Port Moody moved one step closer to approving a 5.56% property tax increase for 2012.
On Tuesday night, council voted in favour of the first three readings of the tax increase and final reading of the financial plan, which lays out the city's spending priorities over the next five years.
According to the city, a 2.62% increase will be used to pay for the increasing costs of city services while a 1.06% increase will be dedicated to police services; 0.5% of the rate will go toward infrastructure asset renewal while 1.18% is the levy required for the replacement of the new fire hall. With 0.2% increase for a storm drainage levy, the city's final tax increase totals 5.56%.
The budget passed with a 6-1 vote, with Coun. Gerry Nuttall opposed.
The tax increase bylaw will come back to council for fourth and final reading on May 8.
NEW BOSS
The city of Port Moody has hired a new city manager.
Kevin Ramsay, a 30-year veteran of municipal government, was previously employed as chief administrative officer with the district of Squamish and will fill the post vacated last fall by Gaetan Royer, who now works for Metro Vancouver.
In a press release, Mayor Mike Clay said: "We know that Mr. Ramsay shares our vision of ensuring our city maintains its character, charm and safety while continuing to be the vibrant City of the Arts and the best place anyone could live."
Prior to working in Squamish, Ramsay worked as general manager of human resources with the city of Vancouver, where he previously was manager of waterworks, manager of streets, manager of sanitation and the director of emergency management.
Ramsay starts his new job June 4.
