 鲜花( 0)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
Mayor warns of 'scary' tax hike% O6 [. k& N0 A1 y0 t: M% f
" @& e9 Z/ b8 n/ @* B
Think your property taxes are high now? You ain't seen nothing yet.
& F) i# k G' _: N9 n/ j" p c- S5 i1 K) c- F8 K6 f8 J3 a
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.
# Q0 v. `' K7 T
; X% ~$ j! W7 k" f% IMandel 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. 5 y+ C( o9 _$ ]: W$ T' z
. r1 z6 B9 H% r- n0 } J
"Looking at this we're talking an 8-10% tax increase," Mandel said in council chambers.
( ]; y4 I) Q+ d* \* _) h
! t V, _" [" uCity manager Al Maurer confirmed that Mandel's prediction was on the money, based on initial cost estimates
- s" W9 ~" l9 T5 W4 _1 b3 h"Given the amount of it, it's going to be scary," the mayor said.
2 W0 B' Y0 o) h- h: x4 W% x2 o P: G& U/ }$ u( Z( b
A hike in that range could cost the average homeowner up to $200 a year.
( m" A# U* `9 M- p1 ^
% [9 R* W$ @; u4 v" ~"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.
I) W8 k# x% g: v: i5 X( ?. m, c: B9 I" X% ~! x
Coun. Ron Hayter said it's still very early in the process, and he cautioned against getting overly anxious at this point.
' O% _0 O& A9 a" j2 ^% o7 c' z' N: c. e4 Q$ A, r
The draft budget does not come out until November.
8 \7 ? [2 A+ B, i# J3 c# h0 l& D) o0 W( v$ Y3 H; z
"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.
3 G5 j; W7 u$ N4 F0 Q4 j) X3 `. T5 J* x
"It won't be as bad as some people are making it out." " m3 g6 D7 O) ?* w+ b& o( `
! w8 |* n$ N. r- i+ ?" F/ ?& G
Maurer said income from investments and various financial strategies could offset a large hike.
3 R5 L) K% L! K* c1 ]; ^
, Q: I) T+ l( a% SHowever, he said there aren't really any city programs that could be cut in order to save a few bucks.
+ x6 ]2 m7 l9 S+ J3 ]# m
- r2 l7 U2 Z' r, ]"We've certainly got more demands," Maurer said, noting council still has to find money to fund an improved snow-clearing program.
/ F3 F/ C, L+ A% q0 V. t1 f4 V' E. B: @0 a" X b
Scott Hennig, with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said there's no excuse for a double-digit tax increase. 2 }% S! S( Z, o7 e/ B, l* }( l4 ~
' J4 ?: b. ~* q, L+ u5 y2 p2 T) jHe said hikes should be limited to inflation, which is pegged at 5% both this year and next, according to the city. # P8 G- }! |5 U0 ~
3 [9 B% r* b# ], w3 ^
"They're going to hear from a lot of angry taxpayers if they're looking at 10%," Hennig said. 2 H. r/ y- W( x( T. B( `3 H8 ~
' P; y2 G! C( u1 {"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."
* Q, }5 _" M& r! b: w/ P3 o4 t3 n3 ?3 Y
The average property tax bill in Edmonton will go up 4.95% this year, the city has said.
( M8 h3 z% s# E5 Y8 |: S- c8 y+ g/ g! y, W% ] X7 |
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.
( p! i( v0 I& k+ C& \
7 h) r4 ^! Q) dTax bills will be mailed May 25 and payments are due June 30. |
|
狗仔卡
发表于 2007-5-9 22:25
提升卡
置顶卡
沉默卡
喧嚣卡
变色卡
显身卡
发表于 2007-5-10 11:37
