By Dominic Abassi

1.5 per cent property tax hike given final approval by Nanaimo council

May 2, 2017 | 5:17 PM

NANAIMO — Councillors have locked in a 1.5 per cent property tax hike for 2017.

The tax increase and financial plan were officially adopted Monday night. Deborah Duncan, the city’s manager of financial planning, told NanaimoNewsNOW the average homeowner will see their bill increase by about $81 compared to last year. That includes jumps in user fees for things like water and garbage collection.

Staff had recommended a higher increase in property taxes to cover deficits in the snow and ice control budget and extensive road repair caused by the nasty winter, however the Finance and Audit Committee sent them back to the drawing board.

Duncan said they were able to bring the number back down by not creating a new reserve fund as originally recommended.

Only coun. Diane Brennan voted against the budget, calling it “too skinny, relying too heavily on reserves…I think this is a politically motivated budget. I think it has very little to do with the requirements of the City.”

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Coun. Bill Yoachim asked staff if any services were cut in the budget, to which chief financial officer Victor Mema said no.

“I’m impressed with what they’ve (City staff) done,” said coun. Jim Kipp, who called it a good budget. “We have to concern ourselves with wages climbing at an extraordinary rate and not having the pot of money to fix our infrastructure.”

As part of the approved financial plan, a one per cent annual increase to property taxes which was set to expire this year will continue. That increase is dedicated to filling the asset management reserve fund.

dominic.abassi@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @domabassi