New Westminster needs to be more tax-competitive
Re: Breathing life into main streets (NewsLeader, Jan. 11)
I think the quickest way to improve New Westminster’s streets is to make running a business on them more competitive with surrounding municipalities.
The average value of a property in New West ranks 13 out of 16 for communities in Metro Vancouver, excluding Langley, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
However the Business Tax Rate is the second-highest in the same area. This tax rate excludes the “extra” costs business ratepayers are subject to, like metered water and sewage charges, and garbage removal. From personal experience I know that New West’s water and sewage rates are among the highest in the Lower Mainland.
If Jonathan Coté is truly interested in seeing a vibrant business community here, he should use his position on city council to reduce the costs local businesses face so they can compete with similar business in neighbouring cities and communities.
Talking about revitalizing our city and actually achieving results means making hard decisions and reducing the cost of running this small municipality.
It’s high time this city started trimming the fat and lowering taxes for both businesses and residents alike.
Harm Woldring
New Westminster
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