The testing desire for taxes: Edmonton urges citizens to complete a survey

Key takeaways: 

• The previous council passed a 1.8 per cent property tax hike for 2022.
• The city started an online survey Monday, providing the public till Wednesday to offer feedback before the council starts to question the suggested working and capital allocations.

Edmonton residents asked to fill the survey: 

Before Edmonton’s current city council leaders into its initial budget assembly, the city is urging citizens for their information on a suggested 1.8 per cent tax hike in 2022. 

The city started an online survey Monday and is providing the public till Wednesday to offer feedback ere council starts discussing the suggested working and capital allocations. 

Council will learn from the public speakers on Nov. 29, ere starting to cut, tweak or change the offered $3 billion moving budget and $11 billion 2019-2022 capital budget. 

Of the recommended 1.8 tax hike, 0.7 per cent would go toward municipal services like transportation, supporting street lights, snow clearing, recreation facilities and parks. 

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Added 0.7 per cent is slated for the Edmonton cops, 0.3 per cent to road rehabilitation and 0.1 per cent to the Valley Line LRT.

The city record gives the average home would spend roughly 714 dollars in property taxes in 2022 on every $100,000 of the assessed amount of their home — a hike of $14 compared to 2021.

The study asks respondents whether they approve a tax increase that it states would support or develop programs and services. No tax increase or a tax reduction could end up contracting services and changing longer-term finances. 

The former council passed the four-year estimates for 2019-2022 but every spring and fall, administration offers changes, normally because of factors like rural or federal budgets, legislation adjustments, operating results of capital projects and unexpected alterations to economic projections.