Port Coquitlam taxpayers have until Jan. 26 to provide feedback on a draft 2025 budget that responsibly keeps the taxpayer in mind while maintaining and investing in priority services and needs.
Residents are encouraged to comment on the draft $144-million 2025 budget that shields taxpayers from rising costs with one of the lowest reported increases in the region: $95.82 (4.3 per cent) for the average home. Almost three-quarters of the increase relates to obligatory costs such as the federally-negotiated RCMP contract and labour contracts, while the vast majority of 2025 utility bill increases also relate to Metro Vancouver charges.
By now all property owners should have received budget highlights in the mail and can find more information and links to the online survey at portcoquitlam.ca/2025budget.
To reduce the impact on taxpayers in 2025, the City has sought out internal revenue sources and savings including the use of reserve contributions, adjustments to investment revenue, and a line-by-line review of activities to search for efficiencies.
Through these efforts, the City successfully offset more than $1.3 million in costs, reducing the proposed tax increase by 1.6 per cent. The resulting proposed 4.3 per cent increase breaks down as follows:
- 1.43 per cent: RCMP contract
- 1.00 per cent: Investment in infrastructure for sustainable long-term capital funding
- 1.87 per cent: City labour contracts, inflation and other miscellaneous cost increases
A notable service enhancement for 2025 is the introduction of curbside glass collection for single-family homes that pay a solid waste levy on their tax bill. This expanded service is being provided in response to long-time community requests. The solid waste levy will increase $14.59 (4.71 per cent) in 2025, reflecting this new service as well as other rising costs.
In terms of 2025 utility levies, Metro Vancouver charges will make up 80 per cent of the water levy increase ($35.24, or 7.18 per cent) and 99 per cent of the sewer levy increase ($122.61, or 30.98 per cent). Much of the sewer levy increase ($84 from each household) is from the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant cost overruns being felt throughout the region
Have Your Say on the Budget
To give your feedback, visit portcoquitlam.ca/2025budget to review the budget information and click the link to complete the survey by January 26 on the Let’s Talk PoCo engagement portal.
For more information, visit portcoquitlam.ca/budget or contact [email protected] or 604.927.5280.
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