Letter to the Editor

On Monday March 14, City of Kimberley Councillor Kent Goodwin introduced a motion to eliminate the $786 Flat Tax, and redistribute the cost of this tax from the lower value homes on to the backs of all homes with an assessment value of $250,000 and above. Three other councillors, like puppets on a string, supported the motion and from what I understand, without even discussing the pros and cons of the change with city management.

I live in a strata apartment assessed at $164,300, living on a fixed income and I might experience a short-term benefit of a few dollars up front but has anyone evaluated all the factors involved? This shifting of city tax revenue from one pocket to the other pocket could have far reaching negative consequences and I don’t think our councillors and city management have truly thought this through. It could amount to a short-term gain for some but end up a long-term loss for the community as a whole.

I have worked in the construction industry for nearly 50 years and know how a downturn in the economy can affect a community when it comes to disposable income and jobs.

Why, when we are trying to increase our tax base, is council voting to phase out the flat tax? The flat tax is designed to ensure all properties are paying a fair share toward the maintenance of city hall, arenas, Civic Centre, library and the list goes on and on.

In my opinion the three per cent increase in the mill rate over and above the regular annual mill rate increase of three to five per cent will stifle any new housing, renovation or development in our community. Also, there are many revenue properties that will have their taxes significantly reduced, and as a result the shortfall will have to be picked up by the residents living in homes assessed at $250,000 plus.

With Kimberley being one of the highest taxed cities of our size in B.C. we need to grow and expand our tax base and reduce property taxes to remain competitive with all other communities around us.

I hope people realize the new revenue from the $10 million the city had in new building and renovation permits in 2015 will not even cover the increase in wages for city employees in 2016. The city has to grow faster than what was experienced last year just to remain the same. It’s beyond me why four councillors would risk slowing down and or worse, perhaps grinding the construction of new homes and major renovations to a halt.

If you truly care about good paying jobs being available in your community, then please take the time and get involved. Let city council know it’s not the time to put our construction, retail and service jobs at risk and demand that this motion to eliminate the flat tax be recalled and defeated.

Syd Fletcher,

Kimberley

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