Montreal taxes up 3.3 per cent in 2013 proposed budget

Montreal property taxes would go up an average of 3.3 per cent under the city'sproposed 2013 budget, presented this morning.

The increase would translate into about $100 more for the average homeowner.

Residents of the Plateau Mont-Royal would see the biggest increase, with their taxincreasing by 5.7 per cent. Tax increases would be the lowest in Anjou at only 0.5 per cent.

Official opposition leader Louise Harel criticized the Tremblay budget for making taxpayers cover the costs of corruption. "Inside this budget, we are paying the debt, the interest rate of the corruption," said the leader ofVision Montreal.

MayorGrald Tremblay said the $4.9 billion budget marks a major change, offering for the first time a new structure for financing the boroughs that he says will provide them with more autonomy.

Vronique Fournier, a Vision Montreal councilor for the southwest borough one of the regions with the highest proposed tax increases,askedthe Quebec government for support in the building of family housing.

"It's harder and harder to live in the central Montreal," she said in response to the planned tax hikes.

The budget plan alsooutlines anew tax transfer that would allow boroughs the flexibility to make more financial decisions without city approval.