VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - If you own a home in Vancouver, your property taxes are going up by 4.2 per cent next year.
Vision Councillor Raymond Louie says they were originally looking at a much higher number, because the city was facing a $60 million dollar shortfall. He tells us they realize many people are still struggling financially. "At 2.2 per cent (overall) it equates to about $36 for a home worth $700,000."
The overall increase is calculated from a 4.2 per cent increase for homeowners and a tiny 0.2 per cent increase for businesses.
Some of the highlights of the 2011 budget include $300,000 to the Park Board to cover youth playing field fees and keeping park washrooms open, expanding shower services for the homeless, money for the Vancouver Public Library to restore operating hours in five branches, and $200,000 for the VPD's Gang and Emergency Response Team.
As far as major expenses, there's a $5.7 million increase for Vancouver Police, and $3.2 million for Vancouver Fire. Fire Chief John McKearny says they got the $2.5 million they were hoping for, $500,000 to make up for a budget short fall, and on top of that, nearly $200,000 for special training and recruiting.
He explains they're putting some of that money towards hiring more women. "I think the community at large expects their fire service as well as their police service and their other services to have some representation of their community. And we're trying; this initiative will allow us to focus more on that area."
McKearny says they'll likely be hiring about 40 people this year.