Last week, I put forward a motion to look more closely at 35 capital projects set to be funded in 2015 with an eye of trimming the tax increase from 2.5% to 1.83% . We need to be looking forward at our tax framework if we want to attract more businesses and individuals to #cityofpg!
I had to vote against the budget for 2015.
PUBLISHED IN THE PG CITIZEN ON AUGUST 19th, 2014. FULL LINK HERE
BY CHARELLE EVELYN
City council will get to see what a 1.5 per cent tax levy increase looks like, but won’t be holding itself to that number.
During Monday night’s meeting, the majority of council members were unsupportive of a proposal by Coun. Albert Koehler to cap the general tax increase in the 2015 draft budget at 1.5 per cent.
An amendment put forward by Coun. Lyn Hall was unanimously approved to include the 1.5 per cent limit in the work staff are already doing to prepare next year’s financial plan.
Setting the limit at 1.5 per cent would tie the hands of administration, a number of councillors said.
Last year, Koehler brought forward a similar proposal, to tie the tax levy increase to the rate of inflation. By the time council was finished with it, staff were directed to come back with a draft budget with no more than a 2.5 per cent levy increase. (more…)
PUBLISHED IN PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN July 29, 2014
Coun. Albert Koehler is hoping the second time’s a charm for tying the city’s tax levy increase to inflation.
Koehler has submitted notice for a motion to limit any increase to the general levy in the 2015 budget to 1.5 per cent.
A similar motion was put forward last summer, but was ultimately unsuccessful, with the majority of council hesitant to place too stringent a limit on staff learn this here now.
A 2.5 per cent cap was approved by a 6-3 vote with Coun. Cameron Stolz and Mayor Shari Green backing Koehler’s idea to tie the increase to the Consumer Price Index, which was 1.5 per cent at the time. (more…)