How Did Comrade Miller Get Board Of Trade Support

Promises, promises, promises........reduce tax burden on business which is fair except as businesses flee the city the city's revenues will drop and the property tax payers will have to pickup the slack and if McGinty keeps his promises then the property owner in every town and hamlet will see his taxes go up to support Toronto. Miller is truly an equal opportunity screwer........

Hiking property taxes only 'fair,' Miller says
Increase likely despite controversial new fees

JENNIFER LEWINGTON

CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF

October 24, 2007

A property tax increase of 3 to 4 per cent looms next year for Toronto residents, Mayor David Miller said yesterday.

"That is fair and what I committed to do my best to do," he said one day after council approved a new land transfer tax and car registration fee that are expected to raise a total of $175-million next year.

"People have been really clear. They want their services maintained and they want investment in new services."

Every 1 per cent in property-tax increases is expected to raise $20-million from homeowners and businesses. The actual amount of any increase, to be set in the budget next spring, now depends on fresh lobbying at Queen's Park by Mr. Miller and business leaders for the province to take back responsibility for social services and help pay for transit.

"We will step up our advocacy with the province," vowed the mayor. He said council's "difficult" tax vote shows "we have done our part as Torontonians."

His focus on the province was echoed by Toronto Board of Trade president Carol Wilding, whose organization reluctantly supported the mayor's tax plan.

"It is not a matter of if, but how much and when," she said of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty's general commitment to rebalance the fiscal load between the province and all municipalities.

A provincial review panel comprised of officials from the province and municipalities, including Toronto, is scheduled to report back by February.

Like Mr. Miller, Ms. Wilding contends there is "no reason" the panel cannot report back by December, in time for Toronto's budget debate next spring.

Immediately after its contentious tax vote on Monday night, council went on to approve two business-friendly measures urged by Mr. Miller.

The city will ease the tax burden on small businesses over a 10-year period, instead of the 15-year schedule previously passed.

As well, the city will speed up the reduction of tax rates for big business by 2015, down from 2020 - but only with a "firm commitment" from the province on uploading.

The city's pledge, worth an estimated $300-million in relief to business, was key to the Board of Trade's endorsement of the mayor's tax plan.

More.....