Dear Editor:
When I started in the news industry at CKNW in the mid-'60s my boss (and the station's news editor), Warren Barker, drilled it into my head to never accept at face value financial figures provided by any government entity. In reading the Feb. 4 Theresa McManus story, "There'll be a tax hike. ... City looks at range between 2.75 to 3.45 per cent," his advice has proved correct again.
The article states: "The 2015 draft budget is proposing about $110.1 million to provide ongoing municipal services, an increase from $105.9 million in 2014." The story says that's a $4.2-million increase in expenses. The math on the increase is correct. The $4.2-million increase, however, represents a 3.9665 per cent hike on the basic budget amount ($105.9 million X 3.9665 per cent = $110,100,520), which is substantially higher than the 2.75 to 3.45 per cent quoted in the headline and the body of the story.
The article goes on to say that "In addition to the base budget, council is considering additional funding requests from departments. If approved, the funds needed would increase the tax rate from 2.75 to 3.45 per cent in 2015." The difference between these tax rates is 0.7 per cent. Add the actual base budget increase of 3.9665 per cent plus the 0.7 per cent difference in the stated increases and you have a 4.6665 per cent tax increase. (I have checked these figures several times and get the same results each time.)
These yearly tax increases already exceed the cost-of-living index and show the City of New Westminster, the council and their bureaucrats have little regard for the taxpayer's money.
I also hope that Ms. McManus will scrutinize such government-provided figures more closely in the future.
Dennis Ryan, New Westminster
Editor's note: The original version of this letter was published as received, stating, "the late Warren Barker." In fact, Mr. Barker is not dead.The above letter has been amended.
