Data obtained through a Freedom of Information request by The Pointer reveals that delinquent properties climbed from an average of 3,474 annually between 2019 and 2022 to 4,654 by the end of 2024—a 1,180-property increase since Siscoe took office in November 2022. The total arrears now stand at $16.6 million, excluding water and wastewater costs, equivalent to a potential 7% tax hike to cover the shortfall.
The spike coincides with aggressive property tax increases totaling over 20% from July 2023 to January 2025, far outpacing Ontario’s inflation rates of 3.9% in 2023 and 2.4% in 2024. A record 10.5% hike in 2023, approved via Siscoe’s tie-breaking vote after a 6-6 split, has been pinpointed as a key driver. Critics argue these increases, fueled by escalating labor costs, have pushed vulnerable residents to the brink. For instance, Chief Administrative Officer David Oakes’ salary ballooned from $105,000 in 2008 to $263,000 in 2023—a 152% rise—while the city’s Sunshine List of employees earning over $100,000 expanded from 17 to 242 over the same period.
John Waylett, Chair and CEO of the Property Taxpayers Alliance (PTA), described the situation as an “existential issue” for homeowners, warning that unchecked hikes could lead to widespread home losses. “We believe that annual municipal budgets should be based on property taxation at or below the rate of inflation,” Waylett told The Pointer. Allan McKay, PTA Niagara Region Manager, called the data “shocking, but not surprising,” attributing it to “massive, unsustainable property tax increases layered on top of a disintegration of basic services.” Residents like Lily and Melissa Smith, in a 2023 op-ed, labeled the hikes “dangerous” and “catastrophic” for low- and fixed-income households.
The council remains divided. A majority bloc—including Siscoe, Councillors Greg Miller, Matt Harris, Robin McPherson, Caleb Ratzlaff, Kevin Townsend, and Mark Stevens—defends the increases as essential for infrastructure and services. Opponents, such as Councillors Joe Kushner, Dawn Dodge, and the late Carlos Garcia (who passed in December 2024), have advocated restraint, citing constituent hardships. Oakes downplayed the arrears as not a “significant factor” in financial reporting, though available to council.
The impact falls hardest on lower-income earners, seniors on fixed incomes, and new homeowners, with arrears rates at 5.1% in 2024—slightly below Ontario’s 5.3-7.7% average but signaling broader equity concerns. Experts draw parallels to Cambridge, where similar hikes post-2021 doubled arrears.
Looking ahead, Waylett urges capping budgets at inflation levels to avert crises, while McKay calls for transparent annual reporting—free of FOI fees, as in other municipalities. Without reforms, arrears could double by term’s end, exacerbating distress in a city already grappling with rising costs. City officials have yet to announce specific measures, but pressure mounts for accountability amid growing public scrutiny.