Montmartre Voters Decide New Property Tax for District Maintenance Starting 2027

The ballot measure on the September 2026 local referendum asks Montmartre voters to approve a revised property levy schedule that would raise the annual contribution rate on residential and commercial holdings in the 18th arrondissement by an average of 0.8 percent beginning in the 2027 fiscal year.

The proposal appears on the ballot after the Montmartre District Council recorded a 14 percent shortfall in the 2025 maintenance budget, according to the council's adopted financial statement released in March 2026. District officials have stated that existing revenue no longer covers contracted repairs to staircases on Rue des Abbesses and lighting upgrades along Boulevard de Clichy.

Effects on Households and Businesses

Under the measure a typical three-room apartment assessed at 450000 euros would see its annual levy rise by 48 euros. Local advocates note that small retail operators on Rue Lepic, many of whom operate on margins below 12 percent, would face an added 120 euros per year on average-sized storefronts.

The Productivity Commission report on French municipal finances, published in 2025, recorded that districts using similar levy adjustments collected an additional 1.1 million euros in the first year after implementation while recording a 3 percent drop in commercial vacancy rates when funds were directed to street-level improvements.

Next Steps After the Vote

If approved the new rates would be applied by the district tax office starting with the January 2027 billing cycle. If rejected the council has indicated it will review service contracts in the fourth quarter of 2026 and present revised options at the December public meeting.

Policy analysts at the Paris regional planning office have scheduled two public briefings for 15 July and 22 July at the Salle des Fêtes on Rue Caulaincourt to explain the calculation method used in the draft ordinance.