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Mayor warns of 'scary' tax hike1 F0 v# J1 M2 O, y( i
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Think 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. # d4 G+ m# j. a3 C- I, z l
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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. 6 ^ B2 v/ S" w) N, ~0 U
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City manager Al Maurer confirmed that Mandel's prediction was on the money, based on initial cost estimates
2 C. u. S2 b1 o7 H! R: X; {% ?4 S3 d"Given the amount of it, it's going to be scary," the mayor said. . Q' k8 C* E5 R* b e* @8 F
* ]9 B& Q: _- W4 V fA hike in that range could cost the average homeowner up to $200 a year.
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/ f) K- k% b1 c3 q3 Y"There's no question costs are going up," said Coun. Michael Phair, who conceded the tax hike "may very well" be in the range predicted by Mandel. 7 O2 R' [& z6 S7 D$ z2 Z
2 q, ?. x. |) Z$ p- M( H8 f/ K( NCoun. Ron Hayter said it's still very early in the process, and he cautioned against getting overly anxious at this point. % G) }: r \# I3 f9 F+ a2 N
2 ^( e9 M8 g' I2 xThe draft budget does not come out until November. 1 X0 t5 u& f5 m3 j
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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. 5 `; V4 _9 T0 c2 K: C
, _- U3 x4 \7 M, h, J/ G- P& Z"It won't be as bad as some people are making it out." * K, h$ z1 y; p1 I' Q
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Maurer said income from investments and various financial strategies could offset a large hike.
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6 @5 C" ]/ w7 D0 X ?& rHowever, 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. 3 g0 a$ w7 x- R. X
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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. 6 D5 W8 E- }" R6 o
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"They're going to hear from a lot of angry taxpayers if they're looking at 10%," Hennig said. : M! V- c4 ]( Z7 j! c
1 F/ Q0 D1 Q/ z& G# r. Q% P) I"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.
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8 v R5 }2 P6 ~8 ~' C* M; r2 rThe 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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' ?$ C. b5 ]% q& _. eTax 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
