Four more Mounties and saving for a new community recreation complex are the driving costs behind a proposed 3.4% property tax hike in Port Coquitlam this year.
The city says the two line items — as well as future infrastructure projects — make up more than 2% of the planned tax increase, which would mean another $68 for the homeowners in a single-family house, $53 for town homes and $31 for apartments.
But sewer, water and garbage rates will remain the same as last year, city staff say.
The draft financial plan, which opened for public comment today (Thursday), includes an additional $643,600 (or 1.1%) for:
• four extra RCMP for a new Uniformed Crime Reduction Unit that would focus on so-called "hot spots";
• funding to replace the PoCo recreation complex;
• and hiring a new cultural development and community services manager.
Council is also considering earmarking $429,500 from the surplus and reserve accounts for one-time improvements like a festival and events committee, new parklets in the downtown core and expansion of the PoCo Sports Alliance.
As well, council will look at $7.8 million in capital projects for major infrastructure. These include upgrading Pitt River Road and McLean Avenue, building the Nicola Avenue connection, updating the Sun Valley wading pool and spray park (with federal funds) and repairing the Coquitlam River bridge on Lougheed Highway.
Another 1% in taxes will be set aside for future infrastructure replacement, totalling $585,000.
Still, council plans to shave off $428,000 from its 2016 budget by eliminating a vacant position and cutting the contribution to capital funding reserve accounts. That would translate to a savings of $14.71 for a single-family home assessed at $561,855.
Acting mayor Coun. Dean Washington, who chairs the city's budget committee, told The Tri-City News he lobbied hard to drill down the costs.
"If you look at the increase for the police officers, long-term infrastructure and the rec centre as well as the police compensation and our share of the [RCMP] safety building, there's not much there," he said. "It's less than 1% for new initiatives."
Washington said much of the increases are tied to unionized contracts. This year, the city will go into bargaining for a new collective agreement with CUPE Local 498.
By comparison, Coquitlam, which also heads into negotiations this year with CUPE Local 386, passed its budget last December that saw a residential tax jump of about $55 (up 2.64%) for the average home to pay for six new Mounties, among other things; another $9 for sewer and drainage, and $6 for solid waste is tacked onto the bill.
On Tuesday, Port Moody — which also goes into bargaining with CUPE 825 this year — wrapped up its Ipsos Reid customer satisfaction survey on which council bases some of its budget decisions. It is considering a 5.13% tax increase (or $97 more for a home assessed at $566,700) to pay for government and police services as well as an asset renewal levy. With utilities, the tax hike would rise to $150 this year.
The first three readings of the 2016-'20 financial plan bylaw are scheduled for April 26.
Under provincial legislation, municipal budget and tax rate bylaws must be adopted by May 15. Property taxes are due July 4.
• Port Coquitlam residents have until March 7 to comment on the draft budget and take a survey. Visit portcoquitlam.ca/budget or call 604-927-5280.
