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Mayor warns of 'scary' tax hike
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, q' U4 R+ G0 w6 k& F( [Think your property taxes are high now? You ain't seen nothing yet. 1 H7 V& W1 f" |4 |
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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. 1 _8 B* o6 |; W2 s/ \8 A8 K
5 `& ~/ y I+ Y' h; T: p. X: _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. 8 y8 k9 S! r+ s1 g6 B
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"Looking at this we're talking an 8-10% tax increase," Mandel said in council chambers. 7 y# s9 [; T* P# L" G
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City manager Al Maurer confirmed that Mandel's prediction was on the money, based on initial cost estimates+ F2 m0 W5 q0 ^4 b* e% l
"Given the amount of it, it's going to be scary," the mayor said.
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& z% C/ L$ H. |3 ]1 FA hike in that range could cost the average homeowner up to $200 a year. 0 V& r* _- ^9 U4 B
" i% h2 j# n" G+ A8 G9 |* F2 k# ~0 }"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.
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( W1 o2 d' p" UCoun. Ron Hayter said it's still very early in the process, and he cautioned against getting overly anxious at this point. 7 _* q. {: w* Z B' ^- J
+ R) d; n+ n4 v+ bThe draft budget does not come out until November.
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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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"It won't be as bad as some people are making it out." + {. h% V: M. }) J( n# a
" w8 @ Z e+ u% |Maurer said income from investments and various financial strategies could offset a large hike. , E5 J u: t! C2 P! ?+ E- a/ ~
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However, he said there aren't really any city programs that could be cut in order to save a few bucks.
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& g0 O2 {& o) i' m"We've certainly got more demands," Maurer said, noting council still has to find money to fund an improved snow-clearing program. * k6 [, R! M1 C
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Scott Hennig, with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said there's no excuse for a double-digit tax increase. * _8 j' I, h+ O( X' G
" A' L, n# x" R5 _0 UHe 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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6 S' B6 O/ V4 o! ?1 Q; k5 C: 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." / C' h1 q9 k# u e
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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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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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7 y3 C4 M) C- D7 uTax 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
