A report going to council’s executive committee next week proposes a 1.27 per cent tax increase over three years, to raise enough money to pay for a 25 year program to rehabilitate the network of back alleys in the city. The amount needed is $18 million a year.
“It’s a part of the road system that does different things,” said Coun. Tony Caterina.
Caterina strongly supported the idea when it was first proposed in April.
He said fixing up back alleys is needed city wide, however the old system of paying for it wasn’t very productive because individual home owners were reluctant to buy in.
“Just the challenge of getting a neighborhood or even a block to get that 60 per cent agreement to go ahead with the co-payment, it’s hit and miss. It’s difficult,” Caterina said.
A rough calculation, based on the 2016 example of a $401,000 so-called typical home, would see taxes go up in the $29-$30 range. No one from the city’s finance department was available to verify the numbers.
“Given the reaction we had when we first introduced the program at two per cent dedicated to neighborhood renewal there was virtually no push back whatsoever,” Caterina said. “People understood the need. They understood what the money was being used for.”
Caterina said one goal is to attract more infill in mature neighborhoods.
“Given the reaction we had when we first introduced the program at two per cent dedicated to neighborhood renewal there was virtually no push back whatsoever. People understood the need. They understood what the money was being used for.”
Executive committee meets Tuesday.
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