Recent campaign material from sitting Mayor Debbie Amaroso misleads residents about how much more residents of Sault Ste. Marie actually pay in property taxes compared to other Northern cities, says Mayoral Candidate Christian Provenzano.
“It is unfortunate that the Mayor is circulating misleading information on our property taxes,” said Provenzano. “We know that residents of Sault Ste. Marie are paying more property tax than other Northerners, and it’s making life less affordable for homeowners in this city.”
Recently Amaroso distributed campaign material claiming that Sault Ste. Marie property taxes are the “lowest taxes in Northern Ontario.”
However, the numbers don’t add up. When comparing the same property assessments between Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, and North Bay, the exact opposite of what Amaroso states is true.
In 2013, Sault Ste. Marie property tax on a $100,000 residential property was $1,571.
For the same property assessment, an individual living in Sudbury paid $1,243 (21% less) in property taxes, while a North Bay resident paid $1,368 (13% less).
On a residential property assessed at $200,000, the property taxes in Sault Ste. Marie were $3,141 – a Sudbury resident paid $2,486 (21% less) and a North Bay resident paid $2,736 (13% less).
“Leadership, accountability, and responsible spending are important planks of my platform” said Provenzano. “If elected, I am committed to a full review of city spending so that we can ensure that Sault Ste. Marie is an affordable city to work, live and raise a family.”
Additionally, data from the Provincial Government’s Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) confirms that the City of Sault Ste. Marie receives more provincial funding per household than in Sudbury or North Bay. Sault Ste. Marie received $501 per household while Sudbury received $423 per household and North Bay received $323 per household.
“Despite receiving more money per household than neighbouring cities we are still paying more in property taxes,” adds Provenzano. “These are simply the facts and they should not be misrepresented. They should be acknowledged honestly and addressed.”
This election campaign is an opportunity for a full discussion on key issues that are important to residents of Sault Ste. Marie, such as: jobs, the economy, property taxes, and the P.U.C.
Leadership, accountability and responsible spending are the three core values that comprise Christian Provenzano’s platform.
