Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
Mayor Amarjeet Sohi has launched a new campaign to ask Edmontonians to help him lobby the provincial government for more financial support for Alberta’s capital.
“As you know, I’ve been an advocate for a long time for Edmonton to be fairly compensated for the services we provide, and for other levels of government to do their part to support growth,” Sohi said at a news conference on Tuesday to unveil his office’s Fair Compensation Project website. “Edmontonians tell me that my message resonates with them, but I don’t see quick enough action from the province.”
The website, which Sohi said is being paid for by money already allocated to her office, includes links to news articles covering efforts by Edmonton city council and other municipal lawmakers to advocate for more support funded by the provincial government. It also includes an “action” section that allows Edmontonians to digitally sign their name to a pre-written letter calling on the provincial government to restore a grant in its entirety that it says has essentially served to get the provincial government to pay the equivalent of property taxes on its provincial buildings in the capital.
“To my fellow Edmonians, I need your help to make sure the state hears our message,” Sohi said.
Sohi, who for months has called on the province to provide more financial support to Edmonton to help accommodate population growth and social services he says fall under provincial jurisdiction, said the initiative will just drawing attention to a number of areas that the city would like to do. would see more support from the province but wanted to start with the long-standing grant that was cut by 50 per cent after the United Conservatives first formed government in 2019.
In April, Sohi sent a letter to Premier Danielle Smith about the issue.
Global News has reached out to the Alberta government for comment on Sohi’s new campaign and his call for more financial support, especially in terms of grant funding. This article will be updated once a response is received.
“Most people don’t have a choice not to pay their property taxes, but the Alberta government is choosing not to pay their fair share,” Sohi said. “Provincial buildings receive municipal services of the same standard as all buildings receive but they only pay half the cost.
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“The provincial government is asking other residents to pay their bill, even though they are on track to post a $3 billion surplus this year. Since 2019, the City of Edmonton has been $80 million short. The full restoration of this grant would provide immediate financial stability for Edmonton.”
Sohi said conversations he had with other municipal leaders at the Alberta Municipal convention last month in Red Deer showed overwhelming support from municipalities with provincial buildings to have the grant fully reinstated.
“We have a very difficult budget ahead of us,” Sohi acknowledged as he spoke about the timing of the announcement, which comes before budget talks for the fall.
Sohi noted that the city currently faces a possible need to raise property taxes by 13 percent, a possibility he described as “completely unacceptable.”
“We need to reduce those tax increases,” he said. “(But) we can only do so much. … It’s not fair to other property owners.
“$80 million could wipe out the entire deficit we have. Now we have to raise property taxes to cover the deficit because the state is not stepping up. If they had stepped up from 2019 and paid the full cost, we would not be in a deficit situation. And going forward, if they continue to provide us with the full cost of services to the state buildings, we can actually eliminate tax increases close to 0.8 per cent.”
Sohi said Smith and other senior members of her government told city leaders they heard their message but still wanted “more information.”
“I am here today to provide that information again, as I have been doing for the past two years,” he said. “(This campaign) allows them to really show Edmontonians that they care about us, that they pay attention to our needs, that they will step up to make sure that Edmonton is treated fairly.
“I’m always optimistic.”
In April, Edmonton city council approved budget adjustments that will result in an 8.9 per cent property tax increase in 2024. The increase was approved after city officials highlighted the significant economic challenges facing the city, including higher than expected energy costs, labor costs and Workers’ Compensation Board insurance Premiums. At the same time, officials said the city was receiving lower-than-expected revenue for gas franchise fees from utility provider ATCO, from business licenses and from fares.
–with files from Caley Gibson, Global News
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
source link https://globalnews.ca/news/10788851/edmonton-mayor-sohi-alberta-government-compensation/
