Mayoral candidate Gary Gardiner said in a news release this afternoon that local taxpayers are paying too much property tax compared with neighbouring communities.
Gardiner says the city has several challenges with respect to keeping taxes from increasing.
"We have a low rate of assessment growth particularly in the housing sector. Because we have a higher level of taxation compared to surrounding municipalities and townships, new homes are being built outside of the city rather than inside the city."
Gardiner offered a comparison for a home assessed at $300,000.
- North Bay $4,367;
- Callander $3,478;
- East Ferris $3,207;
- Nipissing Township $2,615.
"The high property taxes on a home in North Bay compared to the surrounding areas can be a limiting factor on growth but in the end, when all costs and lifestyle habits are considered, cheaper taxes are not always necessarily better," Gardiner adds.
He says the city must do a better job of promoting the North Bay advantage when it comes to buying or building a home.
- First and foremost we have an undisputed safe and reliable source of drinking water and a state of the art sewage treatment plant. For homeowners there are no pumps, wells or septic systems to repair or worry about.
- North Bay homes are protected by full-time firefighters and this keeps insurance rates much lower.
- 24-hour police services.
- Our hospital is strategically located to get you there fast during an emergency when every second may count.
- Commuting costs time and money and it’s a lot more than people may realize. Safety is always a concern in the winter months. Some days it is just not safe to be on the highway.
- For those with children, school bus commute times add up.
- Lifestyle: access to restaurants, the theatre, the Capitol Centre, sport and leisure facilities also mean less driving and more convenience.
- 2nd dwelling units are now allowed in all North Bay homes (except Trout Lake). This makes housing more affordable, especially for first-time homebuyers.
"We need to invest in our community but those investments must be strategic, realistic and prioritized. We need to see value. We need to stay focused on needs over wants. We must remember that some citizens struggle to make ends meet.
"During this election campaign, we have seen a lot of promises …… a new indoor soccer field; a community centre in West Ferris; change rooms at the Steve Omischl complex; a new hockey arena; etc. But we also have other looming projects in the not too distant future. Cassellholme, the library and police headquarters buildings are failing. Roads continue to be a challenge, and water and sewer infrastructure, especially in West Ferris, is in desperate need of repair.
"My commitment to you is to strive to keep tax increases low, remain clearly focused on our city’s priorities, and stop the taxation migration."
