Taxpayer imbalance was a big talking point as Saint John council reviewed the city’s 2019 operating budget.
Finance commissioner Kevin Fudge said residents pay 61 per cent of the property tax revenue while industry pays 17 per cent.
Coun. Blake Armstrong did not mince words during the meeting on Monday night.
“The residents of this city and this province are bearing the load,” Armstrong said.
Figures show property tax revenue from industry has fallen over the last five years while revenue from other classes has gone up.
Coun. Blake Armstrong questions why tax revenue from industry has dropped over the last 5 years while revenue from other groups has gone up. “I don’t know how that happens,” he says, noting Saint John is the most industrial city in Atlantic Canada.
— Brad Perry (@BradMPerry) December 17, 2018
Armstrong said he does not understand how since Saint John is Atlantic Canada’s most industrial city.
“The province controls how we tax,” he said. “Pass it over to the cities, at least some control, so we can do our fair taxation.”
Fudge said it is unclear why industrial property tax revenue has fallen, adding they would have to get the information from Service New Brunswick.
The province is currently considering a bill from opposition Liberal MLA Gerry Lowe, a former Saint John councillor, to repeal property tax exemptions on heavy machinery and equipment.
Story by Brad Perry
Twitter: @BradMPerry
Email: perry.brad@radioabl.ca
(File photo/Acadia News)
