 鲜花( 0)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
Mayor warns of 'scary' tax hike7 x8 G3 d/ G+ W: [$ k+ ~0 t+ \6 P
* ]6 ~& w% s( P+ X
Think your property taxes are high now? You ain't seen nothing yet.
2 }* A2 P1 u% {' ^- }6 i
x" j! A9 E, J5 d+ C# A" m3 |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.
S; s7 u/ e' S# n
4 ?2 w3 K- w. C/ L g7 e' \$ RMandel 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 e' j* r& c' K$ }5 F: {+ d" X
" V i/ A: a6 f3 H
"Looking at this we're talking an 8-10% tax increase," Mandel said in council chambers.
* F" \/ c5 M- D: n$ I5 \/ Y, F$ n
City manager Al Maurer confirmed that Mandel's prediction was on the money, based on initial cost estimates+ V Y9 F7 j; f4 h8 p6 l
"Given the amount of it, it's going to be scary," the mayor said. : }: N) j5 d! j2 b+ a+ r
% c0 A! }/ x4 E8 W4 b i
A hike in that range could cost the average homeowner up to $200 a year. . I9 Y. A% O+ o; y% B7 z
6 p; \& @7 _. p) _
"There's no question costs are going up," said Coun. Michael Phair, who conceded the tax hike "may very well" be in the range predicted by Mandel. 3 D, Y, T& Y% E) s7 b" s7 u
" I4 j' L$ z) r3 m, K: \Coun. Ron Hayter said it's still very early in the process, and he cautioned against getting overly anxious at this point. / [4 b `$ V0 e t7 I3 X
: u8 G% d1 x/ _) k0 a/ rThe draft budget does not come out until November.
- J2 x+ X1 d J4 l4 d7 @. K0 B+ L; e6 I1 I( Q8 W
"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.
" k0 e7 P: N6 @+ b3 M% B
! h" M4 K/ j0 B"It won't be as bad as some people are making it out." $ A; {( A% G5 @- [% J* q! B; Y
' E0 C8 s, ?7 c: w4 Q3 G6 V& p8 w9 \
Maurer said income from investments and various financial strategies could offset a large hike.
4 w3 Y; S( h, K! f$ x
* I N( g0 @! M4 N+ vHowever, he said there aren't really any city programs that could be cut in order to save a few bucks.
: i1 q5 u7 m# t: a0 t$ V" @9 S0 ~5 ~& r* k+ ]8 w7 x
"We've certainly got more demands," Maurer said, noting council still has to find money to fund an improved snow-clearing program. 1 b9 W" m! t. u; r. h! }6 L" t
[2 f' e8 y- H6 ?8 [2 t. LScott Hennig, with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said there's no excuse for a double-digit tax increase.
7 l! Y2 w& v; s+ S B; r" B- w m7 k) [ |
8 F7 L( f8 ]6 e2 y: f0 tHe said hikes should be limited to inflation, which is pegged at 5% both this year and next, according to the city.
( P2 j9 _5 B6 Z- B; u! ]
6 i# X4 Y4 m5 |* F9 L1 M"They're going to hear from a lot of angry taxpayers if they're looking at 10%," Hennig said.
4 U$ s* ?1 Q' Z* \9 O
7 l3 l7 }+ _6 Q" @- C( C5 O0 e"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 u, l2 R1 y3 l$ ]8 T
+ I8 r, u8 s3 o4 f' T5 o4 _7 EThe average property tax bill in Edmonton will go up 4.95% this year, the city has said.
3 [" j9 d% M, o2 V! N1 M: A4 g1 b2 m- r; z
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. / [! ]$ O9 b. S o4 }
6 Z0 }1 ~. h8 G) r# p+ t& DTax 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
