Councillor Garcia adds once you factor in the Region's portion, it'll be about 3.8% for 2024
Looks like St. Catharines taxpayers will face a roughly 3.8% tax hike for 2024, when the city and regional rate are combined.
Councillor Carlos Garcia says they tried to keep the city's portion at 0% increase, especially noting concern for seniors.
They settled with a 1.78% city increase, adding the mayor tried to keep the rate low in his budget, his first Strong Mayor Power budget. "Outsourcing the forestry department. These are the arborists, the people that manage our trees... he had savings in there, for example, in year one of $465,000."
Council voted to keep forestry after receiving a lot of public response.
Garcia adds as they focused on keeping it close to 0%, there was hope they could reduce last year's 10.5% jump, the largest in city history.
"Unfortunately, our legal team, city solicitor, said according to the municipal act, which is provincial, we were not allowed to change the tax bill once it went out."
The councillor says of 3 spending reduction initiatives he put forth, only one was approved by council.
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