A debate that ranged from Harry Jerome’s rebuild to Barack Obama’s salary to the price of beef bourguignon left North Vancouver homeowners with a $252 bill.
Property taxes in the City of North Vancouver are set to rise 3.9 per cent in 2016, following a debate on the city’s 2016 financial plan Monday. Owners of an average-priced home will likely shell out between $252 and $283 more this year.
Approximately 1.9 per cent of the hike is slated to pay for operating costs like wages and the city’s share of the RCMP contract, another one per cent is earmarked for infrastructure and the final one per cent will be set aside for the rebuild of Harry Jerome Recreation Centre, much to the chagrin of Coun. Don Bell.
Citing an increasing number of residents whose meagre bank accounts belie their property values, Bell called for council to “put off” saving money for Harry Jerome this year.
“I don’t have a problem with asking future residents to pay for something, because you’re paying back in cheaper dollars,” he said. “If we’re going to do Harry Jerome, part of that may well be borrowing. I don’t have a problem with that because it’s future residents that are going to use it as well.”
That sort of thinking is the same reason the world’s temperature continues to rise, argued Coun. Craig Keating, who bashed the practice of borrowing as constraining future councils.
“We better …. pay our freight in this day and age, and not do so often as we do in this culture, which is tell our children and grandchildren: it’s your problem; witness climate change.”
Keating also jousted with Coun. Rod Clark over what Clark dubbed council’s weekly beef bourguignon dinners.
After criticizing the city for failing to look for efficiencies, Clark suggested one of his own.
“I can think of a couple of cuts that we can make right now. There’s a sumptuous council and senior staff dinner every Monday night.”
Keating countered, saying he wouldn’t send hard working staff members out for sandwiches after a 15-hour day.
The city’s budget asks too much of its homeowners, according to Clark.
“The taxpayers are not a bottomless pit,” he said, arguing that property taxes should be in line with wage increases.
“We live in a two per cent world,” he said.
Clark also took aim at the salary of the city’s chief administrative officer, which is approximately 75 per cent of U.S. President Barack Obama’s yearly wage.
His remarks earned the ire of Mayor Darrell Mussatto.
“I’m offended by any member of council speaking about a salary of a staff member,” Mussatto said, calling Clark’s comments “completely inappropriate.”
The mayor differed with Bell and Clark over the issue of residents whose house value dwarfs their cash flow. Mussatto pointed out that residents older than 55 can defer paying taxes until after selling their home.
Many residents are befuddled by a dissonance between what they see and what they pay, commented council watcher Ivan Leonard, who said with so many towers going up, taxes should be going down.
“Who is benefitting from all this money that is oozing into the city coffers? Certainly not the majority of the citizens,” he said. “There appears to be a madness in the air.”
Coun. Pam Bookham echoed his words.
“Why do our taxes go up every year given the amount of growth that we are experiencing?” she asked.
Without that growth, homeowners would likely be looking at a 5.9 per cent hike, countered Coun. Linda Buchanan. The city expects to pocket $850,000 based on new growth this year.
Any cuts to city programs would likely be poorly received, according to Buchanan, who warned that permits might be slower in being processed with fewer staff.
Coun. Holly Back supported the financial plan after clashing with Clark over his suggestion councillors give up overseas trips.
“In the last year I think we’ve only had two overseas trips,” Back said, adding that attending conferences helps councillors learn.
Council voted 4-3 to fund Harry Jerome rec centre, with Couns. Bell, Bookham and Clark opposed. The other 2.9 per cent hike passed 5-2 with Bookham and Clark opposed.
