City of Yellowknife proposes 5.25% property tax hike in draft 2027 budget

It's the first public draft of the city's 2027 budget and it was presented to city council for the first time on Thursday at their first meeting since the municipal election. One of its biggest impacts on residents, a proposed 5.25% property tax increase, but that number isn't final. Something that we all heard on the campaign trail is affordability being an issue for for Yellowknifers. All I can promise is that council's going to work. We're working really hard these next three or four weeks to get into the details and ask the questions to make sure that there's responsible spending moving forward. In the past, Council has tended to lower the property tax increase from the draft to the final budget, but Sire says it's too early to promise a similar decrease this year. The city's administration says this budget faces pressures like rising costs and aging infrastructure, but did try to strike a balance with cost of living for residents. Administration has worked to present a budget that supports the services and infrastructure our community relies on, while also recognizing the economic pressures facing households and businesses. Keeping affordability for Yellowknifers at the forefront has been an important consideration throughout the entire process. Other things in the city's draft budget include funding for its new major projects directorate, various community grants, and about $400,000 to get the ball rolling on a brand new neighborhood around Frame Lake. Though the territory still has to officially give the city the land it needs for it. We did receive a positive indication from the government of the Northwest Territories earlier in the fall that they were moving forward. We're not quite there yet. We're hoping that the final transfer will happen very, very soon. But yes, we've contemplated resources for that. Yellowknife residents have until November 30th to weigh in on what they think of the draft budget. After that, City Council will deliberate and a final budget will be adopted by mid-December. Sarah St-Pierre, CBC News, Yellowknife.