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Municipal Politics

globalnews.ca

8.7 % tax increase recommended to meet Edmonton’s 2024 operating budget - Edmonton | Globalnews.ca

The city's spring operating budget adjustment recommends a 8.7 per cent tax increase for 2024 — an additional 2.1 per cent increase than what was approved in November 2023.
globalnews.ca globalnews.ca

edmonton.ctvnews.ca

Budget adjustment report recommends city further hike 2024 property tax increase by 2.1% to 8.7%

City of Edmonton administration is recommending in a report released Thursday that property taxes rise by 8.7 per cent for 2024, an increase of 2.1 per cent from the 6.6 per cent hike city council approved in December.
edmonton.ctvnews.ca edmonton.ctvnews.ca
 
CSU 52 basically got what they wanted, which Corbold forewarned Council would add an additional 2.5% to 2024 and 2% to 2025. What was just released was 2.1%, so it's mostly related to CSU 52 agreement. Media reported on this during the negotiations so I'm not sure why these two articles didn't mention that.
 
Greenspace said:
CSU 52 basically got what they wanted, which Corbold forewarned Council would add an additional 2.5% to 2024 and 2% to 2025. What was just released was 2.1%, so it's mostly related to CSU 52 agreement. Media reported on this during the negotiations so I'm not sure why these two articles didn't mention that.
Click to expand...

Narrative council is pushing, or at least a few, is there wouldnt be a tax increase if province didnt shortchange city on at least a half dozen different spending items.
 
TAS said:
Narrative council is pushing, or at least a few, is there wouldnt be a tax increase if province didnt shortchange city on at least a half dozen different spending items.
Click to expand...
It could prove to be popular. This coming in on the heels of the municipal parties, provincial gatekeeping of municipal funds and general Danielle Smith antics could deflect popular anger in that direction, if they hammer that point home.
 
Sooo…

It now looks like our property taxes in Edmonton will go up 8.7% this year, 7% next year and 6 7% the year after.

23.75% in 3 years!

Imagine the uproar if income taxes or sales taxes or carbon taxes were to escalate at that pace…
 
TAS said:
Narrative council is pushing, or at least a few, is there wouldnt be a tax increase if province didnt shortchange city on at least a half dozen different spending items.
Click to expand...
It's hard to say if this will be successful or not. Province doesn't have to do anything it doesn't want to unfortunately. Not saying it's fair but you have to work within the framework you've got. Andre was telling them in 2022 you needed to factor in wages going up, Council told him to take it out.

So they knew this was coming and now they are finding politically expedient ways to shift the blame. Maybe that's just politics, but taxpayers aren't gonna really know why they're paying this much.
 
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Greenspace said:
It's hard to say if this will be successful or not. Province doesn't have to do anything it doesn't want to unfortunately. Not saying it's fair but you have to work within the framework you've got. Andre was telling them in 2022 you needed to factor in wages going up, Council told him to take it out.

So they knew this was coming and now they are finding politically expedient ways to shift the blame. Maybe that's just politics, but taxpayers aren't gonna really know why they're paying this much.
Click to expand...
Voters are going to hold the City of Edmonton accountable for increases on bills that prominently say City of Edmonton on them. Surely even politicians can understand that.

I also agree there was some kicking the can down the road related to wage increases. They knew this was coming, it should not have been a surprise to any competent management.
 
A significant amount of Calgary's surplus is from electricity fees, something almost $200 million. I don't think it's a fair comparison to make tbh

edmonton.ctvnews.ca

Province announces changes to lower utility bills in Calgary, but no relief for Edmonton customers

The Alberta government is changing existing legislation to lower utility bills in Calgary.
edmonton.ctvnews.ca edmonton.ctvnews.ca

"Thanks to Calgary's formula, relying on the variable default electricity rate. This led to the City of Calgary collecting $303 million in revenue from local access fees, which is a surplus of $186 million more in these fees being collected by the city than they budgeted," said Nathan Neudorf, minister of affordability and utilities.
Click to expand...

$270 in access fees in Calgary compared to $75 in Edmonton for 2023 is stupid insane.
 
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