With one week to go before Ottawa residents head to the polls, incumbent Mayor Jim Watson says he’ll limit property tax increases to three per cent annually if re-elected.
That’s higher than the two per cent cap that Watson, who is seeking his third consecutive mandate as mayor, pledged during his last term. In a statement, Watson said his goal of holding tax increases to between two and three per cent would allow the city to spend an additional $80 million on roads and infrastructure over the next four years.
“I have heard from residents, and I believe they are prepared to contribute more in order to have better roads and infrastructure,’’ Watson said in a statement.
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Last December, eight councillors banded together to push for a further 0.5 per cent hike in the city’s 2018 tax increase to fund more infrastructure spending.
A surprise $10-million surplus scuttled the expected showdown between the councillors and Watson, allowing the mayor to keep his promise of a two per cent cap on property tax increases.
