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Mayor warns of 'scary' tax hike
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; o6 X$ Z! I7 R$ m& {4 |Think your property taxes are high now? You ain't seen nothing yet. : g" D; [+ N. a: c, f8 W5 K3 y
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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. + m, q2 z5 p; q; A
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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. : {, ]1 @5 h5 {8 j% {2 x1 d
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"Looking at this we're talking an 8-10% tax increase," Mandel said in council chambers. $ n9 j7 z8 J& D3 \ {% H
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City manager Al Maurer confirmed that Mandel's prediction was on the money, based on initial cost estimates ~! g% N7 B6 |* |/ f
"Given the amount of it, it's going to be scary," the mayor said. 9 Z% f8 z( Z7 m) g$ y" K
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A hike in that range could cost the average homeowner up to $200 a year.
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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. ) ^2 T0 d/ v. `7 G2 R, q, D! b9 w. z
; U6 i% C) x7 I3 }' zCoun. Ron Hayter said it's still very early in the process, and he cautioned against getting overly anxious at this point. $ y; g+ G8 x3 _3 e; }
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The 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. 7 Z( O" ^2 r( l/ K
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"It won't be as bad as some people are making it out." 7 R3 u% l# O+ o, q( n
% R( d+ ]/ A/ d) H. jMaurer said income from investments and various financial strategies could offset a large hike. 0 s5 D! d* x) {8 ?. j
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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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"We've certainly got more demands," Maurer said, noting council still has to find money to fund an improved snow-clearing program. ! M9 P8 V+ U2 y. D7 X( x( e
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Scott Hennig, with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said there's no excuse for a double-digit tax increase. 3 `. |$ w" c4 S) _: E1 n7 K) m
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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. * Q/ G* y( ]6 m+ A
7 }* @& L: S6 x7 P3 x" e"They're going to hear from a lot of angry taxpayers if they're looking at 10%," Hennig said.
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) n' a; u( \9 O2 h8 ]9 v"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." - I$ v% r8 \, b
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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. + M, R% M9 Y( \2 R4 @
- o! ]! P( p. GTax 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
