Edmontonians react to potential 6.4% property tax increase

As the Edmonton city councillors are set to debate the proposed 6.4 percent property tax increase, the move draws a mixed reaction from Edmontonians.

Mayor Andrew Knack says the property tax increase is needed to keep up with a growing city – and to make up for years when there were no property tax increases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 “A lot of this is actually just trying to catch up on a very rapid population growth that we’ve seen over the last four years.” Knack said. “Similarly, not even keeping up with inflationary pressures through that last four-year cycle.”

Edmontonians say they’re willing to pay more for better city services… the city says this budget.. is just about keeping things the same.

Edmontonian Cory Seibel says,  “It hurts a little bit,  but if it’s going up for reasons that are actually going to be of benefit to the community-at-large, then sometimes we do have to absorb it as long as those resources are being used responsibly.”

While some homeowners in the Highlands neighbourhood say they won’t mind paying more as long as the money is well-spent, others don’t feel they’re getting the best bang for their property tax buck.

Larry Syrayk  says, “Building these wide sidewalks, where they don’t need them — in residential areas where they say they’re doing upgrades. Just put in the regular sidewalks that are in there right now, because no one is on them.”

Knack says room for big changes come next year during the four-year budget debates.

But for now, when councillors debate property taxes in December, they will have tough choices around city service standards.

“Do you want to fund that service to the level that you said you wanted to provide or do you want to reduce the service level to match the budget?” Knack said. “That’s what we’re facing right now.”

Other Edmontonians say while they want to maintain the current standards of city services, the thought of a property tax hike has them worried about buying a house.

A Churchill resident said, “I’m thinking to buy it, but this information has scared me. So I don’t think so. Nobody has the potential to pay more.”

City council will debate the budget the first week of December.