Taxes, spending going up in Montreal as Plante delivers her final budget

In her final budget as mayor, Valérie Plante tried to limit property tax increases even as Montreal's expenses climbed to more than $7 billion.

Property taxes for homeowners will increase by an average of 2.2 per cent in 2025 — considerably lower than last year's 4.9 per cent hike.

Commercial property tax will go up by an average of 1.9 per cent.

The overall budget is $7.28 billion, up from $6.99 billion last year, an increase of four per cent.

Plante said the increase can be attributed, in particular, to more money for housing, as the city struggles with an increased number of people experiencing homelessness.

"It's the number one priority for Montrealers," she said at a news conference, adding that public transit will also get more money.

Here are some of the big takeaways from the 2025 budget.

The increase in residential property taxes vary by property type and borough, with the largest increases in Pierrefonds—Roxboro (4.1 per cent) and L'Île-Bizard—Sainte-Geneviève (3.4 per cent).

The other largest increases were seen in Mercier—Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (3.1 per cent) and Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (2.9 per cent).

The lowest increases were in Ville-Marie (0.2 per cent) and Plateau-Mont-Royal (1.7 per cent).

Single-family homes will see the largest increase, with an average hike of 2.9 per cent. For example, a home valued at $720,000 will see an increase of $135 in property taxes.

Condos on average will see an increase of 1.2 per cent. That means a condo valued at $485,000 will see a property tax increase of $38.

Again in 2025, public security — which includes both police and firefighting services — takes up the biggest slice of the budgetary pie at 18 per cent.

Montreal police in particular are budgeted $824 million —  an increase of about $3 million from the previous year.