Port Coquitlam homeowners can expect a 2.97% property tax increase this year after council approved the final reading of its financial plan during a meeting Monday night.
Councillors said putting together this year's document was a difficult task, as the city worked to maintain services while keep the tax rate low.
"The budget process was certainly trying to council as well as staff," said Coun. Mike Forrest. "But I believe that we ahve heard from the people that 5%, 6% increases are not sustainable."
Coun. Michael Wright, a veteran on council, noted that each year the process seems to get more difficult, and encouraged more residents to participate in next year's budget process.
The financial plan that was approved Monday night includes a new turf field, playground and trail improvements and upgrades to the city's cemetery. There are also funds set aside for environmental initiatives that include waste source separation in city parks.
Coun. Darrell Penner, however, said he would not be supporting the budget.
During third reading he told council that he was disappointed with the process and said the current plan ignores some of the public safety concerns heard from residents.
The original draft budget called for two new police officers and three firefighters, spending items that were absent in the final revision of the document.
Other changes from the first draft of the financial plan included the reduction for funds set aside for infrastructure replacement from $250,000 to $140,000.
Funding for the Port Coquitlam Community Foundation was also reduced from $50,000 to $35,000, while funds for the city's Sports Alliance was cut in half, from $30,000 to $15,000.
The changes dropped the 2012 rate increase from a proposed 4.77%, or about $90 for an average single family homeowner, to the current 2.97%, or about $55 per average single family homeowner.
A $41 utility fee increase, much of which is set by Metro Vancouver, did not change in the revised financial plan.
