Coquitlam
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New seniors complex swapping density for tower
Residents upset by felled trees in downtown park
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T H U R S D AY
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MARCH 24
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2022
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P R O P E R T Y TA X E S
PoMo looking for ways to cut tax boost Property taxes set to go up 5.97% MARIO BARTEL mbartel@tricitynews.com
Greg Vaudry is so upset about the war in Ukraine, he’s planted dozens of balloon flowers along St. Johns Street in Port Moody to memorialize the children killed by Russian bombs since the country invaded its neighbour. For more, see the story on Page 11. MARIO BARTEL/THE TRI-CITY NEWS
Port Moody staff are being challenged to rein in the city’s spending so residents won’t face a 5.97 per cent property tax increase this year. The proposed boost would add $151 to the tax bill of an average home in Port Moody that’s been assessed at about $1.2 million. Members of council’s finance committee suggested that’s too much. They passed a motion for staff to come back with suggestions for cutting the increase by one per cent and by two per cent.
Port Moody’s general manager of finance and technology, Paul Rockwood, told councillors the economies could be achieved by cuts, as well as increased revenues, although he didn’t elaborate where those revenues might come from. In February, Coun. Steve Milani suggested the city might look at the introduction of pay parking as one way to raise money, while Coun. Diana Dilworth said that would be a “slippery slope” that could rile residents. However, six per cent of respondents to the city’s recent survey of residents to gauge their appetite for a tax increase, as well as prioritize the services they value, said pay parking in busy areas SEE
INCREASE, PAGE 5