Brimming with fury, Chuck Derkach called a lawyer this week to ask about withholding his taxes from the City of Hamilton.
Since amalgamation, he's watched the taxes on his modest Lynden home more than double. Last year the bill hit $4,750. This year it will be more than $5,000.
Derkach has had enough. "But there's nothing I can do," he said in exasperation yesterday. "(The lawyer) told me 'You can't win.'"
There are rumblings of a tax revolt in Flamborough after council voted 8-7 this week to share $4 million in slot revenue instead of keeping it in Flamborough.
That means a tax increase of up to 9.8 per cent in Waterdown. Residents in other parts of Flamborough, like Derkach, will pay 8.7 per cent. The rest of Hamilton is facing an average increase of 3.7 per cent.
Flamborough Councillor Margaret McCarthy told outraged residents this week she thinks there's a very "legitimate opportunity to hold back" a portion of their taxes that are above the average.
"I think it sends a message to council," she said Wednesday, before council's final vote on the slot revenue. She couldn't be reached for comment yesterday.
Taking away the slot subsidy from Flamborough adds about $170 to the average tax bill. It saved the rest of taxpayers $15.
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