Quebec will limit the average increase in the school tax to 3% this year, which could otherwise have been much higher due to the inflationary context. The shortfall will be compensated by an additional subsidy of 150 million to school service centers.

This was announced Friday by the office of the Minister of Finance, Eric Girard, indicating that the school tax rate will thus be reduced from $0.09730 to $0.09152 per 100 dollars of valuation.

Behind the scenes, it is indicated that the decision was logical and natural due to the government’s commitment, made two years ago, to limit several government tariffs to 3%. We therefore did not want to deviate from this with the school tax. Last October, Prime Minister François Legault also pledged to “never” raise electricity rates beyond inflation or a 3% cap.

Result: the average bill in Quebec, which is $355, will increase by approximately $10, for a total of $365 in 2024-2025. “Without this intervention, the average tax bill would have increased by 15%, or $54,” indicated the government, which had already intervened for even more significant increases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additional aid of $150 million is also planned to help school service centers cover the shortfall, which should bring government assistance for financing local needs to almost $2 billion per year.

First established in July 2020, during the first mandate of the Legault government, this single rate is changed on an annual basis, according to the needs of school service centers and the fluctuation of property values.

“We are prioritizing the quality of education services while limiting the increase in the school tax bill for Quebec families,” Minister Eric Girard welcomed this on Friday.

His colleague Bernard Drainville, the Minister of Education, argued that this gesture allows both to offer “a little respite to families” while ensuring “to provide school service centers with the necessary financial resources to provide services that will allow students to reach their full potential.

“This once again demonstrates the importance our government places on education and academic success,” he persisted.