalization factor for 2005. It has been calculated by the Ministry of Finance based on the total assessment differential for all municipalities.)
Distribution: The Assessment Equalization Grant Component is distributed to lower and single tier municipalities.
Example 2.1
Municipality A:
- Total assessment per household: $150,000
- Assessment per household below $170,000 threshold:
$20,000
- Number of households: 5,000
Total assessment differential: $20,000 x 5,000 households = $100,000,000
Grant Component: $100,000,000 / $10,000 x $62 = $620,000
- Total assessment per household: $150,000
- Farmland and Managed Forest Assessment
Grant Component
This component provides funding to municipalities with limited property assessment due to a significant amount of farmland and managed forest properties.
The grant provides funding equivalent to 150% of municipal revenue generated for farmland and managed forest assessment where these properties comprise more than 20% of the municipality's tax base. Municipalities that have between 5% and 20% of their tax base made up of these properties receive a portion of this funding on a sliding scale.
Every 1% increment in taxes generated from farmland and managed forest properties between 5% and 20% will result in additional funding equal to 10% of the taxes generated by these properties:
Farmland and Managed Forest Assessment Grant Component Taxes generated by farmland & managed forest properties (%) 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 + Taxes allocated as grant funding (%) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150
Distribution: The Farmland and Managed Forest Assessment Grant Component is distributed to lower and single tier municipalities.
Example 2.2
Municipality A:
- Taxes generated from farmland and managed forest
properties: $1,750,000
- Percentage of total taxes generated from farmland and managed
forest properties : 25%
Grant Component: $1,750,000 x 150% = $ 2,625,000
Example 2.3
Municipality B:
- Taxes generated from farmland and managed forest properties
: $250,000
- Percentage of total taxes generated from farmland and managed
forest properties : 7%
Grant Component: $250,000 x 20% = $50,000
- Taxes generated from farmland and managed forest
properties: $1,750,000
III. Northern and Rural Communities Grant
This grant provides funding to northern and rural communities in recognition of the unique challenges they face.
In order to support this grant, a rural and small community measure has been calculated for each municipality to determine the proportion of its population living in rural areas or small communities (see Appendix A).
The grant has four components:
- Rural Communities Grant Component
This component provides funding to municipalities based on the proportion of their population that is living in rural areas or small communities.
Municipalities with a rural and small community measure of 75% or more receive the full per household amount of $150. Municipalities with a rural and small community measure between 25% and 75% receive a portion of this funding on a sliding scale.
Every 5% increment in the rural and small community measure between 25% and 75% results in an additional $15 per household, to a maximum of $150:
Rural Communities Grant Component Rural & small community measure 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% 55% 60% 65% 70% 75% + Per household amount $0 $15 $30 $45 $60 $75 $90 $105 $120 $135 $150
Distribution: The Rural Communities Grant Component is distributed to lower and single tier municipalities.
Example 3.1
Municipality A:
- Number of households: 400
- Rural and small community measure: 80%
Example 3.2
Municipality B:
- Number of households: 600
- Rural and small community measure: 45%
Grant Component: 600 x $60 = $36,000
- Number of households: 400
- Northern Communities Grant Component
This component provides funding to all municipalities in northern Ontario (for definition see Appendix A) based on the number of households. The grant per household is $225.
Distribution: The Northern Communities Grant Component is distributed to all northern municipalities.
- Northern and Rural Social Programs Grant Component
This component establishes a limit on the share of municipal tax revenue needed to support eligible social programs in northern and rural communities (see Appendix A).
Funding is provided if the municipal share of eligible social program costs (net of the Social Programs Grant) exceeds a threshold of 15% of municipal tax revenue.
All northern municipalities are eligible for this grant if their social program costs exceed the threshold. Municipalities that are not in the North are eligible to receive the full amount of funding available through this grant component if they have a rural and small community measure of 75% or greater and their social program costs are greater than the threshold.
Municipalities with a rural and small community measure between 25% and 75% receive a portion of this funding on a sliding scale.
Every 5% increment in the rural and small community measure between 25% and 75% results in a 10% increase in funding for eligible costs greater than the 15% tax revenue threshold:
Northern and Rural Social Programs Grant Component Rural and small community measure 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% 55% 60% 65% 70% 75%+ Residual social program costs funded 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
For northern and rural communities, this grant provides additional funding to complement the support provided through the Social Programs Grant.
Distribution: The Northern and Rural Social Programs Grant Component is distributed to upper and single tier municipalities.
Example 3.3
Municipality A:
- Geographic designation: northern
- Municipal share of eligible social program costs: $4,000,000
- Social Programs Grant amount: $2,000,000
- Residual social program costs (costs net of the
Social Programs Grant): $2,000,000
- Tax revenue: $10,000,000
- 15% of tax revenue: $1,500,000
Residual social program costs above 15% threshold: $2,000,000 - $1,500,000 = $500,000
Grant Component: $500,000
Example 3.4
Municipality B:
- Geographic designation: non-northern
- Rural and small community measure: 60%
- Municipal share of eligible social program costs: $10,000,000
- Social Programs Grant amount: $6,000,000
- Residual social program costs (costs net of the
Social Programs Grant): $4,000,000
- Tax revenue: $20,000,000
- 15% of tax revenue: $3,000,000
Residual social program costs above 15% threshold: $4,000,000 - $3,000,000 = $1,000,000
Grant component: $1,000,000 x 70% = $700,000
- Geographic designation: northern
- Stabilization Grant Component
This component provides ongoing funding to municipalities that otherwise would see decreases in funding of more than $150 per household, relative to funding received in 2004 through the Community Reinvestment Fund.
This grant component has been calculated on the basis of 2005 funding levels and will be maintained at this level in future years.
Distribution: The Stabilization Grant Component is distributed to upper, lower, and single tier municipalities.
IV. Police Services Grant
This grant provides funding to rural communities to support policing costs.
This grant provides funding equal to 50% of eligible police costs (for definition see Appendix A) above $150 per household for municipalities that have a rural and small community measure of 75% or more.
Municipalities with a rural and small community measure between 25% and 75% receive a portion of this funding on a sliding scale.
Every 5% increment in the rural and small community measure between 25% and 75% results in a 5% increase in funding for eligible costs above $150 per household:
| Police Services Grant | |||||||||||
| Rural and small community measure | 25% | 30% | 35% | 40% | 45% | 50% | 55% | 60% | 65% | 70% | 75%+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible costs above threshold allocated as funding | 0% | 5% | 10% | 15% | 20% | 25% | 30% | 35% | 40% | 45% | 50% |
For municipalities with a rural and small community measure of less than 75%, the Police Services Grant will be calculated as 50% of their 2002 eligible per household policing costs above the $150 threshold - where this approach generates a greater amount than under the standard calculation detailed above. This is incorporated as a transitional measure that applies to only a small number of municipalities.
Distribution: The Police Services Grant Component is distributed to those municipalities that provide policing services.
Example 4.1
Municipality A:
- Rural and small community measure: 100%
- Eligible costs above $150 per household threshold:
$550,000
Grant: $550,000 x 50% = $275,000
Example 4.2
Municipality B:
- Rural and small community measure: 40%
- Eligible costs above $150 per household threshold:
$400,000
Grant: $400,000 x 15% = $60,000
One-Time Funding
As part of implementing the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund, the province is providing municipalities with $233 million in one-time funding to meet the province's reconciliation obligations for 2003 and 2004 under the old CRF model and to ensure a manageable pace of change for municipalities.
The $233 million in one-time funding has two components:
- Funding for a 2003 and 2004 CRF reconciliation ($135 M)
$135 million in funding is being provided to municipalities for their 2003 program costs and their estimated 2004 costs. The 2003 and 2004 CRF adjustments represent the final closeout payments of the old CRF grant program.
| Reconciliation ($M) | 2003 | 2004 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 reconciliation | $50 | $50 | $100 |
| 2004 reconciliation | $35 | $35 | |
| Total | $50 | $85 | $135 |
- Transition Funding ($98 M)
$98 million in one-time transition funding is being provided to municipalities that would otherwise see reduced revenue under the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund compared to funding they received in 2004 through the Community Reinvestment Fund.
This funding will ensure a manageable pace of change for municipalities in the move to the new OMPF.
Distribution: Transition funding is distributed to upper, lower and single tier municipalities.
Phase-In Strategy
The Stable Funding Gurantee announced in January 2005 will ensure that municipalities will receive, at a minimum, as much funding in 2005 as they received through the CRF in 2004. As noted, the specific details of each municipality's Stable Funding Guarantee were included as part of the January 12, 2005 memo to Treasurers and Clerk-Treasurers from the Deputy Minister of Finance, and Municipal Affairs and Housing.
The OMPF phase-in strategy will be supported, in part, through the $98 million one-time transition funding outlined above.
The phase-in will ensure that the revenue impacts of the transition to OMPF will be limited by the following parameters:
| Phase-In Parameters ($) | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Per Household Decrease | $0 | $10 | $25 | $50 |
| Maximum Per Household Increase | $80 | $90 | $100 | $150 |
Revenue changes under the OMPF are compared to payments each municipality received in 2004 under the CRF and are expressed as the residential tax impact per household.
Total municipal reductions will be limited to: $250,000 in 2006, $500,000 in 2007, and $1,000,000 in 2008.
Implementation
The Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund allocations will be announced annually in the fall and flowed in quarterly payments to municipalities. All OMPF allocations will be provided to municipalities as unconditional grants. One-time funding will also be provided to municipalities as unconditional grants from the province's 2004-05 Change Fund.
Municipal allocations will be calculated by the Ministry of Finance based on a defined set of data elements (see Appendix B).
Data elements will be either stable or live. The “stable” data elements will be established prior to the annual fall release of allocations, e.g. assessment data, number of households. Stable data elements will be based on the most recent data sets available as of July 30 of the year prior to the allocation year.
A limited number of data elements will be “live” throughout the allocation year. Specifically, costs for police services, child care programs and administration, and social assistance income support and administration (Ontario Drug Benefit, Ontario Disability Supplement Program, and Ontario Works) will be live data elements.
Live data elements will be reconciled regularly to capture both
increases and decreases in costs. This will result in adjustments
to the Social Programs Grant, the Northern and Rural Social Programs
Grant Component, and the Police Services Grant.
Upper, Lower, and Single Tier Distribution of Funding
Funding provided through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund is distributed to upper, lower, and single tier municipalities based on the level of government that is responsible for the service supported by the grant or grant component.
| Upper, Lower, and Single Tier Funding Distribution | |
| Social Programs Grant | UT / ST |
|---|---|
| Equalization Grant | |
| Assessment Equalization Grant Assessment Component | LT / ST |
| Farmland and Managed Forest Grant Assessment Component | LT / ST |
| Northern and Rural Communities Grant | |
| Rural Communities Grant Component | LT / ST |
| Northern Communities Grant Component | ST |
| Northern and Rural Social Programs Grant Component | UT / ST |
| Stabilization Grant Component | UT / LT / ST |
| Police Services Grant | UT / LT / ST |
Phase-in adjustments will be calculated independently for upper, lower, and single tier municipalities.
Appendices
Eligible Municipal Social Program Costs
Eligible municipal social program costs refer to the costs that municipalities are responsible for under existing cost-sharing arrangements with the province. Social programs that are eligible for inclusion in determining a municipality's total social program costs for the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund include:
- Ontario Works income support: 20%
- Ontario Works administration: 50%
- Ontario Disability Support Program income support: 20%
- Ontario Disability Support Program administration: 50%
- Ontario Drug Benefit: 20% of cost of benefit for Ontario Works
and Ontario Disability Support Program recipients and dependents
- Child Care: 20% of cost of child care programs, 50% of administration
- Social Housing: 100% of the devolved costs as of 2002
Eligible Police Costs
Eligible police costs include policing services provided by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) or a local force to meet the service standards defined in the Police Services Act.
Non-eligible police costs include bylaw enforcement and cases where service levels exceed those required by the Police Services Act.
Northern Municipality
Northern municipalities are those that lie within any of the following Districts: Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, and Timiskaming.
Rural and Small Community Measure
The rural and small community measure represents the proportion
of a municipality's population that resides in rural areas or small
communities. This approach recognizes that some municipalities include
a mix of rural and non-rural areas.
The measure is based on Statistics Canada data and is calculated
as follows:
- Statistics Canada divides municipalities into small geographic
areas, typically less than a few hundred residents.
- These areas are classified by Statistics Canada as rural areas
or small communities if they meet one of the following conditions:
- They have a population density of less than 400 per square
kilometre;
- They have a population density of greater than 400 per
square kilometre but cannot be grouped with adjacent areas,
(each also with a population density of greater than 400 per
square kilometre), to produce a total population concentration
greater than 1,000; or
- They are not economically integrated with a population
centre of greater than 10,000.
- They have a population density of less than 400 per square
kilometre;
- The rural and small community measure is determined by calculating the proportion of a municipality's population living in areas that are classified as either rural or part of a small community.
Example:
Total municipal population = 1,000
Population in areas that are rural or in small communities = 700
Rural and small community measure = 700 / 1,000 = 70%
Assessment
In this document assessment refers to the total assessment for a municipality weighted by the tax ratio for each class of property plus payments in lieu of property taxes (PILs) made by either the provincial or federal government. (An equivalent PIL assessment is calculated by dividing actual PIL revenues by tax rates in each municipality.)
| Data | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|
Live Program Cost Data
|
2005 |
|
Other Program Cost Data
|
2002 |
|
Taxation and Assessment Data
|
2004 |
|
Demographic Data
|
2004 2001 |
|
Copyright information: © Queen's
Printer for Ontario, 2005
ISBN 0-7794-7844-4