Chestermere proposes two per cent tax cut for 2020
Posted Nov 16, 2019 7:00 am.
Last Updated Nov 15, 2019 12:53 pm.
CHESTERMERE (660 NEWS) – While the City of Calgary looks at hiking property taxes, Chestermere city council is proposing a two per cent cut.
On Tuesday, city administration presented a draft budget to council which includes the cut for property taxes among other spending plans for 2020.
“We’ve got some decisions to make on some projects and we’ll have that deliberation as we go through over the next month to finalize the budget,” said Mayor Marshall Chalmers.
Chalmers said all city departments were asked to find efficiencies in their 2020 plans and also looked at other methods to save money.
“We’re budgeting off historical, lower trends in actual spending versus just from budget to budget and adding on to the previous number. We continue to better align our council’s strategic vision that’s commencing with an enhanced program to budget services to actual service levels.”
If approved, 2020 would be the second straight year council has cut property taxes following a 0.9 per cent increase in 2018 and a 2 per cent cut in 2019.
Despite the good news for homeowners, Chalmers admits there are challenges the city is facing.
“The federal government just seems to have a tin ear to what our challenges are out here in the west. This is our response to trying to meet those provincial economies and regional economies that are struggling.”
Council will hold two budget discussions on Nov. 20 and 26 before finalize the 2020 financial plan on Dec. 3.
