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Mayor warns of 'scary' tax hike
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/ h+ t, K2 s7 x# U% H h0 mThink your property taxes are high now? You ain't seen nothing yet. + N' r/ z8 L9 n7 U9 z/ o
. k( ?% G/ R* h5 @5 MEdmontonians 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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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. : p0 I( `: B. f2 ~( ^" P! }
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"Looking at this we're talking an 8-10% tax increase," Mandel said in council chambers.
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7 X* V6 ^7 }; \8 g& MCity manager Al Maurer confirmed that Mandel's prediction was on the money, based on initial cost estimates! }* i9 H" i! r- R! b% h
"Given the amount of it, it's going to be scary," the mayor said. / ~: y# z: w7 H
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A hike in that range could cost the average homeowner up to $200 a year.
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"There's no question costs are going up," said Coun. Michael Phair, who conceded the tax hike "may very well" be in the range predicted by Mandel. 0 A: |1 f& e5 W1 {
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Coun. Ron Hayter said it's still very early in the process, and he cautioned against getting overly anxious at this point. 5 D% F2 n m0 R! J( f$ M/ G. H
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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. ; s, y: n) B9 z3 I
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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. $ i7 K# e& J; t7 v9 O
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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.
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8 J" O4 P+ w( K' |! E. Z$ |. NScott Hennig, with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said there's no excuse for a double-digit tax increase. ! t' q2 I- r" H0 r1 a
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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. 8 L& _8 \, f* a+ {' U
2 I; z6 T6 n6 P- A: L! c"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. & I4 K! d- A: X" l- r
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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. . g2 i: ~5 h4 w( J7 p& I0 n1 l
& g+ h5 l5 K1 VTax 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
