 鲜花( 0)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
Mayor warns of 'scary' tax hike
6 A3 q. a# }: P/ x0 K* L+ e' @; G$ y7 D6 @3 A
Think your property taxes are high now? You ain't seen nothing yet. ' l$ A9 _" N; f% b% F
7 _7 w* P \ m1 b3 f1 r
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. ! k) t( }( ? A; e: I% q3 y) G
4 D1 D# B3 o8 u" O2 h" J
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 s/ L3 s# \% X1 R- I) u3 l
6 ]/ ]# ]/ m6 T& R& A"Looking at this we're talking an 8-10% tax increase," Mandel said in council chambers.
5 Y s, x9 g& D/ |6 x7 ]
3 M a* _# F3 P" h4 GCity manager Al Maurer confirmed that Mandel's prediction was on the money, based on initial cost estimates
& x* C& g! O3 P/ T"Given the amount of it, it's going to be scary," the mayor said.
( b3 f" H7 Y# C6 ~7 p5 f) D2 w' c3 q* J2 g4 x- {
A hike in that range could cost the average homeowner up to $200 a year.
. [: h& W2 K5 v# v, ^) A* `8 b2 a- x* Y- D: `) H
"There's no question costs are going up," said Coun. Michael Phair, who conceded the tax hike "may very well" be in the range predicted by Mandel.
t4 Q4 c% D# p0 b# @8 p ]% ?6 j; E& Y0 _* x
Coun. Ron Hayter said it's still very early in the process, and he cautioned against getting overly anxious at this point. ( s) l! H' J/ D' x( m" F+ w+ L4 }7 i6 _
! v& R7 c+ w$ f/ c( O" M
The draft budget does not come out until November. . b: |1 e& W0 g7 s0 _ ]; N3 y
5 z. ~+ {8 d, N$ W. k"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.
- Z; ~3 x; ?9 C% D! I T$ \7 W B! _
"It won't be as bad as some people are making it out."
8 H/ n& d, Y: [8 E+ J; g. C; j" }7 O" T/ y1 D
Maurer said income from investments and various financial strategies could offset a large hike.
1 g1 Y- y/ E+ _$ V- r( @' j
, T; m. p+ G+ y9 {However, he said there aren't really any city programs that could be cut in order to save a few bucks.
6 ^) Z" l7 ~" ?5 X: M! e* g5 h3 ?
"We've certainly got more demands," Maurer said, noting council still has to find money to fund an improved snow-clearing program. & Y I) E% `) T7 G! @
! B2 Y( J3 f* F, P2 P) h6 p& gScott Hennig, with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said there's no excuse for a double-digit tax increase. & Z0 C+ R$ ?/ l' ` v2 _- t, `
; j( o+ r6 V# o5 ^* ~9 Q) H4 OHe said hikes should be limited to inflation, which is pegged at 5% both this year and next, according to the city.
& N8 W2 e; @. P/ h9 H; A) C5 j$ b/ y6 {8 a
"They're going to hear from a lot of angry taxpayers if they're looking at 10%," Hennig said.
3 E7 ]* r/ ?1 @! y
. k" b1 d0 a) h1 V' X7 {9 c- Z. F"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."
. _% C( F* k4 I0 @- H' ~9 X& d5 O4 C- E+ k$ F8 C% p/ e# X: F
The average property tax bill in Edmonton will go up 4.95% this year, the city has said.
+ Y( c: \8 R- s+ J. Q" Y4 D1 x3 s) w8 I' Q( R/ A4 {
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.
6 a6 c( J8 t& E. H$ c: h$ O s l4 Z
. a% H" y. w& ?* w% _9 Q' E) K3 xTax 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
