‘No wiggle room’: Councillor concerned with tax increases in Edmonton’s budget
Posted December 17, 2022 1:09 pm.
Last Updated December 17, 2022 1:17 pm.
A councillor who voted against Edmonton’s new capital and operating budgets is voicing his concern with some of the decisions made.
Property taxes in Edmonton are going up nearly five per cent annually for the next four years – one per cent higher than the city recommended.
- 4.96 per cent in 2023
- 4.96 per cent in 2024
- 4.95 per cent in 2025
- 4.39 per cent in 2026
The nearly $8-billion budget will go towards new bike lanes, the Valley Line West LRT, affordable housing, opioid preventions programing, and maintaining funding levels from last year for city services like road maintenance.
Five of the 13 city councillors voted against the operating budget, including Coun. Tim Cartmell.
“We’re virtually at our unconstrained debt limit until 2034, constrained debt limit until 2029,” he said. “So if we have something dramatic happen, there is no wiggle room.”
Cartmell voted against both budgets Friday. He says there’s not enough to warrant the 4.96 per cent increase.
Edmonton city council on Dec. 16, 2022. (Credit: CityNews/Bailey Nitti)
Cartmell says the cuts council made to regional transit – along with no new money for services like snow removal – make the budget a hard sell.
“We didn’t leave ourselves any wiggle room,” he said. “Our credit card is tapped. It’s tapped to build bike lanes.”
Budget struck a balance: Rutherford
But other councillors feel the budget – and the two weeks of intense debate – brought out exactly what democracy is all about.
“Overall the budget struck the balance between making sure we’re doing capital growth and renewal but also on the operating side, funding things Edmontonians rely on, need, and want to see us invest in,” said Coun. Erin Rutherford.
Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said the budget will “make life better for all Edmontonians.”
Sohi says his focus has been about affordability, and the budget ensures Edmontonians will see positive impacts.
“We are investing in mobility for all Edmontonians,” said Sohi. “People who drive, they will see better roads. People who bike, they will see a safer way to move around.”
WATCH: Edmonton budget and tax increases causing concern
Not prepared for the unexpected?
But Cartmell is concerned if the city needs to fund something unexpected.
“If that hypothetical comes through, then you’re sitting in a room saying ‘all right, what can we cut? What contracts can we get out? What haven’t we started yet?’ You’re sifting through your capital plan and looking for room.”
Along with Cartmell, councillors Jennifer Rice, Sarah Hamilton and Karen Principe also opposed the capital budget.
Cartmell, Rice, Hamilton, Principe and Andrew Knack opposed the operating budget.
