The City of North Vancouver has released its draft budget for this year, which projects an 8.5 percent increase in property taxes.
In a press release, the City said this increase is due to external factors driving up the cost of everything from labour to goods and services purchased by the municipality. The City said that each year, it develops a balanced budget that governs how much it needs to spend to provide services and how much revenue it will need to fund those services. The District of North Vancouver’s draft budget is proposing a 7% tax increase this year.
“These are challenging financial times, including for local governments. Ongoing economic realities like inflation and supply chain issues make it difficult to develop a budget that balances fiscal prudence and the need to maintain City service levels while continuing to invest in community infrastructure,” the City said. The draft 2024 budget includes a base budget of $395.2 million, with three main categories: An operating budget of $101.7 million, a capital budget of $144.0 million, and a utility budget of $48.7 million.
When funding the annual budget, the City identifies all sources of revenues, which include fees for permits and licensing, rent earned from City land, grants from different levels of government, and interest on investment income. After all revenues have been exhausted, property taxes are applied to fill the balance, CNV says.
The community is invited to share feedback on the draft 2024 budget by filling out a feedback form at letstalk.cnv.org/Budget2024 or a print copy at City Hall. The form is open between Jan. 25 and Feb. 1 at 11:59 p.m. Written feedback can be mailed or delivered to City Hall by Feb. 1.
A summary of feedback will be shared during the City Council meeting on February 5. Comments will be considered, where possible, as the Council reviews the budget.
So I was lied to by the NVC Staffer who told me the increase was going to be 4.5%. Now we see the truth, 8.5%.
How disgusting. So I change my comment about my “two-finger-clap” for NVC Counsel to a complete thumbs down! These people are out of touch, incompetent & irresponsible!
Here’s the link from previously https://bit.ly/NVCirresponsible
Simply OUTRAGEOUS
why aren’t people (especially the press) interested in HOW and WHY the total of salaries for those making over $50,000.00 totals $47 MILLION? This is a city on 4.5 square miles so how could they possibly need a staff that large and expensive. NO increases in taxes until a freeze on salaries (and some layoffs) should be the order of the day
Traffic calming on one of the calmest – before upgrades – streets in the City of North Vancouver, that being the St. Andrews (Keith to 13th), fiasco……..lots of dollars spent to fix what wasn’t broken, and now more to be spent. It is decisions such as this that both waste money, thus driving up taxes required, and erode people’s trust in government.
To understand 8.5%, simply reflect on St. Andrews, then the picture becomes clear…..
I do understand though that a former Mayor has a place to practice his golf putt…….
The putting green was installed what ten years ago. It doesnt bother me. What I may have objected to is if they renamed that little park after the ex mayor. An 8.5% tax increase is outrageous. Why couldnt they lay off 10% of the city staff, indoor and outdoor employees.
Further to my comment…..I don’t mean to detract from what the mini golf green brings to the neighbourhood, an inventive use of public space with – I am sure – positive local benefit.
What I do mean to question though, is the level of focus these few blocks have received would seem miss-guided, over the top, dollars spent, netting dare I say, a sub-par outcome for the taxpayer.
I am not very happy with an 8.5% tax increase. I think most of the highly unionized staff who make a living wage dont live here and dont care about the residents. Somebody correct me if I am wrong. I mean why would you care about the residents you serve, as long as you are paid well.