Royal City residents could be facing a tax hike in the range of 2.14 to 3.2 per cent in 2016.
On Monday, council got a look at the draft 2016 to 2020 financial plan, which includes about $113 million to provide police, fire, parks, culture and recreation, engineering, development services, library and administrative services. A staff report states that the $2.6.-million increase from last year is mostly due to salary increases for city employees, but also includes an increase in the cost of goods in Anvil Centre.
During Monday’s budget presentation, staff made a case for additional requests totalling $737,000 for “priority initiatives” or positions to address workload challenges in various departments. While the base budget would result in a 2.14 per cent tax rate increase, that rises to 3.20 per cent if the additional funding requests are approved.
Council members flagged a number of issues for staff to consider, including the creation of communications related positions in a number of departments and the need for more information, at an earlier date, about some of the requests so council has a better understanding of the “big picture” within departments. Staff will refine the budget and bring it back for council’s consideration at a future meeting.
Mayor Jonathan Cote said the city has laid out an “aggressive agenda” of initiatives to pursue in the coming years, so that’s going to cost money. Still, he said he’s not comfortable approving an increase of more than three per cent and would ideally like to see it below 2.75 per cent.
Coun. Patrick Johnstone said the 2.14 per cent base budget actually represents a reduction in services, as some positions that have been funded temporarily are being revaluated as part of the additional funding requests. He’d like to know where other ities in the region are going with their 2016 budgets.
“I think we should be below three per cent,” said Coun. Bill Harper. “I’d also like to know what other cities are doing.”
A single-family home assessed at $1,169,000 would see an increase of $80 with a 2.14 per cent increase or a $119 increase with a 3.20 tax hike. For owners of a single-family home assessed at $829,000, that drops to $59 (at 2.14 per cent) and $88 (at 3.20 per cent) and for owners of strata units assessed at $314,000 it would be hikes of $22 and $34, respectively. These rates don’t reflect any increases to utility rates.
The 2016 capital plan includes $58 million for a variety of projects and services including: city hall renovations, relocation of the animal services facility and tow yard, Massey Theatre redevelopment, Front Street parkade demolition and remediation, creation of the Front Street Mews, the Quayside to Queensborough pedestrian overpass, as well as annual maintenance and replacement of transportation infrastructure, civic facilities and equipment.
Several departments at New Westminster City Hall are seeking to create new positions or extend temporary positions to address workload issues or to deal with the city’s strategic priorities.
The additional items being consider by city council include:
* Converting a temporary economic development coordinator to a full-time positon.
* Converting two part-time communications coordinators to full-time. This relates to communions needs for the city and the police department.
* Converting a temporary Anvil Centre office assistant to full time to address “higher than anticipated volume” of events at the facility.
* Creating 1.4 building service workers’ positions at Anvil Centre. The city employees would complete larger cleaning jobs overnight, eliminating the need for an after-hours contracted security officer at the facility.
* Extending a temporary full-time building inspector for two more years to address inspection requirements related to increased development.
* Creating a temporary full-time planner position to work on the official community plan, affordable housing and development applications.
* Converting a special development project engineer to full time.
* Creating a three-year temporary full-time engineering project/communications coordinator position.
* Extending a project manager’s position in finance and information technology for one year for electrical billing system implementation.
* Creating a full-time administrative coordinator position in New Westminster Fire and Rescue Services, as a result of a major departmental shift in 2015 that’s created a need for an administrative coordinator.
* Hiring a full-time arborist to oversee the newly approved urban tree management program.
* Providing additional funding to the city’s parks, culture and recreation department for a labour position to maintain an increase in park infrastructure.
