THUNDER BAY -- Council will decide Monday how tax payers will pay for the city's $6.3 million spending increase this year.
The 3.83 per cent levy increase over last year was approved by council in March. They'll now decide how to spread that increase out among tax classes. A tax policy report recommends the residential property class as a whole would see a 3.63 per cent increase. That would see around an extra $4 million come from homeowners this year, bringing the total from that class to more than $104 million. An additional $13 million is taken for education tax.
The commercial class would see a 2.4 per cent increase, bringing in nearly $44 million, another $59 million with education factored in. Multi-residential is next with $13 million. Industrial, pipelines, farms and managed forests make up the additional roughly $6 million.
Budget chair Coun. Frank Pullia said there is a cap on how much property taxes can increase by. If someone's assessment goes up, the increase is phased in over four years.
Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce president Charla Robinson said the chamber understands it was a tough job for the city this year.
"I think generally they've done a really good job balancing," she said.
Pullia agreed.
"I believe it's fair and equitable," he said of the balance between property classes.
"No class is going to be unduly impacted."
Both also agree that the challenge now is for the city to run as efficiently as possible.
