Waterloo council has hiked city taxes again, this year by 2.2 per cent.
Taxes are increasing largely to pay rising wages and benefits for city employees. The increase, approved 8-0 Monday, adds $25 to the 2012 property taxes of an average home valued at $295,000. This includes a stormwater fee to manage runoff from rain.
Council last froze city taxes in 1997.
Politicians have budgeted for an increase of two per cent for employee compensation in 2012. No collective agreements have been finalized. Compensation accounts for 57 per cent of operational spending.
The budget adds 13 full-time jobs to the city payroll. The new salaries are paid by user fees and rates, rather than taxes. Halloran said the city desperately needs more staff, in part to avoid delaying development approvals.
Councillors are proud that Waterloo is not borrowing this year, after a past council indebted the city to build the RIM Park recreation complex.
Starting in 2013, council intends to consider budget recommendations from a citizens’ task force. These include: Better public presentation of city finances, a revised tax-setting strategy, a stronger emphasis on efficiency, a review of costly employee pensions, smarter budgeting to ensure proper maintenance and better long-term library planning.
City taxes make up one-third of the Waterloo tax bill. Regional government imposes half the taxes and the rest are provincial education taxes. Last year, an average home paid $1,170 in city taxes.
Council plans to hike city taxes 9.1 per cent over its four-year term ending in 2014. The previous council hiked city taxes 12.5 per cent over its term ending in 2010.
Waterloo increased water and sewer fees by more than six per cent this year. This adds $52 to an average water bill (excluding the stormwater fee).
Politicians are hiking rates to repair decaying pipes, safeguard clean water, upgrade sewage treatment and recover water sales lost to conservation.
How the municipalities compare
• Waterloo city council hiked its taxes 2.2 per cent.
• Regional council hiked its taxes 2.5 per cent.
• Kitchener city council hiked its taxes 2.4 per cent and its stormwater fee three per cent.
• Cambridge has not finalized its budget.
Same home, different taxes
A 2010 study found Waterloo residents pay among the highest property taxes in Ontario, in part because properties are highly valued. The study found:
• A detached Waterloo bungalow is taxed $3,328.
• A detached Kitchener bungalow (same home but valued less) is taxed $2,810.
• A detached Cambridge bungalow (same home but valued less) is taxed $2,798.
Taxes are increasing largely to pay rising wages and benefits for city employees. The increase, approved 8-0 Monday, adds $25 to the 2012 property taxes of an average home valued at $295,000. This includes a stormwater fee to manage runoff from rain.
Council last froze city taxes in 1997.
Politicians have budgeted for an increase of two per cent for employee compensation in 2012. No collective agreements have been finalized. Compensation accounts for 57 per cent of operational spending.
The budget adds 13 full-time jobs to the city payroll. The new salaries are paid by user fees and rates, rather than taxes. Halloran said the city desperately needs more staff, in part to avoid delaying development approvals.
Councillors are proud that Waterloo is not borrowing this year, after a past council indebted the city to build the RIM Park recreation complex.
Starting in 2013, council intends to consider budget recommendations from a citizens’ task force. These include: Better public presentation of city finances, a revised tax-setting strategy, a stronger emphasis on efficiency, a review of costly employee pensions, smarter budgeting to ensure proper maintenance and better long-term library planning.
City taxes make up one-third of the Waterloo tax bill. Regional government imposes half the taxes and the rest are provincial education taxes. Last year, an average home paid $1,170 in city taxes.
Council plans to hike city taxes 9.1 per cent over its four-year term ending in 2014. The previous council hiked city taxes 12.5 per cent over its term ending in 2010.
Waterloo increased water and sewer fees by more than six per cent this year. This adds $52 to an average water bill (excluding the stormwater fee).
Politicians are hiking rates to repair decaying pipes, safeguard clean water, upgrade sewage treatment and recover water sales lost to conservation.
How the municipalities compare
• Waterloo city council hiked its taxes 2.2 per cent.
• Regional council hiked its taxes 2.5 per cent.
• Kitchener city council hiked its taxes 2.4 per cent and its stormwater fee three per cent.
• Cambridge has not finalized its budget.
Same home, different taxes
A 2010 study found Waterloo residents pay among the highest property taxes in Ontario, in part because properties are highly valued. The study found:
• A detached Waterloo bungalow is taxed $3,328.
• A detached Kitchener bungalow (same home but valued less) is taxed $2,810.
• A detached Cambridge bungalow (same home but valued less) is taxed $2,798.
By Jeff Outhit, Record staff
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