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Mayor warns of 'scary' tax hike
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8 R- c' X7 s: _ b4 Z. B" g+ R- TThink your property taxes are high now? You ain't seen nothing yet. 7 w1 z0 }& g- Q6 e& 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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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.
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"Looking at this we're talking an 8-10% tax increase," Mandel said in council chambers. ) T( t( d; o/ d. l( R
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City manager Al Maurer confirmed that Mandel's prediction was on the money, based on initial cost estimates
" t1 h6 Z1 V% v$ U"Given the amount of it, it's going to be scary," the mayor said. + G# o4 T2 ]" L9 F3 R( e& x1 g
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A hike in that range could cost the average homeowner up to $200 a year. ' y( @* V. f" _# \+ |4 F) }
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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. 6 f0 H( a* S( u, w- H4 l: f5 i
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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. 3 y( D3 ?% N, f
8 O G7 q4 ?5 F/ n/ AThe draft budget does not come out until November. , o( [# ]3 j. ?# D- H
. B- E6 b4 |9 o9 ], o/ A3 ~"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. & I9 u5 Z4 b) B- ~ b2 Y% m M
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"It won't be as bad as some people are making it out." 8 i' p5 T8 U1 @# q) g6 k
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Maurer said income from investments and various financial strategies could offset a large hike.
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. W4 g1 @# @5 l3 o( W) n" S2 aHowever, he said there aren't really any city programs that could be cut in order to save a few bucks.
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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. ( N: h% H, L% \
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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."
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The average property tax bill in Edmonton will go up 4.95% this year, the city has said. / m, Q: B/ L# m; B
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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. / }* k8 i% q0 F, Z6 I# d0 P' F
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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
