London council shaves about $24 off property tax increase
Londoners will dig deeper this year to cover their property taxes and water/wastewater bills.
On Thursday, marathon budget deliberations concluded with a proposed tax rate increase of 3.1 per cent, equal to about $98 more this year on the average home assessed at $241,000.
That’s down from the 2023 Budget Update’s starting point of 3.9 per cent ($122).
Barely two months into their term, London’s eight rookie councillors made their presence felt during their first experience with municipal budgeting.
Debates were frequently dominated by questions, comments, and motions from several of London’s first-time councillors seeking to shape municipal spending and programs this year.
“Sidewalk maintenance is a question of equity,” argued Coun. Sam Trosow during the most contentious debate of the day-long meeting. “Sidewalk maintenance is a question of accessibility — not to mention mobility.”
Politicians sparred over a proposed reduction to sidewalk snowplowing that would reverse last term’s decision to deploy plows at 5 cm of snow.
If approved, the amendment would revert sidewalk plow deployment to the provincial minimum of 8 cm of snow.
“I’m not going to be afraid to recognize when something I championed hasn’t worked out the way I hoped it would,” admitted Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis.
Lewis added that complaints continued after the service improvement, in part, because the city can never achieve bare sidewalks needed to satisfy everyone.
However, several rookie councillors flexed their political muscle.
“With all the discussions we’ve been having about accessibility in our community, I will not be supporting a reduction,” asserted Coun. Skylar Franke.
Led by rookies Franke, Trosow, Rahman, Ferreira, Pribil, and McAlister the criteria for sidewalk snowplowing will remain unchanged— by a 9 to 5 vote.
“We owe it to all Londoners, but in particular our seniors and those with mobility issues,” said Coun. Paul Van Meerbergen.
Council grumbled, but a funding agreement required the city to pay another $1.76 million to support the rising call volume and offload delays experienced by Middlesex-London Paramedic Service ambulances.
A $200,000 reduction was made to aesthetic flowerbed planting.
However, council balked at slashing $250,000 from a playground program for children.
A $3 million grant was approved to support construction of the London Middlesex Humane Society’s new facility this spring.
Withdrawn from a reserve fund, the grant will not impact the tax rate.
“It can be drawn down on a pace that makes sense to the construction timelines that the humane society has,” explained Mayor Josh Morgan.
To curb the tax rate increase, council reduced this year’s contribution towards closing the infrastructure gap by $475,000.
Settling on a 3.1 per cent tax rate increase, the average London household will pay a combined $128 more (property tax $98, annual water bill $13, annual sewer bill $17) to city hall this year.
“It’s well below inflation and below what other municipalities are passing. I know a few have passed budgets today in the mid-four percent (range),” Morgan tells CTV News. “I know Londoners will always say we oboes you could do better, but we also have inflationary pressures and get the services up and running that Londoners expect.”
The 2023 Budget Update will be finalized by council on Feb. 14.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.