St. Catharines property tax increase raising concerns for residents

Property taxes are set to go up more than 10 percent in St. Catharines, and residents say they can’t afford what’s coming their way.

For the average homeowner, a 10.5 increase equals around 400 dollars a year, but it’s not just about the money as some residents feel they don’t have a voice.

When the idea to re-open the issue was voted down at council Monday night, things got heated.

Cell phone video at the meeting in St. Catharines shows that residents want their voices heard when it comes to a property tax increase.

Councilors voted Monday night to not re-open the City’s 2023 operating budget which would see a 10.5 percent property tax hike.

One councilor, Joe Kushner, said he attempted to give savings back to taxpayers via a motion to freeze new hiring at the City but that motion was voted down 7-6.

“We’ve had a lot of feedback from people, seniors who are on a fixed income, young people who are renewing their mortgages. Council has not realized how important it is to take into consideration the seniors of this city, and they are growing,” Kushner said.

The Mayor of St. Catharines Mat Siscoe said when it comes to staffing, they have to be competitive and keep hiring because people are taking jobs in other cities.

“We started to lose staff to take jobs elsewhere and still live in St. Catharines and only drive in once or twice a week to Oakville or Toronto, but they were getting paid way more, 20 to 50k more, so we needed to be competitive and we needed to raise our wages,” Siscoe said.

The mayor also says it all comes down to spending. A lot of money was spent during COVID and now that money has to be re-couped.

For now, it looks like residents will have to pay.