In 2024, Lévis residents and merchants will see a total 6% increase in property taxes. Including the tax increase, the total increase for residents will be 7.7%, the largest tax increase in Lévis since 2002.
For an average home valued at $329,700, the total cost of the increase to absorb for 2024 is $235. For residential real estate, the total increase (taxes and prices) is therefore 7.7%.
“It is an extremely difficult budget […] It hurts. Either that or we cut service. Once inflation gets too high, the impact is direct. It was one of the most difficult decisions for our team. Our goal was to be supported by inflation of 5.9%,” admitted Mayor Lehouillier at a press conference on Monday afternoon.
The latter claimed that local councilors carried out the exercise to check whether it was possible to limit certain services such as snow removal or emptying management. According to him, the reaction was unanimously negative and it was decided not to cut benefits. “We don’t have a lot of fat,” he said, pointing out that there had been “rationalizations” almost everywhere in the municipal apparatus.
Uniform taxation
That's why Lévis decided this year to tax all of its building categories at a uniform rate of 6%. On the other hand, the increase will not be reflected in the same way in residential and non-residential areas.
On the residential side, a total of 7.7% increases are planned (6% for property taxes and 1.7% for tax rates). However, the increase in sales will be 6.3% (see detailed table below).
In the 2024 budget we only notice one new tax. It is undeveloped land and is expected to bring $11.5 million into the city's coffers. However, Lévis will develop a new financial framework in the coming months to diversify the city's income.
Despite the opposition of the two councilors of Repensons Lévis, the 2024 budget was approved on Monday evening thanks to the large majority of Gilles Lehouillier in the municipal council.
A future price shift
Mayor Lehouillier added that the city of Lévis wants to be less dependent on property taxes in the coming years. This tax currently accounts for 89.1% of the municipality's revenue.
Diversifying revenue streams will be a priority in the coming years. “We have not yet completed the price transition to a big city,” said the mayor, referring to possible “densification taxes” for new apartments in a city that is undergoing rapid development.
One thing is certain, many pricing decisions will be made for 2025, he emphasized. One of these could concern the registration tax that cities can now levy.
Tax increase in Lévis in 2024 (including property tax and various tax increases)
- Housing: 7.7%
- Commercial: 6.3%
- 6 apartments and more: 7.9%
- Industry: 8%
- Agricultural exploitation: 6%
- Forestry: 6%
The debt continues to rise
Lévis's net debt continues to increase over the years. It rose from $488 million in 2021 to $654 million in 2024. In the coming months, the Lehouillier government intends to present a new financial framework announcing the year of inversion of the debt curve. Currently, the city prefers to insist that the revenue-to-debt ratio is falling from year to year, something the opposition denies.
“Improvised and chaotic,” said the opposition
On Monday evening, the two councilors of the opposition Repensons Lévis voted against the 2024 budget. “I have the feeling that it is something like an end of mandate, where we want to do everything to make up for what we have not managed.” I do not during a pandemic. But here we arrive with a very high bill that is unacceptable to citizens. I refuse to tolerate this,” lamented city councilor Serge Bonin. According to him, “it is an improvised, chaotic and harmful budget for citizens”.
Accommodation and transportation
The city of Lévis insists on two elements included in its 2024 budget. First, a $2.4 million fund was created for social and affordable housing. The municipality will also increase the share it pays to the Société de transport de Lévis (STLévis) by $700,000.
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