MetroValley Newspaper Group
Mon 17 Mar 2008
Page: 1
Section: Bc Local News - News
Tax hike topic of TransLink hearing tonight
TransLink holds a public hearing tonight on whether it should increase residential property taxes by seven per cent.
The authority needs to raise $18 million to replace the defunct parking stall tax, which was killed by the provincial government after a campaign by business groups that formed the Park the Tax Coalition.
Now business leaders want the replacement property tax - which originally was to be paid only by businesses - raised from residential home owners as well.
The result would be a seven per cent hike in TransLink's residential property tax equivalent to about $13 more on a $500,000 house. Businesses would also pay seven per cent more, instead of 15 per cent if they had to shoulder the tax alone.
TransLink's new appointed board of directors will decide the issue at its March 28 closed-door meeting.
The hearing takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. March 17 at the Firefighters Hall at 6515 Bonsor Ave., near Metrotown, in Burnaby.
Public comments are also being taken through TransLink's web site at www.translink.bc.ca.
The provincial government, in passing TransLink reform legislation last fall, gave the new unelected board the power to raise the tax from any of the property classes as it sees fit.
The first draft of the legislation had exempted residential home owners, in line with recommendations of the TransLink review panel, chaired by ex-Langley City Mayor Marlene Grinnell.
Business groups met privately last Thursday with TransLink board chair Dale Parker and senior TransLink executives.
"We spoke with one voice," said Bob Laurie, co-chair of the Vancouver Fair Tax Coalition and a Vancouver Board of Trade director.
He said businesses are hoping for more rational decision making after Victoria disbanded the former TransLink board of mayors and councillors, whose re-election depends heavily on the votes of home owners.
Laurie said business groups argued the new board's decision will be a "defining moment" of whether TransLink acts more fairly to business or continues to "pander to the residents." |
 |
