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SOLIDARITY SIGNS: About 30 people gathered at Hyack Square on Saturday in a show of solidarity with Wet’suwet’en hereditary leaders. New West resident Christa MacArthur invited people to join her in a peaceful demonstration in support of Wet’suwet’en hereditary leaders who oppose construction of a natural gas pipeline through their traditional territory in northern British Columbia. PHOTO JENNIFER GAUTHIER
FINANCES
City unveils proposed tax hike for 2020
Theresa McManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord.ca
The City of New Westminster’s 2020 budget includes funds to help the city meet its strategic goals and to combat climate change, but is it affordable? That is the question now being considered by council. Staff presented the city’s preliminary draft 2020 to 2024 financial plan at a special council meeting at city hall on Feb. 25.This year’s preliminary budget proposes a 4.9% tax increase and a
1% capital levy, with a 3.9% increase contemplated in 2021. The city’s 2020 general fund operating expenses total about $157.7 million, which provides ongoing services such as police, fire, parks and recreation, engineering, development services, library, cultural and administration services.That’s an increase from $131.34 million in 2019, with the increase being attributed to a variety of things, including salary and benefit increases, additional
staff and contracted services to deal with workload issues and strategic initiatives, as well as increased insurance premiums; cost of the Q to Q ferry operation; increased supplies for street maintenance; funding to support reconciliation, diversity and inclusion; and increased operating costs for the Anvil conference centre. Colleen Ponzini, the city’s director of finance, said the preliminary budget includes money for a variety of enhancements as part of an “accelerated” program re-
lated to the capital program and strategic initiatives. “This is a very front-loaded capital program. It is aggressive. I won’t say it is very aggressive and try to make it sound like it’s not doable.We believe the programs are doable,” she said. “What we are finding though is they are doable with the support of the operating requests that are included in the package.” Nearly 90 items are included in the “enhanced program” for the 2020 and 2021 general fund operating
program, such as a manager of community arts and theatre, building security at Anvil Centre, consulting for diversity and inclusion and a corporate energy specialist. “It’s an aggressive but exciting program,” Ponzini said. “That’s what’s driving the changes in the operating program.” The proposed tax rate includes initiatives aimed at supporting the strategic priorities and seven bold steps on climate change previously approved by council.
In terms of the capital program, the city is proposing to spend $80.1 million in 2020, with $36 million supporting climate action initiatives. During a recent presentation, staff also outlined the impacts that the proposed operating program budget would have on the city’s reserves. “When we look at our projected general fund reserves, we are in the range of $65 million at the end of 2019,” Ponzini said. Continued on page 3
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