Maple Ridge council has approved the property tax bylaw for 2019, calling for an average total increase of 4.2 per cent in taxes.
That works out to another $129 a year for an average home valued at $744,000, says a financial services report.
Council approved the increases at its April 23 meeting, with Coun. Gordy Robson voting against it. Robson wanted the municipal increase decreased.
Three readings were given to the property tax bylaw.
When city taxes – which pay for general operations, drainage and parks and recreation – are considered alone, the increase is 3.5 per cent.
However, increases in charges for water, sewer and recycling boosted the overall property tax increase to 4.2 per cent.
Those numbers are based on an average home and will vary whether a property’s value increased or decreased more than the city-wide average.
Robson said he expected the city to be moving towards funding its recreation costs through community amenity contributions, paid by developers, instead of through general taxes.
“I think these taxes are about one per cent too high, the increase, and I won’t be supporting it,” Robson added.
Coun. Judy Dueck said the tax rates were created by the previous council.
Mayor Mike Morden said the previous council did the new council a huge service by approving the financial plan for the coming year.
In 2018, the average Maple Ridge home value, (a blend of house, condo and townhouse prices) was $680,000. In 2019, that average home is now worth $744,000.
pmelnychuk@mapleridgenews.com
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