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Mayor warns of 'scary' tax hike
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6 X/ n( H: V0 e, G, B9 oThink your property taxes are high now? You ain't seen nothing yet.
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3 w1 E7 j: E) [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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3 `- l) z! X P yMandel 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. ; C; n+ W# Q3 U- O: s
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"Looking at this we're talking an 8-10% tax increase," Mandel said in council chambers. ' u; D" \; w2 S# u7 Y
. w' |) Z% u0 @3 NCity manager Al Maurer confirmed that Mandel's prediction was on the money, based on initial cost estimates
2 X- a' t6 U1 m"Given the amount of it, it's going to be scary," the mayor said. 0 U$ r& j! b6 k
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A hike in that range could cost the average homeowner up to $200 a year.
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( l- }! I! x. K"There's no question costs are going up," said Coun. Michael Phair, who conceded the tax hike "may very well" be in the range predicted by Mandel. ' J! U0 ~5 v7 I/ q. ~4 c& k
: f# P. p/ z7 c4 ?Coun. Ron Hayter said it's still very early in the process, and he cautioned against getting overly anxious at this point.
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The draft budget does not come out until November. + f$ x: Y% C: E1 M+ G
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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 J& o0 k9 ]) J6 o& D& d% A
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"It won't be as bad as some people are making it out."
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Maurer said income from investments and various financial strategies could offset a large hike.
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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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p0 v S6 P: J$ ["We've certainly got more demands," Maurer said, noting council still has to find money to fund an improved snow-clearing program. ' `: n' ^/ ~5 ^) _8 n8 M/ r
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Scott Hennig, with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said there's no excuse for a double-digit tax increase. , n6 d; ?$ S2 M/ E8 L
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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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* ^+ c" T! F. K, D& k; m$ L7 s"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.
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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. 4 D6 v$ n# A2 g
. H. d5 H0 c- }! G+ x1 _/ OTax 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
