London council shaves about $24 off property tax increase
CTV
Londoners will dig deeper this year to cover their property taxes and water/wastewater bills.
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.
