Tax Hike Too High for Torontonians

Tax Hike Too High for Torontonians

Two in three think property tax increase should be lower

Toronto, February 12th, 2024 – In a random sampling of public opinion taken by The Forum Poll™ among 1,032 Toronto residents eligible to vote in municipal elections, 67% say the 9.5 per cent property tax increase proposed by Mayor Olivia Chow should be lower. Among those surveyed, 23% support the hike and 5% think it should be higher.

“Even though Mayor Chow proposed a hike one per cent lower than the city staff proposed, it’s too much for Toronto residents, said Dr. Lorne Bozinoff, President of Forum Research. “The unpopularity of this tax hike may spell trouble for the mayor.”

Preference for a lower tax hike is highest in Scarborough (79%) and North York (74%). Compared to all age ranges, respondents aged 45 to 54 were the most likely to say the increase should be lower, at 76%. Support for a higher tax increase was highest among those with household incomes over $250,000 at 17%, compared to 6% or less among other income ranges.

The poll was conducted by Forum Research with the results based on an interactive voice response telephone survey of 1,032 randomly selected Toronto residents over the age of 18, 72% by cellphone and 28% on landlines. The poll was conducted from February 8^th, 2024 to February 10^th, 2024. Results based on the total sample are considered accurate +/- 3%, 19 times out of 20. Subsample and regional results will be less accurate. Margins of error for subsample results are available at www.forumresearch.com/samplestim.asp.

This research is not necessarily predictive of future outcomes, but rather captures opinion at one point in time.

With offices across Canada and around the world, 100% Canadian owned Forum Research is one of the country’s leading survey research firms.

Forum Research follows the CRIC Public Opinion Research Standards and Disclosure Requirements that can be found here: https://canadianresearchinsightscouncil.ca/standards/