School taxation

Territory taxed

The Comité de gestion de la taxe scolaire de l’île de Montréal collects the school tax on taxable immovables located in the territories served by school service centres and school boards on the Island of Montréal:

The school tax rate is set annually by the Minister of Education.

The school tax rate is published in the Gazette officielle by June 15 each year.

The territory served by the Comité de gestion is composed of the City of Montréal, the 15 municipalities on the Island of Montréal, and the 23 municipalities located west of the island of Montréal in the Harwood territory. Within the territory of the Island of Montréal, property owners are taxed by the Comité de gestion; in the Harwood territory, only property-owners considered to be English-speaking or “neutral” receive a school tax bill from the Comité de gestion. The French-speaking school service centre in this territory, the Centre de services scolaire des Trois-Lacs, collects its own school tax.

Back to top

Distributing the school tax

On January 3 each year, the Comité de gestion allocates to the school service centres and school boards their share of the school tax. The total amount billed is distributed, whether it has been collected or not.

The income derived from investing the school tax proceeds and the supplemental billings serves to finance catch-up measures for education in underprivileged areas served by schools on the Island of Montréal.

Back to top

Financing school service centres and school boards

The school tax covers about 15% of the expenses of school service centres and school boards on the Island of Montréal.

The school tax pays for the following:

  • maintenance of buildings and equipment
  • energy consumption
  • management costs of schools and centres
  • part of the cost of school transportation.
Back to top