Property tax in the City of Hamilton has been frozen this year to give relief to cash-strapped businesses and residents. The Corporation of Hamilton decided to keep city taxes at their 2008 level as a result of the global financial crisis, according to Mayor Sutherland Madeiros.

He said: "Each December, the Corporation of Hamilton during its budgetary process, reviews city taxes for the ensuing fiscal year. In recent years, tax increases have somewhat mirrored the cost of living index.

"When the members of the Corporation and I met to review the property tax rates for 2009, we voted unanimously to leave the taxes at 2008 rates. We hope that this decision will assist residents and businesses in Hamilton, through the financial pressures that many will experience this year."