Letter: New West should focus on issues like fixing 'crumbling sidewalks'

Editor:

The announced property tax increase of 4.4%, on top of already approved increases of 7% for sewer, 7% for water, 2.8% for electrical, and 14.5% for solid waste is simply becoming too much to bear for the average New Westminster resident. 

Unlike our elected officials and city employees, I doubt the majority of citizens receive automatic and significant yearly increases to their wages.

I have family living in North Vancouver, Coquitlam, and Port Coquitlam and I pay, by far, the most in property taxes and utility fees. The city of Surrey, with a population approximately six times that of New West, was able to keep its property tax increase to a much more reasonable and acceptable 2.9%.

Almost every week I read of a new committee being formed, a new task force being drawn up or a new “problem” to address. It is time for the mayor, council, and staff to put their very well-paid time (the number of city employees taking home triple figure salaries being unconscionable) to work on funding and carrying out the basics of maintaining a well-run, liveable city. 

Please keep your focus on such things as repairing the city's badly deteriorating road and laneway networks, crumbling sidewalks, and dimly lit streets and let the private sector look after your wish list of “wants.” 

To sum things up, if you haven't got the money, please don't spend it - our pockets are empty.

K. Timewell, New Westminster