Dear Editor:
I’m a resident of West Vancouver and I think people who are opposing the school tax are not representing all West Vancouver residents. West Vancouverites should think about the wider province rather than just themselves. I’m disappointed in my fellow West Vancouverites. Many of us have seen our property values increase by enormous amounts in recent years through no effort on our part.
We are not being uniquely singled out because we are West Vancouver as some have claimed. We are being asked to contribute a little bit more because we are relatively well off compared to the rest of B.C.
West Vancouver is one of, if not the, wealthiest municipalities in the entire country. According to a report by Maclean’s last year, the average household in West Vancouver has a net worth of more than $4 million – $700,000 more than the next municipality.
It’s important to remember that we are part of a province and not a segregated island. Most of us use services outside the boundaries of our district from time to time, so the idea that all of our tax dollars need to stay in West Vancouver, as Mayor Mike Smith’s statement suggested, is misleading and unhelpful.
For instance, many of us use Lions Gate Hospital over in North Vancouver, which serves the entire North Shore.
It’s more than that though. We should be happy to contribute a little bit more to help fund education in this province, even if some of that money goes toward schools in other municipalities. As one of the wealthiest parts of the province, we can afford to do so.
Shideh Javadi
West Vancouver
Editor’s note: While it’s called a “school tax,” this tax is actually the provincial portion of your property taxes and is collected into general revenue and then redistributed to services. NDP MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale Bowinn Ma explains: “The total amount we collect in school tax covers about 35 per cent of what the province spends on public education. Starting in 2019, the rate of this existing school tax will be increased on only the portion of property values exceeding $3 million (by 0.2 per cent) and $4 million (by 0.4 per cent). For instance, a $3.25-million home will be subjected to an additional $500 per year. Eligible homeowners (seniors aged 55+, persons with disabilities, widows, and families with children) can defer all or part of their property taxes – including the additional school tax – at a generously low interest.”
What are your thoughts? Send us a letter via email by clicking here or post a comment below.
