 鲜花( 0)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
Mayor warns of 'scary' tax hike
o/ z! Q$ S. f, K1 A/ f# n2 w8 x& r
Think your property taxes are high now? You ain't seen nothing yet.
$ R: R2 E- Q% P% Q b; p$ k' C/ V4 r
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. * x3 l/ x$ Q3 m' w x! C! f: u# W3 X
( w$ E! S J0 K6 h6 b* n9 V) g
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. % c$ Y# @4 D2 _- i0 R
' K) G: T. l3 [1 T- N3 w5 c
"Looking at this we're talking an 8-10% tax increase," Mandel said in council chambers. 4 w! W8 C& ~1 j2 d/ e/ v
: Z6 `$ i w: K8 O: DCity manager Al Maurer confirmed that Mandel's prediction was on the money, based on initial cost estimates
/ m9 a @. g# g f"Given the amount of it, it's going to be scary," the mayor said.
# H& c7 }- c8 j: r* B# D$ o2 }: }
* I6 B; M5 y* NA hike in that range could cost the average homeowner up to $200 a year. 7 J' ^, { F- w# L. e
% n$ v0 k. m0 h* @
"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.
0 U/ N* g9 O- l5 F+ M" M3 d' J8 Z( I& B* i
Coun. Ron Hayter said it's still very early in the process, and he cautioned against getting overly anxious at this point.
8 O5 ^, G! M/ p$ m% p% m9 \8 G) A1 O
The draft budget does not come out until November. . }% M: U/ [4 m9 Q1 \1 B. w' _# j
" K7 [2 a) y' N1 \+ {
"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.
* Z$ w( x/ y9 ~0 v8 y: [6 [* I, w) t4 l) Q6 d% n! W1 w( \
"It won't be as bad as some people are making it out." + w' _0 {4 M- R# C
% f, g- T9 ^7 \
Maurer said income from investments and various financial strategies could offset a large hike.
4 q; b+ r) o" J* T% h( g
9 F5 [# D1 o1 P; D8 mHowever, he said there aren't really any city programs that could be cut in order to save a few bucks. ( k6 ]$ u3 x( V; z& E
' j( {4 p, [9 K) X8 W"We've certainly got more demands," Maurer said, noting council still has to find money to fund an improved snow-clearing program.
% g+ j5 l* Y3 m+ B1 B8 w( r+ g% _+ R" g+ T% i
Scott Hennig, with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said there's no excuse for a double-digit tax increase. ) O9 x3 a- s' \, _
6 ~+ e; o2 w3 D- y3 D) hHe said hikes should be limited to inflation, which is pegged at 5% both this year and next, according to the city. ) ?; u; B* l- t0 v
; |" Z4 A# [% @9 A"They're going to hear from a lot of angry taxpayers if they're looking at 10%," Hennig said.
# C* z& E0 [' i6 m# V5 E: P
2 l2 X( {2 _. F"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."
* k! P6 C9 @0 s+ C" o( ]
; S: E, g; ]0 L9 b6 HThe average property tax bill in Edmonton will go up 4.95% this year, the city has said. 9 u w& ^, v! V e
0 N+ X9 _- R6 ?; x) ]
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. ; K! B$ b9 W. x8 m
1 A/ U2 t6 w* Q; f2 }. O1 {Tax bills will be mailed May 25 and payments are due June 30. |
|
狗仔卡
发表于 2007-5-9 22:25
提升卡
置顶卡
沉默卡
喧嚣卡
变色卡
显身卡
发表于 2007-5-10 11:37
