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Mayor warns of 'scary' tax hike1 R' A8 S0 H" \$ g& B; h
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Think your property taxes are high now? You ain't seen nothing yet. 4 F/ B3 P+ e5 u* {+ ~- F
. z2 J+ M7 `% [/ s5 ?) eEdmontonians 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.
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! x( [$ @1 a/ m7 Q5 a. j. `/ i" h1 p"Looking at this we're talking an 8-10% tax increase," Mandel said in council chambers. # G3 X' v# q! ?( J; A
$ ?- ^( E' _4 aCity manager Al Maurer confirmed that Mandel's prediction was on the money, based on initial cost estimates
: o2 a$ Z4 Z: e/ }+ j# A"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 $200 a year. * p O) v. ?7 m7 }# A
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"There's no question costs are going up," said Coun. Michael Phair, who conceded the tax hike "may very well" be in the range predicted by Mandel. , a) R2 w9 w& _
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Coun. Ron Hayter said it's still very early in the process, and he cautioned against getting overly anxious at this point. 4 C8 ?! K# v3 ^6 I, B
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The draft budget does not come out until November. & m9 N6 H8 k H# o) x; s" n, P
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"I'm not looking for a major increase next year, at least not too much more than we've already approved for this year," Hayter said. " o1 }6 e/ @+ |5 V8 N+ j* f
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"It won't be as bad as some people are making it out." / ?1 a0 }# m8 G% w/ G0 Q$ D
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Maurer said income from investments and various financial strategies could offset a large hike. - U/ f, b S2 a# _" ] K
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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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2 O. C4 z: s' E5 X3 J"We've certainly got more demands," Maurer said, noting council still has to find money to fund an improved snow-clearing program. , m) }4 w! V5 }
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Scott Hennig, with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said there's no excuse for a double-digit tax increase.
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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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# j$ E+ `5 |! c3 w j"They're going to hear from a lot of angry taxpayers if they're looking at 10%," Hennig said. 6 l9 ]* J# j/ r# u S% K9 t
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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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+ o: \8 _, q! P* ?- [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. ; L' E I |0 Y
- M3 N" K- O! W5 L; s, T0 gTax 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
