 鲜花( 0)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
Mayor warns of 'scary' tax hike
K* E( H% `' {- q5 [# o! M: J! R7 m* g( B
Think your property taxes are high now? You ain't seen nothing yet. 1 S3 _: g: B" K& J
, f0 Q+ M. p1 r( {$ PEdmontonians 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.
6 f! i7 J+ \6 j' |& \( p1 H2 H4 M6 u
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.
) L8 D0 z& g1 ?" Z6 p, ^
: M9 I+ S6 \& Q, @/ |1 \"Looking at this we're talking an 8-10% tax increase," Mandel said in council chambers. `' z2 Q1 b/ {0 F( p. Q" P
0 {- A1 z) h$ M+ P% m* ECity manager Al Maurer confirmed that Mandel's prediction was on the money, based on initial cost estimates
o6 |5 f1 D% r"Given the amount of it, it's going to be scary," the mayor said.
/ I- S1 k8 ~$ V$ A& ]" A. f' m* b2 R, S0 B( J+ h" k
A hike in that range could cost the average homeowner up to $200 a year. - N' x7 x1 C7 ~" ]
: ]4 i: J$ U4 ^5 f+ Q"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.
4 \( d9 {4 R% L* v5 b4 D9 c
+ R/ K, d* s) LCoun. Ron Hayter said it's still very early in the process, and he cautioned against getting overly anxious at this point. * a( j @) c; c" `" u
$ f0 b) r' T+ f8 hThe draft budget does not come out until November. + a9 l2 z+ h; v; p9 i! C+ t" D
' q' E8 J# V r" P m: Q- u. y# d"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. " c7 z+ m! r$ F" `1 Z+ G
" T- Z2 t+ S Y" {3 R# S( i"It won't be as bad as some people are making it out."
5 p, N+ B! i( b4 M" o9 l9 Z0 _6 Y: u" P* p+ Q
Maurer said income from investments and various financial strategies could offset a large hike.
! P6 }& u: b. a/ j: H2 M. f9 v# {1 s; F& F% U6 p$ @
However, he said there aren't really any city programs that could be cut in order to save a few bucks.
0 [8 X9 X" s; m' X' B8 C$ y# y# T
"We've certainly got more demands," Maurer said, noting council still has to find money to fund an improved snow-clearing program.
- z# E+ K5 H" Z, H8 ]% J
G2 Z2 W' R8 T# z6 E6 zScott Hennig, with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said there's no excuse for a double-digit tax increase.
: \6 d& t5 M, m3 P5 Z
0 M. v5 H: w6 r; H! p5 ZHe said hikes should be limited to inflation, which is pegged at 5% both this year and next, according to the city. 2 D2 x& `0 q$ X2 P. b
" l* k4 Y3 f4 u" a3 T7 Y: i% L"They're going to hear from a lot of angry taxpayers if they're looking at 10%," Hennig said. $ ]0 s/ L7 m2 F! H
6 H" W( y' Q# a! G: N5 i" x9 P"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." - n; Q6 c, O2 d: h, o2 F
" Q$ F( ~# I. d1 ^5 N: _! x
The average property tax bill in Edmonton will go up 4.95% this year, the city has said.
3 O3 T3 @& z# w+ l( k2 b1 N% w6 t) O3 ?/ P
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 e" {' T6 q0 \0 o8 D; \( E
' Z# K7 X( q# l1 lTax 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
