Pitt Meadows residents should expect 7.26 per cent tax increase for 2023

Residents of Pitt Meadows should expect an annual increase of $95 in their taxes, according to an official statement from the city.

The addition of nine firefighters, including two lieutenants, six firefighters and a training officer for the Fire and Rescue Services will result in an additional $7.90 monthly.

Businesses presented their annual budget plans on November 28 and November 29 to the council where a proposed annual budget increase of $175 or 4.71 per cent for a single-family household was discussed.

Read: Pitt Meadows fire and rescue services will shift to 24/7 service model

However, after the approval of additional staff for Fire and Rescue Services, the overall proposed increase would be $270 annually or 7.26 per cent for a single-family household.

To clarify, the remainder of the budget has not yet been finalized and any additional projects approved by the council on December 13 and 14 will result in a tax increase.

According to the city, a total of $133 or 3.58 per cent of the total increase come from major cost pressures by:

• RCMP policing cost
• Metro Vancouver non-discretionary charges related to water and sewage
• Supply chain inflationary costs

A portion of the budget increase, specifically 1.3 per cent or $48 per household is set to be added to the asset savings, used to maintain and replace aging infrastructure.

For city departments to maintain existing service levels, they are left with 0.72 per cent of the increase or $27 per household, earmarked for the statement concluded.

This leaves 0.72 per cent of the increase or $27 per household, earmarked for the city departments to maintain existing service levels, the statement concluded.