PORT COQUITLAM, BC - Dec. 13, 2023... Port Coquitlam residents will be invited to comment in January on a responsible proposed 2024 budget that keeps the taxpayer in mind while maintaining and investing in priority services and needs.
At yesterday's Committee-of-Council meeting, Council gave staff approval to conduct public engagement Jan. 9 to 31 on the proposed budget, which balances a variety of rising costs - many of them beyond the control of the City - with affordability and the needs of the community.
For the average home value in Port Coquitlam, the draft budget includes an increase of 5.58 per cent ($117.39) in municipal taxes. Of the increase, 3.56 per cent relates to City services and 2.02 per cent to rising RCMP costs.
"Cities always have difficult choices to make at budget time because we want to provide the best service possible, but here in Port Coquitlam we are very aware that at the end of the day, it's the taxpayers who foot the bill," Mayor Brad West said. "There was much consideration and hard work by staff and Council to achieve a proposed 2024 budget that maintains and enhances important services while also doing whatever we could to reduce the burden on property owners. We've once again focused on getting the basics right."
When the City kicks off budget engagement on Jan. 9, budget details will be delivered to homes in the annual Budget at a Glance mailout, and additional details and a link to the online survey will be posted at portcoquitlam.ca/2024budget. As in past years, residents of the City who complete the budget survey will be entered into a draw for a $150 gift card to a Port Coquitlam business of their choice.
The development of the proposed 2024 budget was affected by a variety of factors, including:
- Increased costs based on regional or provincial contract negotiations, including CUPE representing civic workers and IAFF representing firefighters,
- Rising costs from the RCMP contract and Public Safety Building due to inflation and the federally-negotiated collective agreement,
- Increased costs from external service providers such as Fraser Valley Regional Library and Metro Vancouver water, sewer and waste services,
- Inflation and escalating costs for supplies and labour for capital projects, and
- New responsibilities from provincial legislation related to accessibility and housing, leading to significant new costs.
Even with these significant costs and challenges, Port Coquitlam's proposed tax increase is well below average in Metro Vancouver based on reported 2024 budget information. Tactics to reduce the tax impact included a line-by-line review of the proposed expenditures and revenues, deferral of non-critical items, selective use of reserves and surplus accounts, and leveraging of provincial and federal grant funding.
"We recognize that while the City is dealing with rising costs, so are Port Coquitlam's taxpayers," said Cllr. Dean Washington, Council's designate for budget matters. "In order to maintain a moderate increase, we put each and every 2024 budget request under the microscope and once again asked staff to be creative in finding any possible new sources of revenue or any efficiencies that would reduce costs."
Among the key investments for 2024 is the City's long-time, financially-responsible practice of setting aside funds for the replacement and renewal of infrastructure. The annual infrastructure levy is essential to Port Coquitlam's focus on providing sustainable core municipal services now and in the future - in other words, getting the basics right.
In addition to maintaining current service levels, enhanced services funded through the 2024 budget include:
- Improved safety: One new firefighter,
- Enhanced special events: Includes the grand opening of the upgraded Leigh Square 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 service,
- Access support: Removing barriers for access to City recreational programs, and
- Assistance for community organizations: Providing with operating grants.
The budget will also bring some new staff and improved services without any impact on the tax bill. These include:
- Improved safety: Additional bylaw officers who will provide a stronger bylaw presence on the streets around the City, funded through increased revenue from bylaw enforcement,
- Reduced approval time for housing projects: Additional planning staff that will allow the City to process more development applications, funded through increased development revenue,
- Dedicated attention for the City's land holdings: A new real estate manager, funded through the savings in real estate fees,
- Increased recreation services: Additional program resources at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre, funded through increased program fees, and
- Optimal maintenance and cleanliness of City recreation facilities: A new facility maintenance coordinator, funded through increased concession and program revenue at Port Coquitlam Community Centre.
In addition to the property tax increase, the user-pay levies for utilities will go up 2.96 per cent ($13.96) for water and 14.71 per cent ($51.51) for sewer for all properties, and 23.34 per cent ($62.67) for households receiving City waste collection services. These increases primarily relate to a new data-driven, equitable utility levy structure the City is moving to, based on housing type (single-family home, townhomes, apartments and secondary suites). The impact is being phased in over five years starting in 2024.
Additional details about the proposed budget will be provided during budget engagement in January. Watch portcoquitlam.ca/2024budget for information starting Jan. 9.
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Media Contact
Ximena Ibacache
Manager of Communications & Administrative Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5499
Email [email protected]