By Gazette Staff
September 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Municipal spending seems to be a problem across the province.
Niagara Region councilors voted down the largest ever grant request for a developer in the upper-tier municipality’s 55-year history — a $40-million request through the City of Welland. The request was made to build luxury condos which would have cost local taxpayers for many years.
In a report from the PTA we learn that”
“The denial of this request is a victory for Niagara taxpayers. It’s still very concerning watching a number of members of regional council support this project, in light of homeowners and businesses who have watched property taxes rise at multiples of inflation year-after-year while homeowner incomes have been rising at just the inflation rate (or less). As we see the number of people falling into arrears with their property tax increases, some tone deaf politicians continue to support giving millions of tax dollars to developers to build luxury homes.
“The support by council members is despite the KPMG study which noted there was no evidence these grants/incentives generated any additional revenue for the municipality. Despite this some members of regional council continue to support these grants. Mayor Sisco, who has been a strong supporter for these grants, noted his internal finance staff were able to show these incentives generated a 220% return on investment.
I”t is interesting and concerning the contrast between KPMG’s independent findings of no benefit and the city finance department’s findings of a 220% return. The City finance department is not independent and has a vested interest in seeing the development go forward. Mayor Sisco’s statement about a 220% return clearly lacks credibility. His vote in favour shows a shameful disregard for the people’s hard earned property tax dollars.
“Mayor Sisco was the deciding vote in the largest ever property tax increase for the City of St. Catharines. Maybe before we start providing incentives/grants to developers for luxury homes, we should get our own internal finances under control. Maybe the Mayor of St. Catharines can have his finance staff figure out how to come up with a zero-budget increase for a change.”
Burlington has its own issues with taxes that rise well above the rate of inflation.
