An increase in labour costs and levies, along with new funds to operate the Centre for Active Living, are contributing to a recommendation to raise taxes in White Rock this year.
Members of the city’s finance and audit committee Monday endorsed draft financial plans that, if approved by council, will bump property taxes by 3.91 per cent in order to generate funds for the city’s $25.8 million general operating budget for 2011. Property taxes and levies comprise 73 per cent of that budget – more than $18 million – Sandra Kurylo, the city’s financial services director, told the committee.
For the average homeowner, the increase amounts to an extra $97 on their next tax bill; for strata owners – who comprise approximately half of the city’s residents – the jump will average $42, Kurylo said.
The increase “is pretty well in line with what other municipalities are looking at,” Kurylo said, noting a recent survey of 17 municipalities showed the majority were considering increases of 3.5 per cent and higher.
Last year, White Rock’s property taxes increased by 3.25 per cent.
This year’s jump does not factor in increases proposed for drainage fees (amounting to about $25, from $252 to $277, for single detached homes and $7, from $69 to $76, for stratas) and sanitary sewer fees (two per cent, amounting to a $5 jump for both residential and commercial users), which the committee also supported.
According to a staff report, requests for drainage asset improvements averaged more than $2.6 million annually for each of the next four years. In all, the requests total $5.6 million more than the funding projected to be available, the report states.
Key projects behind the budget pressure include costs associated with relocating the Habgood/Keil pumpstation and system upgrades required for Victoria and Thrift avenues.
Other factors contributing to increased fees include a jump in the city’s levy to the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District. It is estimated at $1.153 million for 2011, a 6.6 per cent increase over 2010.
Levies to Fraser Valley Regional Library and Epcor have also increased, by 2.36 per cent to $809,500 and by 4.91 per cent to $354,000, respectively.
An annual public art reserve fund, an additional police officer and a part-time economic development officer were among items not incorporated into the draft budget.
Citizens will have opportunity to comment on the plans next month, during a Feb. 14 public information meeting, 6 p.m. in council chambers.