3% tax hike pricey for seniors: Baldwin

It looks as though the city’s 2017 budget could impose a tax hike of three per cent.

It didn’t sit well with every councillor – some said it’s expensive, for some residents.

Nonetheless, councillors asked staff to start preparing the draft budget for 2017 with a three per cent tax increase in mind.

Of that three per cent tax increase, two per cent would be for operating costs and the typical construction projects the city undertakes every year.

The additional one per cent could help fund three key construction projects: the twin-pad arena at Trent University, the relocation of the public works yard and the urban park over the Louis St. parking lot.

Meanwhile, councillors won’t hammer out a budget until November. At that time, councillors will have ample opportunity to ask for changes to the budget.

For an average taxpayer with a house assessed at $233,500, a three per cent tax increase would add about $112 to the tax bill, the report states.

It would be expected to raise an extra $4.1 million for the city.

Coun. Gary Baldwin said he’s hearing from seniors in the city who say that once you add up condo fees and taxes, for instance, a 3% hike is pricey.

“I want people to know – the 2 per cent plus 1 per cent for capital is becoming more and more difficult for people,” he said.

But Mayor Daryl Bennett said the city’s average tax increase since 2005 has been 3.2 per cent.

Maintaining the city’s infrastructure is critical, he said. And so is maintaining services.

“The next decade is going to be challenging for us all, in terms of maintaining our human recources,” he said.

Coun. Henry Clarke, the city’s budget chairman, said he recognizes a hike is expensive for people.

“Three per cent – that’s tough on people,” he said. “I’m getting the calls, too.”

But he pointed out that council did agree on the three key construction projects mentioned earlier.

“Now it’s coming home to roost – we should pay for those projects,” he said.

Coun. Dan McWilliams said he, too, had concerns about charging people an extra 3 per cent.

“But I’m also very proud of what we’ve done for citizens,” he said. “When you want nice things, you have to pay for them.”