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Mayor warns of 'scary' tax hike) R; a" b2 i! p/ X# q3 C
6 y4 y% \! J2 U; B; t$ YThink your property taxes are high now? You ain't seen nothing yet.
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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. ' M# @3 W g, j
# c: S) J! c3 Q" \+ p) ~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. * L/ O) c0 y0 [3 ?% G @9 W
: `' l) n2 q5 c1 O6 v"Looking at this we're talking an 8-10% tax increase," Mandel said in council chambers. ' S# E, S' p; S: w
0 a5 f$ F+ U: X; i; dCity manager Al Maurer confirmed that Mandel's prediction was on the money, based on initial cost estimates
( e; K. t$ P$ w"Given the amount of it, it's going to be scary," the mayor said.
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A hike in that range could cost the average homeowner up to $200 a year. * d6 ]. O: [- G% F) R
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"There's no question costs are going up," said Coun. Michael Phair, who conceded the tax hike "may very well" be in the range predicted by Mandel. 4 y- I, f$ `- D- B; i! Q
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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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The draft budget does not come out until November. 9 w0 z* F) N# a/ `' S" U$ Q1 x c
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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.
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1 ^' z( {+ W. W' M% {6 t"It won't be as bad as some people are making it out." ! l, v5 _3 j" v; W4 W7 B8 m7 S
. |% A9 ~* N I: \- Q5 ~Maurer said income from investments and various financial strategies could offset a large hike.
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/ M, e4 b3 b: ~3 ~7 e5 KHowever, he said there aren't really any city programs that could be cut in order to save a few bucks. 1 n" ]0 o, W- Y1 a U3 }8 O
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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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He 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." 7 P4 T7 Q3 {4 ?/ @5 m
9 _' G `2 G" @. U2 YThe average property tax bill in Edmonton will go up 4.95% this year, the city has said. & H7 [* w$ D/ S7 W( h, p. J
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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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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
