3.5 per cent property tax, 7.4 per cent water rate increases possible in Sudbury 2018

Sudbury city council is considering a property tax hike between 2.5 and 3.5 per cent next year.

City staff say an increase is necessary just to maintain current services levels.

"To say when I look at a 3.5 per cent increase that I'm happy would be false," Coun. Al Sizer said on Tuesday at a finance and administration committee meeting.

"But I also live in a real world and realize services cost money and those costs are going up year after year."

In addition to the property tax jump, council may also rise the rate for water and wastewater by 7.4 per cent.

Getting 'full value' for tax dollars

"The people who I'm talking to are saying the 3.5 and the 7.4 really is like a 4.5 or 4.6 per cent overall increase in operating your home, and they're starting to say to me that's starting to get a little bit too much," Coun. Robert Kirwan said.

"The people who can afford the 4.5 per cent are saying I don't want it because I don't think I'm getting full value for what I'm paying already, and I think we've got a lot of issues that have to be dealt with in order to restore that trust level with the public."

Coun. Evelyn Dutrisac also spoke out against the proposed increases.

"Why not just leave it open and ask our staff to try to get a budget to two [per cent increase] if you can ... and lets look at the priorities,"Dutrisac said.

"The priorities I'm hearing outside of this room are roads."

But other city concillors, such as Fern Cormier, defended the need to raise taxes.

'Hoarding money' perception 'false'

"We can't do zero. That's silly," Cormier said.

"Every one understands there's a cost to doing business."

Over the next few months, staff will review the city's financial options to refine the budgets built around the tax and water rates.

They are expected to present a draft budget for council's approval later this year.

"The public perception is that every year we increase taxes, increase taxes and we're just sort of hoarding the money and not spending it accordingly," Coun. Mark Signoretti said.

"I don't think that's the case."