I know how to make each dollar count. For long stretches of our lives, Sarbjeet and I had to. We struggled to make ends meet. We learned to live within our means and every dollar mattered to us.
There were many things we couldn’t afford for our family. Access to affordable public services and amenities made our lives easier during those most financially challenging times. Public libraries, recreation centres, transit access, and even exciting festivals and cultural programs were all there for my family and me. That is why I am so passionate about keeping them accessible and affordable for people of all walks of life.
But that does not mean I’m taking my eye off of controlling property taxes. I know that sound fiscal management is what keeps public services sustainable. Relying too much on property taxes would put even more families in a difficult financial position as businesses see mounting costs and need to make changes.
Edmontonians deserve transparency and fact-based, accurate information from every candidate in this race. That is what you will get from me. Unfortunately, I’ve been deliberately and falsely accused of wanting to raise property taxes 6% or 8%.
With the loss in revenue because of COVID-19 and the increased cost in services, the next council will be looking at in the next budget year is a 1.8% property tax increase, which you can find documented here (page 3)—not a 6 or 8% increase. If I am elected Mayor, I will work hard with my Council colleagues and Administration to reduce that proposed increase as much as possible without adversely affecting the services that people need as the pandemic continues, and during our social and economic recovery.
I have addressed the false claims about my approach to fiscal and financial stewardship at candidate forums. I know this is not a time for significant new spending. Any new investments we have proposed will be addressed by finding efficiencies, reducing consulting costs or other measures.
Property taxes are a balancing act. On one hand, we need to preserve quality public services for the people who need them. On the other hand, we need to make sure that property taxes aren’t a burden on property owners and renters, and that non-residential taxes do not see the kind of stark increases that would keep Edmonton’s businesses from being competitive.
I want to be very clear: if I am elected Mayor, my priority will be budgets that find savings over time and never increase beyond the rate of inflation. If possible, I will work with Council to pass a budget that does not materially impact public services for the people who rely on them and can maintain a 0% change in property taxes, like in 2021.
But I will not make life more difficult by taking away opportunities from Edmontonians who need just a little bit of support from their municipal government. I believe reductions to transit, to library accessibility, to recreation and cultural opportunities disproportionately impact those who have no other alternatives.
For me it comes down to what you value. I know we need to make the most of every tax dollar, and we need to find internal solutions to address dynamic budget challenges. But I will not make choices that make things worse for working Edmontonians and for those who rely on quality public services. That is why I made the choice of objecting to the privatization of our bus cleaning jobs, because it was for minimal savings that would be at the expense of public sector employees who earn a living wage while performing an essential service, one that has been so crucial during the pandemic.
Saying no to something like that knowing that Council will have to find another solution is what difficult choices are all about. Anyone can balance a budget by abandoning their values. I won’t accept simple cuts or changes without considering the impact of the real people they affect. We can—and I will—do better than that.
In these final weeks of the campaign, you may hear a lot of outlandish claims. I have faith in you and your ability to separate facts from political rhetoric. I will do my best to address misinformation, but I want to make sure I stay focused on telling Edmontonians about what I will do for them, not spend all my time correcting misinformation. If you hear something you think is false or surprising, contact our campaign and we will get you the best information.
