Data compiled by the team at investigation office Several hundred municipalities show that many Quebec towns and villages have no hesitation in imposing tax increases that outpace inflation. The newspaper met with citizens and mayors of these cities who expressed their point of view.
Contrary to what is being experienced in the vast majority of Quebec cities, the new mayor of Beloeil on Montreal’s south coast will have surprised many when he managed to pass a full freeze on his average housing tax bill this year, for fellow citizens .
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How did she do it amidst exploding costs? Simple: By choosing to get the businesses and industries in your area to support the revenue increases needed for the budget of the suburban city of 25,000 this year.
OUT OF THE BOX
“We didn’t want to cut back on services. And we could see very well how much the price increases harm our citizens, explains Mayor Nadine Viau. It made us reexamine our practices and try to think outside the box. »
WITH KIND PHOTOS / City of Beloeil
In this way, compared to other Montérégie communes, Beloeil recognized the extent to which businesses in his area had historically benefited from taxes well below the regional average.
“In view of this great scope for design, we said to ourselves that everyone must make their contribution, including the companies,” said the mayor.
It was enough to increase the tax rate by 7% for the commercial sector and 17% for the commercial sector. The share of companies in the city’s tax revenue has risen from 30 to 35% within a year.
RISKY STRATEGY
Danielle Pilette, specialist in municipal taxation at UQAM, speaks of a bold gesture by Beloeil, but one that cannot be applied everywhere and especially not over a very long period of time.
“In the long term,” she says, “this strategy carries the risk of companies fleeing. »
Ms. Viau, who used to be in charge of her town’s economic development, says she is aware of the risk. She also states that such a measure is unlikely to be repeated in the future. “It was an adaptation once, and after that it will be an indexation.
“Every change provokes reactions. But honestly, it wasn’t that bad, she continues. I believe that companies have understood that the idea of making the necessary catching up in the current difficult context should be fair to the whole community. »
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