Dear Editor:
As a resident of New Westminster for much of my life and a residential taxpayer for over 45 years, I am not impressed with more tax increases well beyond inflation.
The city has announced a 2.95 per cent tax increase, which is greater than the inflation rate. But additionally, there will be a one per cent levy to finance capital projects. But wait, in addition to those sums there will be a six per cent increase for water; a seven per cent increase for sewer; and a three per cent increase for solid waste (formerly known as garbage).
Originally all these costs were under one umbrella, your city taxes. Through the years they have managed to break these costs out and apply rates for each, and I guess attempt to fool us with separating them. But the bottom line is that it all comes out of the same pocket, that of the defenceless taxpayer.
Perhaps instead of patting yourselves on the back for holding down costs, you should do a thorough analysis to see where you can reduce or at least contain costs. Most of your taxpayers are not able to increase their take-home beyond inflation to try to pay for these increases.
Chuck Condon, New WestminsterÂ
