The old adage says there are two things that are certain in life, death and taxes.
It seems the general consensus among residents in this city is that high property taxes are a certainty.
With a municipal election coming up in October, its no surprise that residents are looking for change.
They are hoping a new council will come in, prevent any tax increase and make some changes in this city.
The problem is, for some it’s already too late.
Some residents are packing up and leaving because they don’t want to deal with high property taxes.
So there’s current residents, who may have lived in the city for years, leaving to give another city their tax dollars.
But what is more startling then that is the fact that prospective buyers are looking beyond the city to move.
Courtice, Bowmanville, Whitby and the surrounding area are all potential places to relocate once these buyers take one look at Oshawa’s property taxes.
That speaks volumes.
While a 1.9 per cent tax increase isn’t a lot, adding just over $13 to their bill based on a $200,000 home, the people in this city don’t want any more add-ons.
They feel they aren’t getting their money’s worth.
The unfortunate part of the property tax issue is the fact that Oshawa is making great strides in becoming a city with tons to offer for families.
With three reputable schools investing millions in the city, it’s clear Oshawa’s future is bright on the infrastructure front.
But if people keep getting hit in the pocket book, they may not be willing to invest in the city at all.