Taxpayers have their say on 2021 rate increase

Council holds virtual meeting to hear input on possible 3.5% hike

A resident asked city council to defund the police at a city tax meeting on Wednesday, adding that she doesn’t like to see the “militarization” of the force through its acquisition of a light-armoured vehicle.

Nicola Koyanagi, 27, told council at a virtual meeting that she’s a Japanese-Canadian, and asked council to fund areas such as affordable housing and harm reduction programs instead of police.

Council gave police $26.3 million to operate the service in 2020, a cost that Koyanagi called “astronomical.”

City police have accepted a light-armoured vehicle from an anonymous donor, but Koyanagi said it “will not keep our community safe” but make marginalized people feel unsafe.

“I’m asking councillors to never again increase the police budget,” she said.

At a virtual meeting on Wednesday, residents had their chance to speak to council about the potential for a tax hike of up to 3.5 per cent in 2021.

Koyanagi was one of 10 people who registered in advance to speak.

Councillors are considering a new city staff report that suggests an all-inclusive tax increase of three per cent for 2021. The increase could end up

“I’m asking councillors to never again increase the police budget.”

NICOLA KOYANAGI CONCERNED CITIZEN

being as high as 3.5 per cent: City staff will provide a report later in 2020 on the prospect of seeking up to a further 0.5 per cent in taxes, in case council must have matching funds available to access any post-pandemic grants from other levels of government.

A previous report to councillors in May states that the city has lost $6.8 million in revenues from sources such as parking fees, arena fees and transit.

“I absolutely think we need to raise taxes,” said artist and arts manager Kate Story, referring to the recovery of lost money.

But another speaker, small business owner Andrew Roudny, said the city is already

overtaxing its citizens and that a tax increase will discourage people from moving here. Sheila Nabigon-Howlett urged council to think more about the climate crisis and to hike the fines to $100 for motorists who idle their vehicles.

Tricia Clarkson asked council to buy two electric city buses plus charging infrastructure.

“E-buses will encourage citizens to take public transit because it’s fun to travel on a clean-energy e-bus with zero emissions,” she said.

There was no debate from council Wednesday on whether to go along with staff’s suggestion of a three per cent tax increase. Councillors will decide on July 13 whether to ask staff to write draft budget documents with a three per cent increase in mind.