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Pitt to try budget with zero tax increase

City CAO warns smaller increase could mean cuts to services for people who live in Pitt Meadows
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Tom Murray will still be collecting signatures for his petition so Pitt Meadows residents get no tax increase in 2014.

Pitt Meadows will present a budget for 2014 with no tax increase, placating a pair of seniors who started a petition to pressure the city to curb spending.

Council voted Tuesday to have city staff draft two budgets – one with no residential tax increase, as well as a second that maintains services levels and anticipated cost increases.

Tom Murray and his wife Norma launched a petition in July 2013 and collected more than 1,300 signatures in the hopes of pressuring Pitt Meadows council to deliver a zero tax increase for the fiscal year.

When the final budget was passed in December, council settled on a 3.1 per cent hike in 2013. It squeaked by in a four-three vote.

Undeterred, Murray launched a second petition at the end of June.

He thanked council at the end of Tuesday’s meeting for listening to city residents, but promises to continue collecting signatures for his petition because he’s tired of year upon year of tax increases.

“I’m happy to hear that mayor and council have stated that they will look at a zero per cent tax increase for the year 2014. However, they also are looking at a somewhat higher second scenario,” said Murray.

“Due to the fact that nothing is etched in stone, I will continue to move forward with the petition. The voters of Pitt Meadows who are signing the petition simply do not want anything other than a zero per cent increase at this time.”

Council heard Tuesday that many of the factors responsible for a tax increase are out of their control, including RCMP contract obligations and wage settlements.

A one per cent tax increase generates about $155,000 in revenue for the city, which had a budget of around $20 million in 2013.

City chief administrative officer Jake Rudolph warned council that any tax increase for 2014 that is less than three per cent will mean cuts to services.

“The potential overall tax increase is likely between five per cent and six per cent, all things considered,” he said in a report to council.

“I haven’t heard anyone say that they want services cut,” he said at the council meeting. “In fact, we get calls daily from people who want more.”

Despite criticism, taxes in Pitt Meadows are still lower when compared to other municipalities in Metro Vancouver.

Coun. Gwen O’Connell asked if the city could poll residents via social media to find out what services they think the city should cut.

Councillors Bruce Bell, Janis Elkerton and Dave Murray voted against the 2013 tax increase and voiced their support drafting two budget scenarios for 2014.

“I think there were a lot of people who signed the petition and we’d be remiss not to listen to them,” said Murray.

The zero tax petition for 2014 has already collected more than 500 signatures in a span of three weeks.

“I respect that people signed the petition, but there are literally thousands of other people who are telling us we want a pool and a good quality of life here and don’t want services cut,” said Coun. Tracy Miyashita.

“What I’m hoping, through the business planning process, is we see a lot more engagement and more citizens come out. Please let us know how you feel.”

A motion by Coun. Elkerton to move business planning into January out of the busy Christmas season received no support from her colleagues.

Elkerton said she has received many complaints about the choice of month. Business planning presentations begin mid-November and end Dec. 10. The budget is set to be finalized Dec. 19.

Maple Ridge also plans its budget around the same time but other Metro Vancouver municipalities schedule budget meetings in January or even later, in March.

“People have to go Christmas shopping or to Christmas parties. People can say you can move your schedule around but it’s not that easy,” Elkerton said.

“I would prefer to move it to January when people finish the Christmas holiday season and everyone is relaxed.”

Budget dates

• Budget presentation to council - Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.

• Council workshop -  Dec. 4, 5:30 - 9 p.m.

• Council workshop - Dec. 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Corporate Plan - Dec. 10,  6 p.m.

Council Business Plan and Budget Finalization Meetings

• Thursday, Dec. 12, 5:30 - 9 p.m.

• Monday, Dec. 16,  5:30 - 9 p.m.

• Thursday, Dec. 19, 5:30 - 9 p.m. (if needed)