Or let it crumble…

While it’s easy to point to property tax increases as a driver of housing unaffordability, it’s important to look at the full picture. The truth is, rising home prices, limited housing supply, and increasing demand have far more impact on affordability than the modest increases in property tax rates.

Yes, property taxes have gone up—because the cost of delivering essential services has gone up too. Residents expect safe roads, reliable fire and emergency services, well-maintained parks, and strong infrastructure. These things don’t fund themselves. After years of deferrals and underinvestment, Council had to make responsible choices to catch up on crumbling infrastructure and modernize services.

Let’s also put things in context: even after the increase, NOTL’s residential tax rate remains among the lowest in the region. A 27% increase over three years amounts to roughly $500–$800 annually for the average home—less than most spend on a single weekend getaway or dinner out. Meanwhile, the value of those homes has increased by hundreds of thousands in the same period.

If we truly care about affordability, the solution lies in smart development, diversified housing options, and responsible planning—not in starving our municipality of the resources it needs to function.

Residents for a Better NOTL might prefer to frame taxes as the problem, but real leadership means being honest about the trade-offs. We can’t have a safe, livable, and well-maintained community on a shoestring budget.

Recent post on Facebook stating NOTL property taxes are making housing affordability elusive.