Dear Editor:
Re: City looks at 2.9 per cent tax increase, The Record, Feb. 27.
City council, despite opposition from Coun. McIntosh, plans to increase taxes by about 2.9 per cent in the coming year. This increase is six times the rate of inflation in the Lower Mainland, which increased at only 0.5 per cent in 2012.
To add insult to injury, Metro Vancouver's mayors' council, of which Wayne Wright is vice-chair, recently proposed an increase to the retail sales tax of up to 0.5 per cent to fund more transit projects. That is another 50 cents on every $100 dollars we spend.
New West taxpayers already pay among the highest property tax rates anywhere in the Vancouver area. Why are our citizens asked to bear an ever-heavier burden of taxes to our local governments?
Canadian families today spend about 42 cents of every dollar of income on taxes. That is more than what we spend on food, clothing and shelter - combined.
The article stated a significant portion of the property tax increase will be to fund reserves for Anvil Centre - that development gamble on Columbia Street that the City Council decided to make with our tax money. In the article, Coun. Puchmayr defended that, explaining it will "offset expected tax increases from the operations of Anvil Centre" in future. In other words, Mr. Puchmayr says the tax money is better in the city's bank account, than with the taxpayers.
I am happy to pay taxes for worthwhile services, but only when they are needed and realistic. I respectfully ask city council to reconsider this unjustified new burden on our citizens and come up with taxes more in keeping with today's reality.
Martin Eady, New Westminster
