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Mayor warns of 'scary' tax hike0 v, C H$ \ }7 d/ J2 O' s
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Think your property taxes are high now? You ain't seen nothing yet. + h* U `/ n6 X: N+ W$ Z
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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. 4 ]. v. U6 |5 A$ h; o
+ @5 V: |- M0 z0 P, D* iMandel 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.
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"Looking at this we're talking an 8-10% tax increase," Mandel said in council chambers. - }' h, k3 T |& D& s6 o9 o
) ] P$ I7 C7 |1 g! U3 B& T$ DCity manager Al Maurer confirmed that Mandel's prediction was on the money, based on initial cost estimates9 v J( ^' G' Q0 F. J/ X; Z4 ]
"Given the amount of it, it's going to be scary," the mayor said.
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A hike in that range could cost the average homeowner up to $200 a year. ; C' S" x& y* t, u0 U
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"There's no question costs are going up," said Coun. Michael Phair, who conceded the tax hike "may very well" be in the range predicted by Mandel. ) a; b0 D! y4 |" k1 V7 |- U, y3 I
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Coun. Ron Hayter said it's still very early in the process, and he cautioned against getting overly anxious at this point.
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The draft budget does not come out until November. 0 z5 l1 F/ b! E& I$ M
0 J7 Q8 K6 R% a2 B"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.
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"It won't be as bad as some people are making it out." ) j; g7 t: g' H) [, r v3 n" K" u
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Maurer said income from investments and various financial strategies could offset a large hike.
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' V1 [' u& V' C! g J% p# G& q0 PHowever, he said there aren't really any city programs that could be cut in order to save a few bucks. , Z1 i& U( O; l' X
0 P* M' D% t$ F5 d"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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D, F7 v8 ~! b% {Scott Hennig, with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said there's no excuse for a double-digit tax increase. 0 m! h# s) L1 w6 n4 S0 ]! B$ e, H& Z
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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. ) ]1 Z4 G6 o$ X) u3 F! F6 a
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"They're going to hear from a lot of angry taxpayers if they're looking at 10%," Hennig said. 6 J6 W+ P" g5 H8 @ b, T! u
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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. . f' @6 ~' E& ?) E$ l
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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 W; ~- m/ c: v4 S7 w4 \6 {5 F
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Tax 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
