For immediate release

Business applauds council’s decision

Vancouver, BC, April 19, 2007 – The 2007 property tax allocation set by Vancouver City Council is good news for the business community, said the Vancouver Fair Tax Coalition that represents more than 43,000 businesses in the city.

Reacting to council’s decision to hold non-residential property taxes at 2006 levels, coalition co-chair Ed Des Roches said, “This is what we asked for, and we congratulate council for having the courage and intelligence to do the right thing.”

The Vancouver Fair Tax Coalition has been urging council to hold non-residential property taxes in order to address the significant imbalance in what property owners pay in taxes compared with city services consumed.

Coalition co-chair Bob Laurie noted that, “This is the first city council that has understood the issue, and accepted the fact that the way we have distributed the tax burden among property classes is blatantly unfair. Finally, a council is actually doing something to correct the fact that business pays six times the rate paid by homeowners but consumes only a fraction of the services.”

Research conducted by the coalition’s technical committee shows that holding tax increases to the non-residential classes for two years – as recommended by the coalition – would have a modest impact on residential households.

“We recognize that it is not easy for council to shift property taxes,” said Des Roches.  “But holding non-residential taxes will cost the average homeowner the equivalent of a couple of cups of coffee a week.

“This stops the rise in taxes for non-residential properties in its tracks. After years of neglect, we can now expect a decrease in the tax burden paid by businesses, and find a way to balance the amount of tax business pays with the city services we consume.”

The Vancouver Fair Tax Coalition represents local businesses concerned about the high municipal property taxes they pay.

For more information about the VFTC, visit www.fairtaxcoalition.com.

Media contacts:
Ed Des Roches
Co-Chair, Vancouver Fair Tax Coalition
604-254-5034 ext. 103

Bob Laurie
Co-Chair, Vancouver Fair Tax Coalition
604-662-5180

Perry Goldsmith
Contemporary Communications Ltd.
604-734-3663