Mayor Olivia Chow to hit homeowners with 6.9% property tax increase

[spaminator]

Mayor Olivia Chow to hit homeowners with 6.9% property tax increase
'The 2025 budget will mean change in Torontonians’ lives today,' the mayor said in a statement

Author of the article:Jane Stevenson
Published Jan 13, 2025 • Last updated 2 days ago • 2 minute read

The city is targeting homeowners with a 6.9% property tax hike, as Mayor Olivia Chow stressed the need to improve municipal services.

The city is targeting homeowners with a 6.9% property tax hike, as Mayor Olivia Chow stressed the need to freeze TTC fares, hire more cops, feed more school kids, and make other improvements.

This year’s proposed hike — which would add $268 to the property tax bill levied on a dwelling assessed at $692,000 — comes on the heels of a 9.5% increase approved in last year’s budget.

“The 2025 budget will mean change in Torontonians’ lives today,” Chow insisted Monday.

“Change means libraries open seven days a week, transit fares frozen while TTC service increases, thousands more kids fed meals at school and summer camps, pools open sooner and longer,” she said, adding the financial plan will also see “renovictions prevented by taking housing off the market and more support for tenants. Traffic agents to keep Toronto moving. Emergency responders arriving sooner when you need them most.”

The tax hike comprises a 5.4% increase to support Toronto’s $18.8-billion operating budget, plus a 1.5% boost to the building levy for capital expenditures on transit and housing.

The proposed budget, which goes to city council for approval on Feb. 1, includes 276 new emergency service positions: 95 paramedics, 52 firefighters, and 109 police officers.

Critics complained the city is hitting homeowners in the pocketbook at a time when they’re coping with ever-rising living costs.


“It’s significant at a time when the city has never been more expensive to live in,” Councillor Brad Bradford told reporters at City Hall.

“I think a lot of folks are concerned about their grocery bill, they’re concerned about putting fuel in the tank. We’ve got incoming tariffs with the new Trump administration, so things in Canada could get a lot more expensive.

“The only thing that we can control at City Hall is the biggest bill that you pay every year, which is your property tax bill, and yet this year the mayor comes forward with one that is triple the rate of inflation. I think that’s going to be concerning for a lot of Torontonians.”

Councillor Jon Burnside described the 2025 financial blueprint as the “mayor’s budget,” saying it reflects the Chow’s priorities and the generous contracts awarded to civic employees.

“Let’s look at the TTC contract,” said Burnside. “Love TTC employees, but by their own leadership’s account, it was a groundbreaking contract and one of a kind, and we are giving out those types of contracts that then sets the stage for other city unions, such our (CUPE) Local(s) 416 and 79. You’re setting yourself up for a really bad budget season.”

Noting that every 1% increase generates $46.4 million annually, city officials said tying the increase to the inflation rate would have a significant impact on the city’s finances.

With the city facing a $1.2-billion budget shortfall in 2025, CFO Stephen Conforti said this year’s 6.9% property tax increase will generate $320 million annually.

jstevenson@postmedia.com

Mayor Olivia Chow to hit homeowners with 6.9% property tax increase

The city is targeting homeowners with a 6.9% property tax hike, as Mayor Olivia Chow stressed the need to improve municipal services.

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

Mayor Olivia Chow to hit homeowners with 6.9% property tax increase
'The 2025 budget will mean change in Torontonians’ lives today,' the mayor said in a statement

Author of the article:Jane Stevenson
Published Jan 13, 2025 • Last updated 2 days ago • 2 minute read

The city is targeting homeowners with a 6.9% property tax hike, as Mayor Olivia Chow stressed the need to improve municipal services.

The city is targeting homeowners with a 6.9% property tax hike, as Mayor Olivia Chow stressed the need to freeze TTC fares, hire more cops, feed more school kids, and make other improvements.

This year’s proposed hike — which would add $268 to the property tax bill levied on a dwelling assessed at $692,000 — comes on the heels of a 9.5% increase approved in last year’s budget.

“The 2025 budget will mean change in Torontonians’ lives today,” Chow insisted Monday.

“Change means libraries open seven days a week, transit fares frozen while TTC service increases, thousands more kids fed meals at school and summer camps, pools open sooner and longer,” she said, adding the financial plan will also see “renovictions prevented by taking housing off the market and more support for tenants. Traffic agents to keep Toronto moving. Emergency responders arriving sooner when you need them most.”

The tax hike comprises a 5.4% increase to support Toronto’s $18.8-billion operating budget, plus a 1.5% boost to the building levy for capital expenditures on transit and housing.

The proposed budget, which goes to city council for approval on Feb. 1, includes 276 new emergency service positions: 95 paramedics, 52 firefighters, and 109 police officers.

Critics complained the city is hitting homeowners in the pocketbook at a time when they’re coping with ever-rising living costs.


“It’s significant at a time when the city has never been more expensive to live in,” Councillor Brad Bradford told reporters at City Hall.

“I think a lot of folks are concerned about their grocery bill, they’re concerned about putting fuel in the tank. We’ve got incoming tariffs with the new Trump administration, so things in Canada could get a lot more expensive.

“The only thing that we can control at City Hall is the biggest bill that you pay every year, which is your property tax bill, and yet this year the mayor comes forward with one that is triple the rate of inflation. I think that’s going to be concerning for a lot of Torontonians.”

Councillor Jon Burnside described the 2025 financial blueprint as the “mayor’s budget,” saying it reflects the Chow’s priorities and the generous contracts awarded to civic employees.

“Let’s look at the TTC contract,” said Burnside. “Love TTC employees, but by their own leadership’s account, it was a groundbreaking contract and one of a kind, and we are giving out those types of contracts that then sets the stage for other city unions, such our (CUPE) Local(s) 416 and 79. You’re setting yourself up for a really bad budget season.”

Noting that every 1% increase generates $46.4 million annually, city officials said tying the increase to the inflation rate would have a significant impact on the city’s finances.

With the city facing a $1.2-billion budget shortfall in 2025, CFO Stephen Conforti said this year’s 6.9% property tax increase will generate $320 million annually.

jstevenson@postmedia.com

Mayor Olivia Chow to hit homeowners with 6.9% property tax increase

The city is targeting homeowners with a 6.9% property tax hike, as Mayor Olivia Chow stressed the need to improve municipal services.

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

Toronto Mayor Chow's tax hike will 'hurt the middle class,' critics say
Author of the articleostmedia News
Published Jan 13, 2025 • Last updated 2 days ago • 2 minute read

Olivia Chow’s planned tax hike has some social media users proposing she take a hike – straight out of the mayor’s office.


Toronto’s mayor is calling for a property tax increase of 6.9% this year to offset its $18.8-billion operating budget for 2025. The proposal includes a tax increase of 5.4% on residential properties, as well as an additional 1.5% increase in building levy fees.

Last year, the city increased residential property taxes by 9.5% — the largest hike since Toronto amalgamation in 1998. If this year’s budget is approved as is, the city’s tax hikes will add up to 24% since 2023.

The latest proposed hike isn’t sitting well with some at a time when regular folks are struggling to pay rent and put food on the table.



“A 7% property tax hike will create chaos and will hurt the middle class,” one commentor said on social-media site X. “Chow should consider stepping down.”


“Toronto imposes a staggering 6.9% property tax hike – yet another example of government incompetence and reckless densification policies,” another commentor said on X. “This relentless drive for more people, more tax revenue, and inevitable tax increases shows how out of touch these elected officials are. Such a significant tax increase should go to a legally binding referendum. It’s time for mass protests to hold these political cowards accountable.”



“City Hall has been (mismanaging) taxpayers’ money for so many years,” another X user said. “#Toronto is becoming a dump — @oliviachow must go! Time to move out of the city!”



Said one other X user: “Toronto residents are getting what they deserve for electing an incompetent NDP mayor that like all NDP types knows only one thing, spend and tax.”

Chow said on Monday the budget aims to feed thousands more students through school programs, while improving transit services and boosting emergency services.

Additionally, she said, the budget would aim to extend library and outdoor pool hours across the city.

Chow must formally table her budget by Feb. 1 and then it goes to council on Feb. 11.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1878899167369818213

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1878858340559966386

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1878860719661162761

Toronto Mayor Chow's tax hike will 'hurt the middle class,' critics say

Olivia Chow’s planned tax hike has some social media users proposing she take a hike – straight out of the mayor’s office.

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

Over the last four years, Toronto taxes are up almost 30%
Despite mayor and budget chief claiming underinvestment, tax hikes are well above the rate of inflation.


Author of the article:Brian Lilley
Published Jan 13, 2025 • Last updated 2 days ago • 3 minute read

Toronto's mayors looks for another big tax hike resulting in massive hikes over the last four years.
Toronto's mayors looks for another big tax hike resulting in massive hikes over the last four years.
Inflation in Canada might be back down below 3%, but at Toronto City Hall, they haven’t gotten the memo. Mayor Olivia Chow and her hand-picked budget chief, Shelley Carroll, announced a combined tax hike for homeowners of 6.9%.


That’s 5.4% for the property tax increase, plus 1.5% for the city building fund.

“The 2025 budget will mean change in Torontonians’ lives,” Chow exclaimed while presenting the budget.

Yes, it will change how much money residents of Toronto are paying for a city that no longer works. As my colleague Jane Stevenson pointed out, this equates to an annual increase of just $268 for the average “dwelling” assessed at $692,000.

Of course, looking at real estate today in Toronto, you can’t buy much of a condo for that amount. If you have a single-family home, heaven forbid with a few bedrooms and a garage, expect to pay more.

The worst part is that this year’s 6.9% tax hike comes on top of last year’s 9.5% tax hike. Those tax hikes come on top of the 7% increase in 2023 and seemingly reasonable 2.9% tax hike in 2022.


Thanks to the wonders of compounding, that works out to a tax hike of 29.5% over the last four years. Councillor Brad Bradford was quick to point out that the quality of services are not increasing at the same rate as municipal taxes.

“Crime is up, congestion is up, it’s never been more expensive to live here, it’s harder to get around the city,” Bradford said. “Affordability is obviously not the priority of Mayor Chow and this administration.”


Chow and Carroll were flanked by TTC workers, first responders and other city workers as they made their announcement on the budget. She promised the tax hike would mean more libraries open, a freeze on transit fares, more pools open in the summer, and better housing options.

It all sounds wonderful but consider me skeptical.

We’ve had a tax hike of 29.5% over the last four years and to compare that to inflation, we would need to go back to 2014. Yes, we are seeing tax hikes of 29.5% over four years, but according to the Bank of Canada Inflation Calculator, prices have only risen 29% since 2014 when Rob Ford was still mayor.

Does anyone think the city is running better than a decade ago?



Toronto can’t get the basic services right. We can’t collect the garbage properly and keep the streets clean.

Over the last year or so I have visited Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Palm Springs, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and cities across Canada, and none are as filthy and disgusting as Toronto. Despite huge tax increases over the last several years, we can’t get the basics right in Toronto.

Toronto is dirty, it stinks of pot on far too many street corners, there are homeless encampments that can only be rivaled by Los Angeles. Nowhere stinks of pot quite like Toronto, even in areas where it is legal.

“Toronto is still recovering from over a decade of underinvestment, which left us vulnerable to face the challenges we face today,” Carroll said.

Really?

That’s the argument you are going with after a decade of tax increases over four years? It’s not like we didn’t have tax increases in the other years, they just weren’t as crazy as what we are seeing now.

Elections have consequences; the consequence of electing Olivia Chow is that tax hikes will always be above inflation, and they will come each year like clockwork.

Choose wisely when elections happen.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1878810096676835448

LILLEY: Over the last four years, Toronto taxes are up almost 30%

Toronto's mayors looks for another big tax hike resulting in massive hikes over the last four years.

torontosun.com

 

[pgs]

Over the last four years, Toronto taxes are up almost 30%
Despite mayor and budget chief claiming underinvestment, tax hikes are well above the rate of inflation.


Author of the article:Brian Lilley
Published Jan 13, 2025 • Last updated 2 days ago • 3 minute read

Toronto's mayors looks for another big tax hike resulting in massive hikes over the last four years.
Toronto's mayors looks for another big tax hike resulting in massive hikes over the last four years.
Inflation in Canada might be back down below 3%, but at Toronto City Hall, they haven’t gotten the memo. Mayor Olivia Chow and her hand-picked budget chief, Shelley Carroll, announced a combined tax hike for homeowners of 6.9%.


That’s 5.4% for the property tax increase, plus 1.5% for the city building fund.

“The 2025 budget will mean change in Torontonians’ lives,” Chow exclaimed while presenting the budget.

Yes, it will change how much money residents of Toronto are paying for a city that no longer works. As my colleague Jane Stevenson pointed out, this equates to an annual increase of just $268 for the average “dwelling” assessed at $692,000.

Of course, looking at real estate today in Toronto, you can’t buy much of a condo for that amount. If you have a single-family home, heaven forbid with a few bedrooms and a garage, expect to pay more.

The worst part is that this year’s 6.9% tax hike comes on top of last year’s 9.5% tax hike. Those tax hikes come on top of the 7% increase in 2023 and seemingly reasonable 2.9% tax hike in 2022.


Thanks to the wonders of compounding, that works out to a tax hike of 29.5% over the last four years. Councillor Brad Bradford was quick to point out that the quality of services are not increasing at the same rate as municipal taxes.

“Crime is up, congestion is up, it’s never been more expensive to live here, it’s harder to get around the city,” Bradford said. “Affordability is obviously not the priority of Mayor Chow and this administration.”


Chow and Carroll were flanked by TTC workers, first responders and other city workers as they made their announcement on the budget. She promised the tax hike would mean more libraries open, a freeze on transit fares, more pools open in the summer, and better housing options.

It all sounds wonderful but consider me skeptical.

We’ve had a tax hike of 29.5% over the last four years and to compare that to inflation, we would need to go back to 2014. Yes, we are seeing tax hikes of 29.5% over four years, but according to the Bank of Canada Inflation Calculator, prices have only risen 29% since 2014 when Rob Ford was still mayor.

Does anyone think the city is running better than a decade ago?



Toronto can’t get the basic services right. We can’t collect the garbage properly and keep the streets clean.

Over the last year or so I have visited Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Palm Springs, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and cities across Canada, and none are as filthy and disgusting as Toronto. Despite huge tax increases over the last several years, we can’t get the basics right in Toronto.

Toronto is dirty, it stinks of pot on far too many street corners, there are homeless encampments that can only be rivaled by Los Angeles. Nowhere stinks of pot quite like Toronto, even in areas where it is legal.

“Toronto is still recovering from over a decade of underinvestment, which left us vulnerable to face the challenges we face today,” Carroll said.

Really?

That’s the argument you are going with after a decade of tax increases over four years? It’s not like we didn’t have tax increases in the other years, they just weren’t as crazy as what we are seeing now.

Elections have consequences; the consequence of electing Olivia Chow is that tax hikes will always be above inflation, and they will come each year like clockwork.

Choose wisely when elections happen.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1878810096676835448

LILLEY: Over the last four years, Toronto taxes are up almost 30%

Toronto's mayors looks for another big tax hike resulting in massive hikes over the last four years.

torontosun.com

You get what you vote for . Cry me a river .