Council Adopts a 5.58 Percent Increase or $170 for Single Family Home

File Number
2019-03

PITT MEADOWS, BC – Pitt Meadows Council concluded 2019 budget deliberations this week with a 5.58 percent increase or $170 for the average single family home ($98 for a multi-family home). 55 percent of the increase is outside of the City’s control and is attributed to contracted services such as: Metro Vancouver utility costs, RCMP, Fraser Valley Regional Library and the new Provincial Employer Health Tax.

“A significant portion of the 2019 increase is imposed on the City,” says Mayor Bill Dingwall.  “All councils in the region are faced with the same issues such as the new Provincial Employer Health Tax and increases to utility costs,” says Mayor Bill Dingwall.

“Council and staff have worked diligently to find revenue improvements of $543,000 and expenditure savings. The City was also able to include two additional Fire Service Technician (FSTs) positions while maintaining a lower tax increase,” says Mayor Bill Dingwall. “The additional FSTs allows us to address community safety by ensuring extended seven day per week coverage from 6am to 6pm. This covers commuting hours which is typically harder to staff and allows for response to chest pain calls and ambulance delays, exceeding 10 minutes,” says Mayor Dingwall.  

The 5.58 percent increase is broken down as follows:

Key Budget Drivers

Amount

Percentage of Total Increase

Uncontrollable Costs - Contracted Services & Provincial Legislation

  • Metro Vancouver water purchases and sewage treatment costs. This is driven by increased water consumption costs and capital reserve savings to reduce future impact of debt servicing costs on rate payers - $45
  • Organics processing fees due to increased regulations and reduced competition in the market- $21
  • Provincial Employer Health Tax - $13
  • RCMP Police Services to maintain services - $12
  • FVRL Library Services to maintain services - $3

$94

3.08%

City Department Services

  • Taxation Revenue from new development – ($64)
  • City Departments - $59
  • Utility system maintenance - $7

$2

0.07%

Asset Replacement (Savings)

  • Saving for future infrastructure replacement (planned asset management)

$45

1.48%

Additional Items

 

 

  • Addition of two Fire Service Technicians to address safety

$29

0.95%

 

$170

5.58%

 

For a number of years, Pitt Meadows residents have experienced among the lowest rate of tax increases for the delivery of value services.  Property taxes enable the City to provide residents with a full range of services that people use and depend on each day.

 

“The City must continue to be diligent with asset management and infrastructure planning. This comes at a cost of 1.48 percent for 2019, which is essential for sustaining long-term service delivery,” says Chief Administrative Officer, Mark Roberts.  An additional 0.07 percent of the proposed increase was identified to maintain City department services.

 

For a more comprehensive breakdown of the 2019 Budget watch the budget deliberations at pittmeadows.ca.

 

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For more information please contact:
Carolyn Baldridge,
Manager of Communications & Community Engagement
City of Pitt Meadows
cbaldridge@pittmeadows.ca
p. 604.460.6704