Earlier today NWP Councillors Daniel Fontaine and Paul Minhas triggered a special meeting of City Council to discuss the 2025 property tax rate in New Westminster. On table was a motion seeking approval for staff to produce operating budget options that included at least one with a property tax increase of no more than 2% above the current posted rate of inflation.
“We requested this special meeting to ensure our staff had ample time to produce an operating budget that incorporated a maximum 4.5% property tax increase,” says Fontaine. “What transpired in the chamber today was not only completely undemocratic, it was shocking. Community First used their majority on Council to vote against the only item on our agenda, thus shutting down our legal and democratic right to have a debate on setting property tax rates for next year.”
The meeting was scheduled to start at 4 pm and took but a few minutes before Community First used their majority to shut down debate – before it even began.
BC’s Community Charter Act is clear in that it legally permits two members of city council to trigger a special meeting and that doesn’t apply only to urgent matters.
Interestingly, Community First Coun. Ruby Campbell could be clearly seen on camera originally voting in favour of the agenda – which meant the motion passed 3-2. Then the Mayor called for another vote and Coun. Campbell then voted with her Community First colleagues to shut down the debate and the motion was tied 2-2 however the Mayor cast the deciding vote against.
Property taxes have skyrocketed over 15% in a span of only 2 years since Mayor Patrick Johnstone and his Community First team got elected to Council in 2022. The property tax rates paid for by local business is set even higher than the residential rate.
“You’d think a simple motion like asking staff to come back with a budget proposal 2% above the posted rate of inflation would have been a ‘no brainer’ in these challenging times,” says Minhas. “Yet time and time again Council seems oblivious to the financial struggles our residents and local businesses are facing coming out of the pandemic.”
The City of New Westminster is currently asking over 10,000 residents and businesses to respond to a public opinion poll regarding their priorities for the 2025 budget. The NWP is encouraging everyone who receives the survey request to complete it and have their say.
COPY OF NWP MOTION THAT WAS NOT PERMITTED FOR DEBATE
Whereas the inflation rate in Canada now falls within a 2-3% range; and
Whereas property taxes have increased by almost 15% over the past two years; and
Whereas countless property tax payers in New Westminster are struggling under the weight of an increased cost of living;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff be directed as part of the Budget 2025 process to develop at least one budget scenario for Council’s consideration that incorporates a property tax increase of no more than 4.5%