Many Burlington residents are concerned with the high tax increases imposed by the current city council after the 2022 election. With the proposed 8.9% increase for 2025 taxes will have gone up 38.72% since the 2022 election. Several residents, including Lydia Thomas who delegated on this subject, say enough is enough. After a 15.59% increase in 2023 and a 10.21% increase in 2024, it is time for a 0% increase. Listen to the city manager, Hassaan Basit, explain that “we’ll get back into the sky is falling narrative”.
Based on Basit’s comments about the chicken and egg problem it sounds like our council has decided to build additional community center space to accommodate new residents moving into the city. Burlington’s housing pledge, to the province, is to build 29,000 new units by 2031. The question becomes, is it more fiscally responsible to use property taxes from the new residential units to build community centers or should our council continue to use property taxes from current residents?
Hassan Basit lives and pays property taxes in Milton.
