Area rating delayed for public input

City council has postponed a decision about Hamilton's controversial tax system to allow for a year-long public consultation process.

In a narrow 8-7 decision yesterday, council approved Mayor Fred Eisenberger's proposal to form a citizens' jury that will debate area rating.

The jury will be made up of randomly selected citizens who will report back to council on Nov. 30, 2010 -- five weeks after the Oct. 22 election.

In August 2008, council unanimously agreed to implement changes to area rating in 2011. However, several councillors believed they had voted to update the area rating system this term and implement it after the next election.

Eisenberger told council members he "strongly disagreed" that was the case, a position that angered several councillors.

"It was very, very, clear -- this council was going to make the decision," said Councillor Scott Duvall, who orchestrated last year's motion. "Everybody at this table agreed to that. Everybody, Mr. Mayor, including yourself."