A six per cent overall tax increase for 2024 has been approved by Williams Lake city council.
During the regular council meeting Tuesday, Feb. 13, councillors Angie Delainey, Joan Flaspohler, Jazmyn Lyons and Michael Moses voted in favour of the increase, while Mayor Surinderpal Rathor, councillors Scott Nelson and Sheila Boehm voted against.
All members of council voted the same as they did during the Feb. 6 committee of the whole meeting, with the recommendation brought forward from that meeting that existing tax rates be increased by three per cent over and above valuation increases, which are an estimated three per cent.
Coun. Flaspohler said the increase in taxation will amount to about $110 a year or $9 a month.
“If we don’t take this position, we will be pulling from reserves,” Flaspohler said.
Coun. Delainey said because the tax rate increase was proposed by the chief administrative officer she was voting in favour of it.
“I need to be able to rely on the fact that we have experts that work for our community to put us in the best option,” she said.
Coun. Nelson said he did not think the taxpayer can afford an increase.
“The community is feeling the pressure. You need to have a second look,” Nelson said.
Coun. Boehm said she was voting against an increase because jobs are being threatened and costs are going up.
“I feel we are in a really good financial position,” she said.
Mayor Rathor said with the tax rate increase, plus $84 water parcel tax rate increase in 2024 people will be paying plus or minus $200 more a year.
He said while he never supported the three per cent increase, he would not have supported a zero per cent increase either because that would not have been enough.
“I had a heck of a time deciding should I support it or not,” Rathor said, adding he would not support borrowing money either.
Staff will now prepare budget documents for a public consultation process, with a public meeting planned for Thursday, March 14.
Rathor encouraged the community to attend the budget meeting.
Councillors Boehm and Moses appeared at the meeting by Zoom as they are both attending Union of B.C. Municipalities meetings in Vancouver.
READ MORE: City of Williams Lake eyes budget as revenues set to drop
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