3.9% tax increase proposed for 2016 in Sudbury
Sudbury city councillors tabled a $518 millionbudget for 2016 on Tuesday with a proposed 3.9 per cent tax increase.
Months of deliberationare expected before the budget is finalized. But if it were to pass as it stands now, households could pay $102more in property taxes for city services.
City council froze taxes last year, after pulling $6 millionfrom reserves to fulfilla municipal election promise for Mayor Brian Bigger. The majority of that money will be made back through attrition.
Bigger told CBC's Morning North that he only planned to freeze taxes for one year.
"I don't believe there's an expectation for zero per cent increase for the entire term," he said.
"In fact, I believe people understand that our costs are increasing."
'We don't start at zero'
Interim chief administrative officer Kevin Fowke added that,in situations like this, the city has to make up for what it's lost from the province.
"We don't start at zero, like you might with your family every year," he said.
"It's almost like your income is decreasing, and so you have to make up for that before you even start the exercise."
A tax increase is imminent if the city wants to position itself for growth and prosperity, said Coun.MikeJakubo, who is alsochair of the finance and administration committee.
About $106 millionis being set aside for infrastructure next year. Some of that money will pay for upgrades to Lorne Street and MR35, between Sudbury and Azilda, as well as the Maley Drive extension.
More than $4 million will be spent repairing local roads.
Budget deliberations will start in January and run until the spring of next year.