Two City of Ottawa Councillors are spearheading a pitch for a tax levy to increase the availability of Affordable Housing. They are suggesting that a 1% increase over the next four years would generate $40M. They have estimated this additional tax would be about $23 a year added to the bill. While there are probably not too many taxpayers that would object to that amount if it was going to help with the homelessness situation of the local population, and as the potential would be there to use the funds for matters other than building affordable housing, taxpayers may want an assurance there would be an audit oversight. As well, and notwithstanding the merits of this proposal, it does open the door to rationalize support for other worthy under-funded areas. I imagine there will be a lot of discussion by city councillors before any decisions are made.
