Mayor-elect Alvin Tedjo Pledges Property Tax Freeze to Combat Affordability
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Following a victory over two incumbents, the incoming Mississauga mayor outlines plans to curb city spending and expedite small business permits.
Mississauga mayor-elect Alvin Tedjo has announced a primary focus on affordability, housing, crime, transportation, and the economy following his victory in Monday's mayoral race.
Reporting from CBC Toronto indicates that Tedjo intends to freeze property taxes for two years for all residents. He specifically called for a freeze "right now" in the current budget cycle, noting that property taxes have risen 30% over the last four years. To achieve this without increasing taxes, Tedjo stated he will implement a hiring freeze, cut waste, and ensure the city avoids new spending.
Tedjo cited a September report from Food Banks Mississauga, which found that approximately 43,000 residents used food banks more than 513,000 times over the past year, as evidence of a growing cost-of-living crisis.
Beyond tax freezes, Tedjo told reporters he plans to expedite permits to help small businesses launch more quickly. He also intends to spend his first 100 days as mayor consulting with the council to develop the city's budget.
According to unofficial results reported by CBC Toronto, Tedjo secured 74,479 votes (39.2%), defeating incumbent Carolyn Parrish, who received 51,853 votes (27.3%), and former mayor Bonnie Crombie, who received 43,191 votes (22.7%). Tedjo is scheduled to be inaugurated in mid-November.