Knives out: Mayor strikes committee to slash future property tax increases
The mayor has launched a tax cutting task force at city hall to reign in future increases to the municipal budget.
On Monday, Mayor Josh Morgan announced a new council working group will review the necessity of current services and consider new or enhanced municipal revenue opportunities.
The Strategic Opportunities Review Working Group (SORWG) will also offer the municipality’s agencies, boards, and commissions opportunities to participate in shared services and the development of Service Review Programs.
“What I consistently heard from Londoners is [they] understand the difficult fiscal situation the city is in, but the level of taxation that is out there is difficult,” Morgan told CTV News.
The 2024-2027 Municipal Budget included a four-year average tax levy increase of 7.5 per cent ($277 more each year on the average home), including a tax hike of 8.7 per cent this year.
The mayor believes council must consider exiting some longstanding services if they don’t align with current or future needs in the community.
Morgan hopes some “low-hanging fruit” can be considered in time for the 2025 budget update.
The working group of seven councillors will be chaired by Budget Chair Elizabeth Peloza.
It will prepare an annual work plan that focuses exclusively on significant and material changes to city programs and services.
The review of city services will include opportunities for public input.
Budget-related recommendations will be considered by the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee and council, and forwarded to Morgan for consideration in annual budget updates.
“These will be tough decisions,” the mayor admitted. “There are many services that even if we should or shouldn’t be [providing] them, people value them.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP wants Liberals to scrap proposed election date change that could secure pensions for many MPs
The federal New Democrats want to amend the Liberal government's electoral reform legislation to scrap the proposal to push back the vote by a week and consequently secure pensions for dozens of MPs, CTV News has learned.
A pair enjoyed pricey meals and bolted when it was time to pay. Their dine and dash ended in jail
A Welsh couple who dined out on pricey meals and bolted when the bill came is now paying the price, behind bars.
Man stabbed in both legs with a machete in Times Square
A man was stabbed in both legs with a machete at New York's Times Square on Thursday afternoon, police said.
Doug Ford suggests immigrants behind Jewish school shooting
Ontario Premier Doug Ford suggested immigrants are to blame for the shooting of an empty Jewish school in Toronto over the weekend, despite police saying they have little information on the suspects.
Drive one of these vehicles? You may pay 37 per cent more than average insurance costs due to thefts
As the number of auto theft incidents rises in Canada, so have insurance premiums for drivers, even the ones whose vehicles aren't stolen.
Shania Twain shares how she forgave her ex-husband's cheating: 'It's his mistake'
Shania Twain recently addressed the infidelity that rocked her marriage to Robert 'Mutt' Lange, whom she divorced in 2010 after he had an affair with her friend, Marie-Anne Thiébaud.
Melanie Joly 'forward-leaning' in debate on Ukraine using NATO arms inside Russia
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly is suggesting Canada would support a policy of allowing Ukraine to use NATO-provided arms inside Russia.
Donald Trump can sue niece over NY Times article, court rules
A New York state appeals court said Donald Trump can sue his niece Mary Trump for giving the New York Times information for its Pulitzer Prize-winning 2018 probe into his finances and his alleged effort to avoid taxes.
Fast-paced, highflying SailGP blows into Halifax for weekend competition
Ten countries, including Canada, each with teams of six sailors, are battling head-to-head on Halifax Harbour this weekend for the Canadian debut of SailGP (Grand Prix).