The average household will now be required to pay about $120 more in Niagara Falls taxes in 2025 when city council approves the 7.6 per cent increase to the draft operating budget. Overall property tax bills will be compounded by the Niagara Region’s 2025 budgeted tax increase of 9.6 per cent.
Niagara Falls’ chief administrative officer acknowledged that the increases have been “tough,” adding the municipality is presenting a budget that “tries to maintain service levels.” There have been presentations to council that include $1 million in savings options, but “council and residents didn’t like a lot of the proposals.”
One such proposal was the amalgamation of the Niagara Falls and City of St. Catharines fire dispatch services. Why does the region need two fire dispatch services when only one is required for Niagara Regional Police Services (NRPS) and Niagara Emergency Medical Services (NEMS)? The idea was dismissed.
The CAO of Niagara Falls believes the province needs to step in and change the governance model in Niagara. He said when municipalities try to create shared services agreements, the negotiation process does not always lead to the optimal result.
I have spoken to a number of former CAO’s here in Niagara Falls who also believe significant governance reform is required. Taxpayers are being held hostage by local politicians who are resisting any changes to the status quo.
Our governance system is broken here in Niagara Falls. When will the province come and fix the issue the premier identified years ago.
Alan McKay
Resident of St. Catharines, Ontario
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