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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. 6 U( S, [5 G( |) K+ F# L; q
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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.
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; X& `# x9 c7 Q$ p% Q6 [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. 7 w( Q8 X3 w2 Z& w0 \" h
N6 ^/ |6 C& R4 G) n6 O( g& Z"Looking at this we're talking an 8-10% tax increase," Mandel said in council chambers.
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* ^' x* q, D5 |8 h3 c4 YCity manager Al Maurer confirmed that Mandel's prediction was on the money, based on initial cost estimates
8 m& f4 c* n$ g L/ m% b"Given the amount of it, it's going to be scary," the mayor said.
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: {) B. F- M9 \3 pA hike in that range could cost the average homeowner up to $200 a year. ; ^) Z# @0 t' C* P# ]% c. `
: D' W6 G" U0 X N7 E/ _% f"There's no question costs are going up," said Coun. Michael Phair, who conceded the tax hike "may very well" be in the range predicted by Mandel.
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! k* H/ k; N8 i% c- b# GCoun. Ron Hayter said it's still very early in the process, and he cautioned against getting overly anxious at this point. - A" S q* B. x& X
8 g. F) i7 Y7 y. f' U' H. v lThe draft budget does not come out until November.
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5 @% m; k$ j3 e# y0 c"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. 9 H# ^; h3 N& Y# R4 y: {
8 [7 D0 f- a8 P- d9 D3 } n"It won't be as bad as some people are making it out." # H @5 ~# c9 u$ ?; O/ ?9 R
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Maurer said income from investments and various financial strategies could offset a large hike. 8 Q6 X( W9 }- w' ]1 ~& N- [' M2 p2 i
; ]' M- I. B& P$ a4 \( xHowever, he said there aren't really any city programs that could be cut in order to save a few bucks.
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( f: w& S7 _1 d% B/ X"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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; Q" G; q) R) s" S0 s5 YScott Hennig, with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said there's no excuse for a double-digit tax increase. . w8 J5 q+ `% T1 Y- O$ A7 R
5 s/ Y4 j7 [4 M8 E* dHe said hikes should be limited to inflation, which is pegged at 5% both this year and next, according to the city. % d; X5 I# D: R1 |. x
) u, ~0 W% K8 A' t"They're going to hear from a lot of angry taxpayers if they're looking at 10%," Hennig said. / H& B3 [8 _! G/ f7 B
F/ D) e- q5 L2 o3 C- ^+ T"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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( U ]9 R6 _8 D" \3 X1 o; m2 U4 zThe average property tax bill in Edmonton will go up 4.95% this year, the city has said. 0 [; Q0 o) R; c) |6 f- {. t0 F. o
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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. / P R* a- z5 M6 X$ ?2 ~- \* d5 p# W
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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
