The elected officials of the municipal council used the only lever at their disposal to prevent property taxes from soaring.
With residences whose average value will increase by 55% on average on January 1, 2025, when the new role comes into force, they had no other choice.
The tax rate therefore decreases, going from $0.8196 (per $100 of valuation) to $0.5442.
Mayor Julie Bourdon emphasizes that the City does not draw more revenue from citizens’ tax bills. It’s even the opposite… (Catherine Trudeau/La Voix de l’Est)
Remember that the property assessment rolls are produced independently and are based on a snapshot of the real estate market, 18 months earlier.
$84 more for a house connected to the aqueduct
Concretely, the average tax bill (including services: water, residual materials, ecocenter) increases by $84, going from $2,840 in 2024 to $2,924 in 2025.
This represents an increase of 2.96%.
For a house in the Canton sector, not served by the aqueduct, the tax increase is limited to $61, or 2.3%.
A good indicator to know how much you will pay
For citizens whose assessment of their residence or building was greater than 55%, their taxes will increase by more than 2.95%.
The City gives the example of a residence located on rue Bérard, between boulevards Leclerc Ouest and David-Bouchard.
Residents of Bérard Street are seeing their property tax bills increase by more than 10%, more than triple the average increase (see table below).
Residents whose home value has increased by 70% will have to deal with a 10% increase in their tax bill. (Savary, Jerome)
On the other hand, other residents will pay less than the average. Some will even see their account drop compared to 2024.
The City gives the example of a residence located on Palmer-Cox Street, near the Miner woodlands. There, its occupants will see their tax bill decrease (see table below).
Many residents will benefit from a reduction in their property taxes, such as those whose home value has increased by approximately 40%. (Savary, Jerome)
The Voice of the East asked the mayor if this was not an unequal treatment where wealthier residents saw their accounts fall, while those of more modest citizens saw theirs rise.
Unequal treatment?
“It’s a little beyond our power,” replies the mayor, “because these calculations are based on evaluations [indépendantes de la Ville].»
Ms. Bourdon recalled in this regard that in 2021, when the previous property assessment roll was filed, the value of more opulent houses had increased beyond the average, while houses in former working-class neighborhoods had increased less.
“At that time, it was the opposite,” said the mayor, adding that the people of rue Bérard “are happy to see that their house is increasing in value, because it remains a financial asset.”
Less tax money for the City
Despite the average increase of 3%, the sum of 2025 property taxes will not further fill the City’s coffers.
In fact, the City of Granby will even receive less property tax revenue in 2025, since it will decrease overall by $200,000.
“It’s not because people are going to pay more taxes [foncières] that the City will generate more revenue,” put Julie Bourdon, mayor of Granby, into perspective during the budget presentation to the media on Monday afternoon.
“We will have to review our municipal taxation. It doesn’t make sense that our value increases, but that we are not able to take it almost everywhere in an equitable manner.”
— Julie Bourdon, mayor of Granby
These tax revenues represent 56% of total revenues, which amount to nearly $138 million ($137,745,000).
Budget details are available on the City’s website.
“Other income”
The “Other income” category largely makes up for this shortfall in property taxes.
This “Other income” increases by more than 6.6 million, or 15%. They include in particular the sharing of the Quebec sales tax (QST), and a new forecast of transfer taxes, “which more reflects reality,” said Ms. Bourdon.
We also find income from leisure services in this category.
Special taxes dedicated to paying the debt also help fill the city’s coffers: an increase of almost 18%, they represent 11.135 million.
Overall, income increases by 6.2% in one year… since expenses increase just as much.
Indeed, let us remember that the budgetary exercise involves achieving equality between income and expenditure.
In terms of expenses
If expenses increase by 6.2%, it is, among other things, because of costs linked to the next municipal election, snow removal – 3.5 km of additional sidewalks will be cleared of snow -, the higher than expected maintenance cost of recently acquired municipal buildings — such as the aquatic center.
The environmental subsidy program, as well as the fight against homelessness – 1.2 million – also explain this increase.
Housing, four new parks and the environment at the heart of investments
The three-year capital expenditure program for the year 2025, totaling 61 million, is reflected in particular by a fund of 10 million in housing, in affordable housing.
The City is accelerating the pace in this sector, since it is double the amount that was allocated to this chapter in 2024.
Nearly four million will then be invested in the city’s parks.
If the new parks are located in the south of the city, those located in the north will benefit from a modernization of their furniture. Concrete ping-pong and chess tables will appear in particular at Avery, Terry-Fox and Jean-Yves Phaneuf parks. (Screenshot)
Four new parks will be built, on rue des Écoliers, rue de l’Hémérocalle, rue Denison Est and rue Magnone, where the needs were greatest. The cost of their development will be between $200,000 and $450,000.
Gérard-Allard Park, a natural conservation area, will also be developed so that citizens have access to it.
“There has never been so much investment in parks,” said the mayor. It’s important for our quality of life, neighborhood life. […] With the needs expressed by the population, we said to ourselves that it was time to act.”
The City will mainly finance PTI investments via borrowing (nearly 60%). This is the same amount of borrowing as in the 2024 budget. (Screenshot)
Adaptation to climate change also benefits from a record envelope of 1.3 million.
This includes urban forestry plans, adaptation to climate change and the Lake Boivin action plan.
Infrastructure and active mobility
In terms of infrastructure and active mobility, the amount of investment is very slightly lower than in 2024 — 34 million instead of 35 million.
The amounts dedicated to active mobility will, however, be much lower compared to those in 2024: 2.625 million compared to 5.6 million in 2024.
The cycle path on Saint-Hubert alone cost 2.1 million this year.
Debt under control
Debt service, which was around 7% in 2024, increases to 11% in 2025.
The debt is under control, assures the mayor.
The total amount of the debt will be specified when the financial statements are presented in spring 2025.
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