 鲜花( 0)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
Mayor warns of 'scary' tax hike+ i7 k9 w. N+ X [/ E
7 ^( Q' R) s! x
Think your property taxes are high now? You ain't seen nothing yet. ) X+ B/ A& ?$ ?, [
* _; Z6 @1 L5 p; z% X! E3 SEdmontonians 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.
; Z/ K# N$ d# z0 |" a7 ^0 ~2 `0 u2 _& U3 n, o9 ]9 w, ]: t
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. 3 I7 P( m; k8 h; _/ U% h3 _2 G
5 y3 ~, k+ y y% ]: a% G3 N; j$ b/ L/ q
"Looking at this we're talking an 8-10% tax increase," Mandel said in council chambers. : o1 Y |4 M3 {6 r( d% [
; t, N; [) ^; uCity manager Al Maurer confirmed that Mandel's prediction was on the money, based on initial cost estimates8 D0 E$ X9 x' l0 ~- h1 M
"Given the amount of it, it's going to be scary," the mayor said. + p8 M7 i: _7 B. J! k
: e! ~7 D. {5 f. }0 rA hike in that range could cost the average homeowner up to $200 a year.
. G" d4 D0 R j% k1 `9 m- p
2 P, F% P8 D- R, ~# H"There's no question costs are going up," said Coun. Michael Phair, who conceded the tax hike "may very well" be in the range predicted by Mandel.
X: ^& F6 r: C P: C9 t" N3 z( G9 l- m; b! z p+ C2 U4 M8 B
Coun. Ron Hayter said it's still very early in the process, and he cautioned against getting overly anxious at this point.
3 D. l! i/ T. Y Q# B9 W- {$ K; g
The draft budget does not come out until November.
9 G' Y; w: L, o
* {# p- V% I' v s7 ^"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.
, v s5 h# }' q- c. i0 c. Q; z2 Q( P/ w8 N, q8 x' ~& n
"It won't be as bad as some people are making it out."
3 |1 Z6 A! X L
2 [( ]4 Q. H' f EMaurer said income from investments and various financial strategies could offset a large hike.
$ f" X' W3 Q1 i, a# d. Z7 t8 j, A4 j
However, he said there aren't really any city programs that could be cut in order to save a few bucks.
: @8 @) L; E& O# }+ u% r. o+ O, y( ^( |1 G7 }; C- T, l% ~
"We've certainly got more demands," Maurer said, noting council still has to find money to fund an improved snow-clearing program.
8 ` |/ x) P$ O, t9 o. A/ k$ E1 e" m
Scott Hennig, with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said there's no excuse for a double-digit tax increase.
% B2 p ]1 K; R0 j7 F" `
^( \* M7 W% d1 W: T. tHe said hikes should be limited to inflation, which is pegged at 5% both this year and next, according to the city. 4 a" _ L/ A! E5 Q* w9 y/ r
6 [* v; K0 n, X8 |: a$ d) O7 r- R' X"They're going to hear from a lot of angry taxpayers if they're looking at 10%," Hennig said. 5 `4 Q3 X* O+ z0 Z
' x- h1 F4 k0 d. D# d" M o"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."
: P& f. Y l5 \2 Q- ]2 F$ N8 G% I. L2 Q5 I0 Q
The average property tax bill in Edmonton will go up 4.95% this year, the city has said. * U" L( G2 q8 |, F+ M! a
" f' l5 F: c$ T' T+ w9 B1 [6 UThe 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.
7 y5 P- W& o0 V/ n8 a7 U" s# K1 B& c+ {) l5 S
Tax 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
