Maple Ridge city council voted in favour of a budget that will hike tax bills by 4.1 per cent for taxes and utilities, with dissenting votes from two councillors.
Coun. Jenny Tan argued that not contributing $1.2 million to the infrastructure sustainability reserve is a “poor decision.”
“I’m deeply disappointed in this budget decision we are going to make tonight,” she told her colleagues at the April 28 meeting.
“Our own reports show that we need $30 million every year, to just renew the infrastructure that we currently have – this is not building anything new, this is just to renew.”
She referred to the upcoming election in October this year as the reason for council delaying the spent.
“It is such a difficult thing to recognize that we are doing the thing that politicians do all the time, that we criticize them for, which is in an election year we are kicking the can down the road once again,” said Tan.
She told colleagues the city’s core function is to invest in water, sewer and roads. She likened council’s approach to an individual delaying the purchase of new brakes for their vehicle.
“We either save now, to pay later, or we scramble later when there’s a crisis.”
It was her reason for voting against the budget, and said she was “absolutely devastated.”
Coun. Sunny Schiller also wanted to see the infrastructure reserves grow, saying the financial plan should reflect the will of residents, and infrastructure is one of their priorities.
“No one notices the difference this year, but that doesn’t make it right,” she said.
The budget brings a property tax increase of 3.5 per cent, which is the lowest of this four-year council term. Staff noted it is among the lowest among comparative municipalities.
Adding water and sewer rate increases, the total increase for the average home will be $181 more per year, or a 4.1 per cent increase.
The average home, assessed at $1.04 million, will pay $2,980 for general municipal operations, $859 for water and $759 for sewer, for a total of $4,598. This does not include levies for education, the Metro Vancouver regional district and other agencies the city collects for.
The five-year financial plan council moved forward calls for increases of 4.5 per cent in 2027 through 2030.
Coun. Judy Dueck emphasized there have been many conversations about the budget, and the capital contribution.
“We talked about the need to reduce taxes, because people are struggling,” she said. “Yes we have an obligation to provide core services, but we also have an obligation to listen to people that are saying times are tough.”
Dueck and Coun. Korleen Carreras both said the city also needs clearer policy around infrastructure reserves.
“If we’re going to ask residents for money, we need to tell them what we’re using it for,” said Carreras.
Mayor Dan Ruimy said affordability is a consideration for governments at every level. He noted even though the federal government dropped gas taxes, fuel was still more expensive at the pumps.
“That’s the world we find ourselves in,” said Ruimy. “So we have to find a way to continue to move forward on our strategic priorities, and that’s what I believe that we are doing.”
He said council is delivering a budget that helps move council’s agenda forward, with “massive recreational projects on the go,” contributions to Golden Ears Way expansion, extension of Abernethy way from 232 Street to 240 Street, and other initiatives.
Coun. Onyeka Dozie said times are hard based on economic conditions “the world over,” and “I know how much it has eaten into my own pocket every day.”
He said the budget does not meet all the city’s needs, but is still progressive.
“In my opinion, an inch movement forward is still better than standing at one spot,” he said. “For that single reason, I think that his particular bill before us today is taking us forward, no matter how short the distance.”
The budget received three readings, and is scheduled for final adoption on May 12.