 鲜花( 0)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
Mayor warns of 'scary' tax hike
! Y; T+ p3 n1 o V* R# q# F2 T0 E/ p/ {; {0 l: u5 F7 X5 h% B
Think your property taxes are high now? You ain't seen nothing yet. 5 D% w% G6 w! g% Y4 \, Z( D: k
3 W' p) @' C, I# f# h, V7 D- L
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. ; P* x) y' I& F! t
0 `: h+ a+ U1 f- o0 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. 9 @* |8 q% ^! ?/ ?$ `9 @5 [6 {$ a
3 H0 l5 n- E( T/ H7 L# H- J" R"Looking at this we're talking an 8-10% tax increase," Mandel said in council chambers.
7 f! R1 i5 L; o' @1 W6 J! h+ ~" @. o- O1 W6 K/ Z ^2 }
City manager Al Maurer confirmed that Mandel's prediction was on the money, based on initial cost estimates
+ b: W* F3 d/ o* f4 c4 y"Given the amount of it, it's going to be scary," the mayor said. 8 l# Y( A( ] X/ D @. i
3 q ?# k7 r6 m! ]" [
A hike in that range could cost the average homeowner up to $200 a year. ) x# [/ G' b2 v+ \
: Q) z9 q) p2 K S; O4 z
"There's no question costs are going up," said Coun. Michael Phair, who conceded the tax hike "may very well" be in the range predicted by Mandel.
7 F, {8 Z8 ?6 [; l" b S4 S) t0 O8 w4 b$ n9 n; M2 N ^
Coun. Ron Hayter said it's still very early in the process, and he cautioned against getting overly anxious at this point.
( l9 c! N; E4 t% ~, Z) l8 A
$ G# h$ F( \/ M7 O3 U+ t3 CThe draft budget does not come out until November.
, Y9 |2 j- l t
6 K4 K" D# `/ _3 m( z$ _4 \"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.
0 w; I+ l1 g6 B J" o) ?. U. {. n# O5 `, {% h
"It won't be as bad as some people are making it out." % K1 A) l# f9 V4 Z. k& x/ Z
8 W$ p4 h4 W/ t ^Maurer said income from investments and various financial strategies could offset a large hike.
( e( }0 V# n1 ?) v' @; a9 r
+ Q% X% U* `/ `; `& s7 KHowever, he said there aren't really any city programs that could be cut in order to save a few bucks.
q( |8 i2 J X3 ~
: l6 } v! N1 H3 v"We've certainly got more demands," Maurer said, noting council still has to find money to fund an improved snow-clearing program.
$ V# B& y, h1 `" k3 M
& x9 N6 w8 c; [8 G& P( Y5 g- v7 YScott Hennig, with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said there's no excuse for a double-digit tax increase. 1 n5 k6 e- M* [3 F1 S& V' B d
# L) A2 n$ o3 N# M
He said hikes should be limited to inflation, which is pegged at 5% both this year and next, according to the city.
- [: r4 W1 y5 P* W8 @+ G7 w% H7 _0 Y2 W0 S( R! C
"They're going to hear from a lot of angry taxpayers if they're looking at 10%," Hennig said. ; y/ s$ l& B5 }( `7 U; m+ T! s$ g
], }4 G# V; ]* b0 S' d"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." w/ }2 P8 x$ s
( A$ q* \ R1 k. A6 o: A: I- f) }- _The average property tax bill in Edmonton will go up 4.95% this year, the city has said.
& r0 A5 M, Z6 l6 k, v9 K5 A( p. h& \. A
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. g v: P2 U% D% E5 F! V1 v, C2 W x
3 l* v- ^- g. q) Y- L$ k
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
