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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. . ^0 u( n# U$ w# @) b' R. f
5 _1 Z$ C3 i$ [- {4 H$ VEdmontonians 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. , K& P& c* ?: \: e: L% K+ H
! E3 D+ ~" ]1 d8 h6 |5 zMandel 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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"Looking at this we're talking an 8-10% tax increase," Mandel said in council chambers. $ c# b3 b3 _& Q4 r: Y. I
/ n* N* a( ^! d4 Q! SCity manager Al Maurer confirmed that Mandel's prediction was on the money, based on initial cost estimates
Y/ z9 {; p' k- e8 H"Given the amount of it, it's going to be scary," the mayor said.
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; E/ z& b6 O5 T& VA hike in that range could cost the average homeowner up to $200 a year.
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"There's no question costs are going up," said Coun. Michael Phair, who conceded the tax hike "may very well" be in the range predicted by Mandel. # i3 _6 y4 V0 b4 _! Z) l
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Coun. Ron Hayter said it's still very early in the process, and he cautioned against getting overly anxious at this point.
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2 {9 V& L9 i8 ~$ R' x$ `) w9 P5 x1 i Z( xThe draft budget does not come out until November.
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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. ) c( e- Q! c0 n
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"It won't be as bad as some people are making it out." 8 X1 q0 O+ k A2 K' v
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Maurer said income from investments and various financial strategies could offset a large hike. , u. f* K. `! R; C: r2 T# V
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However, he said there aren't really any city programs that could be cut in order to save a few bucks. 6 H: Z- B$ W+ [! F
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"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.
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, ^4 R$ Z9 E8 m& K- Q4 Z. fHe 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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"They're going to hear from a lot of angry taxpayers if they're looking at 10%," Hennig said.
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"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."
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The average property tax bill in Edmonton will go up 4.95% this year, the city has said. ' F& l8 n5 V) s' R
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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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) W& R$ x3 F3 o4 _$ n4 ZTax 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
