Port Moody residents could be looking at a 6.74% increase to their property taxes.
That's the number they're being asked to consider - and provide input on - at the budget town hall meeting set for Feb. 29. The increase would add another $109 to the bill for an average assessed home of $519,000.
Last year's 5.16% increase added $80 to residents' tax bill.
Much of the increase comes from contractual obligations as well as a 1.3% hike to help pay for the new fire hall.
Mayor Mike Clay said costs for the fire hall make the number "artificially" high.
"It sounds like a big number but in our budget, what we're trying to achieve is basically delivering the services people are asking us to deliver," he said.
Clay acknowledged PoMo residents are concerned about their taxes but also enjoy the services they're receiving at current levels. The budget being proposed adds nothing new, only preserves the existing level of services.
In comparison, Coquitlam council is expected on Monday to approve a tax increase of between 3% and 5%.
Last month, Coquitlam city managers asked council to fund six more Mounties at the Coquitlam RCMP detachment plus eight additional firefighters - primarily to start staffing the new Burke Mountain fire hall - as well as renovate Place Maillardville.
Port Coquitlam has not yet released its proposed tax increase for 2012.
PoMo's finance committee chair, Coun. Gerry Nuttall, said he's "totally opposed" to the proposed 6.74% increase.
Normally staff present a "wish list" budget and it's the committee's job to whittle it down to a reasonable level before bringing it for public input.
"This time, the majority of the finance committee decided they would rather present it as is and get the public's reaction and then start deliberations," Nuttall said.
Whether council accepts the budget as it stands now or aims for a lower tax increase will be based on what the public has to say at the town hall meeting Feb. 29.
Attendance at budget input meetings has typically been very low, however, something Nuttall hopes won't happen this year.
Information displays will be at high-traffic locations such as the recreation centre, where residents can provide written comments. Residents can also provide input in an online survey.
"We're optimistic this year we'll get a better turnout and a better response from the public," Nuttall said.
The 6.74% proposed increase is too high for Nuttall's tastes; he said he would like to see operating increases kept to the rate of inflation, about 2%, along with the set increases of 1.3% for the fire hall and 0.5% for the asset renewal reserve.
Nuttall expects the proposed tax hike won't sit will with residents, either.
"I think residents will not react very well to this, and I don't think they should react well. I hope this brings them all down to the meeting."
The budget town hall meeting is at city hall Feb. 29 at 7 p.m.
