CALGARY- The debate over next year’s property tax hike is underway at City Hall as councillors begin budget deliberations.
City administration is proposing a tax hike of 6.1 per cent, which would add $95 to the average property tax bill.
Mayor Nenshi has tabled his own proposal calling for a tax hike of 5.7 per cent, matching the cost of inflation and growth. He then suggests cutting spending to get the increase below 5 per cent.
The wild card in the debate is the $52 million from the province.
Mayor @nenshi's 2014 tax plan: start at 5.7% not 6.1%. Then use small cuts to get below 5%. Would not return $52 mill. #yyc @GlobalCalgary
— Reid Fiest (@ReidFiest) November 25, 2013Nenshi wants to spend it on flood repairs to city utilities in 2014, but other members of council want it returned to taxpayers.
Councillor Andre Chabot says the provincial money could be used to knock back the property tax increase to just 1 per cent.
Council has set aside five days for the budget debate.
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