PORT COQUITLAM, BC - April 24, 2024... Port Coquitlam is on track to once again adopt a responsible budget that invests in priority needs and keeps taxpayers in mind, while receiving record levels of public feedback.
Yesterday, City Council gave third reading to 2024 financial plan and tax rates bylaws in preparation for adoption on May 7, with one of the lowest municipal tax increases in the region - 5.58 per cent ($117.39) for the average Port Coquitlam home. For the second year, Port Coquitlam topped previous levels of public engagement in the annual budget survey, with 1,524 responses and high levels of satisfaction with City services.
"Faced with many external costs beyond the city's control, we worked very hard to protect our taxpayers from rising costs with one of the lowest tax increases in the region, while still getting the basics right and providing what our community needs," Mayor Brad West said. "It was great to see the increasing trends both in public engagement and citizen satisfaction - it's a strong vote of confidence in the direction we've been heading. But that doesn't mean we'll rest on our laurels. We're dedicated to continual improvement, and we're take to heart not only the positive feedback but the suggestions for how we could enhance services."
Second Year of Record Budget Engagement
With 1,524 survey responses - up from last year's record of 1,446 - the City's successful budget engagement efforts are based on providing concise, understandable and readily-available information to the public. This includes not only a dedicated webpage but a Budget at a Glance mailout to all homes, postcards at City facilities, digital reader boards on high-traffic roads, newspaper ads and a sponsored article, emails and social media posts.
The budget survey, made available online and in print, not only helps the City finalize the current year's budget but influence decision-making throughout the year.
Insights from this year's survey included:
- 77 per cent agreed they receive good value for their tax dollars, up one per cent from 2023, along with a record low of six per cent who disagreed.
- Services with the highest satisfaction were fire services; parks and trails; festivals and special events; garbage, recycling and green cart; recreation and culture; City cleanliness and attractiveness; utilities; and business licensing/services. Most improved from 2023 were festivals and special events, and City cleanliness and attractiveness.
- The top three areas identified for enhancements, even if it resulted in higher taxes, were road maintenance, recreation programs and active transportation infrastructure.
- There was an even split between residents who preferred to pay lower property taxes than other cities, and those comfortable with paying a similar increase to others.
- 77 per cent were satisfied with the budget information they received, up two per cent from 2023, and a historically low three per cent were dissatisfied.
- Most participants filled out the survey online (88 per cent). While there is a continuing increase in people learning about the survey online, most (57 per cent) continue to learn of the survey from the Budget at a Glance mailout.
- In terms of demographics, 78 per cent of the respondents were split fairly equally among four age groups: 35-44, 45-54, 55-64 and 65-74. Among those who own their homes, 56 per cent live in single-family houses and the remaining 44 per cent live in multi-family units such as apartments, townhomes or duplexes.
- The 2024 project that most excited respondents are waste collection improvements including preparing for curbside glass pickup next year, followed by the challenging 6.5 km loop trail in Mary Hill, special events enhancements and the Gates Park soccer hub.
2024 Budget Details
The 2024 budget focuses on maintaining current service levels, while setting aside funds for replacing and renewing infrastructure. Enhanced services for 2024 include:
- Improved safety: One new firefighter.
- Enhanced special events: Including substantial completion of Leigh Square upgrades and support for City and community events.
- Improved waste services: Formalizing the large-item pickup program and developing a curbside glass collection program for rollout in 2025.
- Increased support for cybersecurity and technology to deliver services.
- Access support: Removing barriers for access to City recreational programs.
- Support for community organizations: Providing operational grants.
The budget will also bring new staff and improved services with no impact on the tax bill:
- Safety: More bylaw officers on the streets, funded through enforcement revenue.
- Housing: More planning staff to process housing development applications, funded through development revenue.
- City lands: A new real estate manager, funded through savings in real estate fees.
- Recreation services: More resources at recreation centres, funded by program fees.
- Maintenance/cleanliness of recreation facilities: A new facility maintenance coordinator, funded through revenue at Port Coquitlam Community Centre.
"This Council understands there is a cost associated with every service the City provides, and that our property owners ultimately have to pay for them," said Cllr. Dean Washington, Council's designate for budget matters. "There is always a give and take in budgeting, and with our 2024 budget we once again found that balance between ensuring the City has sufficient resources to meet the needs of our community and reducing the impact on our taxpayers."
Budget details are posted at portcoquitlam.ca/2024budget.
2024 Tax Impact
The City faced a variety of costs beyond its control in 2024, including inflation, escalating costs for goods and services, new responsibilities from provincial legislation, contract settlements, and rising costs from external service providers. More than two per cent of this year's 5.58 per cent municipal tax increase were related to rising RCMP costs.
Despite these challenges, Port Coquitlam's property tax increase this year is once again well below average in Metro Vancouver. Over the past five years, the City's average tax and utility increases have been half the regional average.
Tactics to reduce taxpayer impact included a line-by-line review of proposed expenditures and revenues, deferral of non-critical items, selective use of reserves and surplus accounts, and leveraging of provincial and federal grant funding.
In addition to the property tax increase, the user-pay levies for utilities will go up 2.96 per cent ($13.95) for water and 14.71 per cent ($51.50) for sewer for all properties, and 25.34 per cent ($62.67) for households receiving City waste collection services. The primary driver for utility increases are higher external service provider costs from Metro Vancouver.
The 2024 utility bills were mailed out earlier this year. Tax notices for 2024 will go out in May with a due date of July 2, after which a five per cent penalty will apply to unpaid taxes, followed by a second five per cent penalty after Sept. 16.
Visit portcoquitlam.ca/taxes to learn about payment options, the City's prepayment plan, homeowner grants, the provincial tax deferment program and speculation and vacancy tax, and other information.
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Media Contact
Ximena Ibacache
Manager of Communications & Administrative Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5499
Email [email protected]