Transfer Tax As Vote Looms
You don't really need an opinion poll to tell you that Toronto residents don't want to pay more taxes, but there's one out anyway. With City Council now just a week away from voting on David Miller's deferred levy plan, an Environics survey shows 62 per cent of homeowners hate the idea of the land transfer tax. Most contend it's not a fair solution to the fiscal problem facing the Big Smoke and many worry it will make it impossible for first time buyers to afford a home of their own.
And it won't matter if the mayor makes some adjustments to the idea. A full 69 per cent insist that even if Council decides to modify the new tax, it still won't be considered a fair charge by those who will have to pay it. Sixty-five per cent don't think it will make the city run any better even if it does become law. And at least 60 percent are convinced waste and inefficiencies at City Hall itself should be considered first before the public has to fork over any more money.
Most also favour an independent audit of Toronto's books and think councillors should wait until it's done before implementing any new charges. And a large number worry it's just the start of more taxes to come.
The poll concentrates only on the land transfer tax and not the vehicle registration plan because it was commissioned by groups that would be most affected by the heavy levy - including the Toronto Real Estate Board and the Ontario Home Builders' Association. "I think people are clear that the land transfer tax is not a fair solution," said the Board's Von Palmer. "You're asking five per cent of taxpayers to cover 70 per cent of the budget shortfall."
Miller has previously warned the city is near bankruptcy and must use the new powers it's been given by the province to raise the revenue. A move to shut down community centres on Mondays was thwarted by a strong public backlash. And a credit card company's largesse means public outdoor rinks will open in December instead of January.
But the mayor's opposition wants City Hall to work a little harder and find money elsewhere to help cushion a budget gap estimated at $500 million for 2008.
"There are fundamental changes that need to happen at City Hall," said Councillor Michael Del Grande. "The Auditor-General comments on every contract that he looks at ... We're overpaying, we're making mathematical errors, the contracts aren't balanced ... it goes on and on and on."
Others are quick to take the mayor's side on the matter. "This is a choice," insists Councillor Shelley Carroll. "Do you want to be a city on the move ... do you want to be Chicago? Or do you want to be a city like Detroit where things have gotten so bad that people just start moving out at 100,000 people a year."
Miller insisted last week that the re-election of the Liberals in most Toronto ridings shows the majority of taxpayers support the hikes - and this is one of them.
The big vote takes place next Monday.
Poll Summary
62%: Land transfer tax is not a fair solution to the City's financial difficulties
61%: Want their councillor to vote no to the land transfer tax proposal.
85%: "Fair Taxes" public relations campaign has made no impact on them, or made them more opposed to new taxes.
59%: Don't want the city to deal with its financial difficulties by introducing new taxes.
60%: There's a lot of waste and inefficiency in the way the city is run and the fiscal problems could be largely solved through cutting waste and focusing spending onto core municipal services
65%: Toronto won't be run any more efficiently if it raises new revenue through the land transfer tax
64%: Support an independent third party review of City services that would recommend ways to cut costs and identify discretionary services as an alternative to increasing taxes.
78%: Want councillors to wait until an independent third party review of City services is completed before making a decision on new taxes.
83%: Worry if the City approves the LTT, it will still pursue additional new taxes in the future.
69%: Believe changes to the LTT proposal would make no difference to their level of support for the tax or would make them more opposed to it.
57%: Are sure a Toronto LTT would impact their ability to afford to buy a home.
Source: Environics
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