Property taxes are on the rise in St. John’s latest budget, a reflection, officials say, of the same financial pressures facing residents and other cities across the country.

Last year, council went out of its way to balance the books, as required by law, dipping into reserves to keep property taxes in check with the pandemic still in the rearview mirror.

That wasn’t on this year, though, with the city saying it’s now firmly in the same boat as everyone else trying to make ends meet.

As a result, the mill rate rises to 9.1—or about $240 a year on a $300,000 lot—compounded by a 3 per cent bump in assessed values, resulting in average property tax increases of 12 to 13 per cent.

Other highlights include a 25 per cent increase in the snowclearing budget and a reduction in Metrobus/Go-Bus funding due to more riders, but another half a million dollars for St. John’s Sports and Entertainment—bringing its annual subsidy to almost $7 million.

The city’s overall budget is up just over 3 per cent to almost $344 million.

Council’s finance lead, Ron Ellsworth, said the pressures are not unique to St. John’s, noting the cost of doing any business is through the roof—by 50 per cent for some street work alone.

Meanwhile, he added the city is open to offers for Mary Brown’s Centre, but says he’s never seen one on paper.