Letter: I’m sick of New Westminster’s tax increases

“Efficiency” and “productivity” should be municipal buzzwords, says this author.

Editor:

I hope every property owner is fed up with our local bureaucrats pumping out the same old horror comparisons every year. This year, it’s Finance Director Harji Varn’s turn. Your statement? 80 to 90 percent of BC communities say they will have tax increases in the 5 to 7 percent range in 2023.

Gosh, I don’t hear 80 to 90 percent of our New Westminster residents saying they will spend 5 to 7 percent more in 2023! In fact, I hear that while essential purchases cost more, they limit or exclude the purchase of certain items.

What the hell does Ms. Varn’s quote have to do with New Westminster? Aren’t we our own unique city with better ideas than most who, contrary to our boast, can’t afford to hire the “best of the best”? Or should we talk about “cuts” by reducing our hired staff, like Coun. said Jamie McEvoy, and then we call it what it is. And what’s wrong with Councilor Daniel Fontaine recommending that we find “efficiency” first, or is that taboo on staff?

Rather, I doubt if there is a single reader who hasn’t thought about cuts in their family, especially in 2023.

One day the “sheep” will call for the merger of churches across our province. Having a mayor, aldermen, managers and staff upping the yin-yang for each and every registered community is incredible. Look at the mergers and acquisitions of private companies over the last 50 years. Their watchword is efficiency gains and ultimately better productivity.

One statistic that cannot be disputed is that unfortunately a large percentage of families are only a few dollars away from losing everything. Like raising interest rates, raising city taxes is a killer to our survival. And stick to your core responsibilities, New Westminster. Save time and a lot of money just to experience these “feel good moments”.

Stop fooling around trying to erase history, especially if it was a story outside of our territory.

Bill Davis, New Westminster

📢 MUTE: What do you think? How should the city deal with its budget for 2023? Do you think spending needs to be cut? Or do you have a different perspective? Send us a letter.

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