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‘It certainly isn’t going to be 7.9%’: Hamilton’s mayor on city budget
Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath visited CHCH News on Monday to sit down with Matt Ingram and discuss the soon-to-be-revealed city budget that will be released on Thursday.
For the past several weeks, the city has been looking for ways to shave down a 14.2 per cent property tax increase that was initially recommended by city staff back in September.
READ MORE: City of Hamilton staff report estimates tax increase of 14%
In January, the proposed budget that was released called for a 7.9 per cent increase — an almost 6 per cent decrease from the original estimate.
On Monday, Horwath told CHCH News that she doesn’t have a final number yet, but the final proposed increase “certainly isn’t going to be 7.9 per cent.”
When asked if it could decrease any further, Horwath said that would come down to a few things.
“There was an attempt to keep the city portion down, at 4, and we’ve done that … but the other two things, the provincial pressures and the housing piece, it’s going to have an impact.”
She said the provincial government is lacking when it comes to “paying for the things they should be paying for” and that there are costs associated with the housing crisis that are adding to the equation.
The mayor added that city staff have been working hard over the last week to get the budget number reduced even further.
“It’s a tough time right now. We got folks who are really struggling. Things are really expensive for people, and I know that’s a problem,” she said.
“We’re going to do our best to balance the needs of the city, with being thoughtful for the people.”
READ MORE: Hamilton’s proposed property tax increase lower than anticipated, but still 7.9%
One of the last attempts to bring down that initial 14.2 per cent ask is by way of city councillor Cameron Kroetsch.
He took to Twitter Monday to share four motions that could shave a few million from the police budget.
Parts of his motion include disbanding the mounted unit, putting off a parking lot at the mountain station and de-funding the police choir, to name a few.
READ MORE: Hamilton police, city council to meet to discuss proposed budget
Dr. Anjali Menezes and I have put 4 motions on tomorrow's police board agenda to request reductions in this year's police budget. Read the media release and the motions below or download an accessible PDF of everything at https://t.co/fGc5rWhQJC. #HamOnt @anjali_menezes pic.twitter.com/jqaNcI13J1
— Cameron Kroetsch (@CameronKroetsch) February 12, 2024
The final budget meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 15.
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