Mayor
Miller, councillors and community leaders launch fair tax campaign
Sept.
13, 2007 - Mayor David Miller, joined by a group of city councillors and
business and community leaders, today launched a campaign to bring
property tax fairness to Torontonians while protecting and enhancing the
city's quality of life.
"City
Council has an opportunity to put this city on a path to a sustainable
future and we must seize it," Mayor Miller said. "The two new
taxes being proposed will generate hundreds of millions of much-needed
revenue while relieving the burden on residential and business property
tax payers. This plan is fair while allowing us to continue to build this
great city."
On
Oct. 22, 2007, Toronto City Council will once again debate a Land Transfer
Tax and a Personal Vehicle Registration Fee that together will raise about
$350 million. Without these new revenues, the city will be forced to
increase property taxes or drastically cut services, neither of which is
acceptable to Torontonians.
Instead,
Mayor Miller is proposing a fair tax plan:
ü
A Land Transfer Tax would be a sales tax levied on the purchase of
property, with rebates of up to $2,000 for first-time home buyers. It
would raise about $300 million a year and would be used to protect and
enhance city services and allow for new investment.
ü
A Personal Vehicle Registration Fee would cost car drivers an additional
$60 a year and motorcycle riders $30 a year. It would raise about $60
million a year, to be directed to road repairs, public transit, cycling
and pedestrian improvements and other transportation projects.
ü
A fair and affordable level of property taxes. Without new taxes, Toronto
will be forced to ask property taxpayers to cover the full cost of these
services.
Over
the next five weeks, Mayor Miller, supportive councillors, community and
business leaders who want a properly-funded city will be out and about in
Toronto at meetings and on main streets sharing information and seeking
public support.
The
campaign will include a brochure and a website where residents can get
information on the plan and how to contact City Councillors.
"This
is a crucial time in this city's history and this council has an
opportunity to seize the opportunity and take decisive action that will
allow this city to succeed," Mayor Miller said.
Full
details of the plan and information on contacting city councillors are
available through the campaign website - www.fairtaxes.ca
