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Mayor warns of 'scary' tax hike
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Think your property taxes are high now? You ain't seen nothing yet. 2 P, }( ~) K( X- ]0 t
7 j4 R4 {9 t0 z: ~Edmontonians could face a "scary" tax hike of up to 10% next year, Mayor Stephen Mandel said. That would be the highest property tax increase since the 1980s. : E+ ^7 ^$ N$ x% \* a
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Mandel tossed out the figure yesterday following a presentation by administration that outlined the intense economic pressures the city is facing as a result of Alberta's economic boom.
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1 e7 T6 v5 z0 S+ V"Looking at this we're talking an 8-10% tax increase," Mandel said in council chambers. - o0 z4 f) o0 x
9 X" E9 j+ `( U9 _. vCity manager Al Maurer confirmed that Mandel's prediction was on the money, based on initial cost estimates
* d# Z4 l4 y- X$ M"Given the amount of it, it's going to be scary," the mayor said. & ^2 x2 Q" H) j- W
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A hike in that range could cost the average homeowner up to $200 a year.
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5 m) g; X/ C- ?: {9 c"There's no question costs are going up," said Coun. Michael Phair, who conceded the tax hike "may very well" be in the range predicted by Mandel. ( A. C1 O* h. P/ @( H
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Coun. Ron Hayter said it's still very early in the process, and he cautioned against getting overly anxious at this point.
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0 q# ` O% E5 y* ~) l3 QThe draft budget does not come out until November. % x$ w# o9 E; [% m" @
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"I'm not looking for a major increase next year, at least not too much more than we've already approved for this year," Hayter said. # z9 O/ Z. J% k. w
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"It won't be as bad as some people are making it out."
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8 z* }# e; M1 {) U( y, o, AMaurer said income from investments and various financial strategies could offset a large hike.
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, E8 a7 g; a+ K I( ZHowever, he said there aren't really any city programs that could be cut in order to save a few bucks.
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P3 _6 K+ I" O$ k"We've certainly got more demands," Maurer said, noting council still has to find money to fund an improved snow-clearing program.
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Scott Hennig, with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said there's no excuse for a double-digit tax increase. ' e3 a: `; u: Z9 ~9 Y
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He said hikes should be limited to inflation, which is pegged at 5% both this year and next, according to the city.
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5 ?1 b6 I: z( e* B5 q0 h"They're going to hear from a lot of angry taxpayers if they're looking at 10%," Hennig said.
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5 Q7 }1 p6 L% M3 Z"I don't know what some of these members of council are going to be able to say to some pensioner who got a 2% hike in their pension." 1 w$ f$ S0 ?1 G3 O
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The average property tax bill in Edmonton will go up 4.95% this year, the city has said.
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The tax on homes will go up higher than average - about 7%. The figures include both municipal tax and the provincial education tax, which the city collects.
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Tax bills will be mailed May 25 and payments are due June 30. |
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发表于 2007-5-9 22:25
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发表于 2007-5-10 11:37
