Montreal mayor Valerie Plante says she has no plans to change the 2018 budget, despite opposition suggestions she broke a key election promise.
The budget, unveiled earlier this month, contains an average property tax hike of 3.3 per cent — well above the rate of inflation. It also contains the first increase in the water tax since 2012.
“Montrealers know that you've broken your election promise to not increase taxes,” said opposition leader Lionel Perez at Monday's council meeting.
“I have to tell you your outrage over the past week and today doesn't impress me,” Plante responded. "It's your administration that put us in this position."
Plante blames the tax hikes on a $358 million shortfall left by the Coderre administration — insisting the former administration "threw money out the windows" on things like the granite tree stumps on Mount Royal, and the $24 million for last year's ill-fated Formula E race.
The opposition Ensemble Montreal party — the party formerly known as Team Coderre — has promised to reject the budget unless there's a significant cut in property taxes, and the proposed water tax increase is cancelled.
It's also calling for the city to set aside $10 million for small businesses affected by roadwork on their streets.
“With one hand, we're getting an increase in taxes for the non-residential sector, but at the same time there's no measure to protect those who are particularly going to be hurting because of city work,” said Ensemble Montreal's Alan DeSousa.
Perez also insisted there's at least $100 million available to the city from last year's capital works budget.
Meanwhile, the Plante administration is also planning to increase traffic fines, which they say haven't changed since 2009 and are among the lowest in Canada. Precisely how much they'll be increased has not been decided.
Last week, the administration announced it would, however, eliminate the ticket quotas that existed during the Coderre administration — the so-called 'Denis Bonus'.
The budget is expected to be adopted on Wednesday, thanks to the Projet Montreal majority on council.