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City hall playing homeowners for tax hike

Port Alberni city hall doesn’t get it and we are probably being prepped for another outrageous tax increase, reader says

To the Editor,

I read with interest the Richard Berg/Ken Watson exchange on taxes in the Nov. 21st issue of the Alberni Valley News’ Letters section.

It would appear that the city still doesn’t get it and we are probably being prepped for another outrageous tax increase.

It is interesting that Watson would choose 2010 as the base for his tax changes. Interesting as it is the year that council increased our tax rate 28 per cent over 2009 levels. Under pressure they reduced the taxes in 2011 which skews the 2011–2013 tax changes.

It is more accurate to start at 2008 when the city increased our municipal tax rates 54 per cent. The Consumer Price Index rose around five per cent for the same period.

Last March I noted that if city council did not do the necessary work to reduce the 2013 tax rate increase they wouldn’t do it in 2014.

Budget talks are coming soon: tell the council what you think of any proposed tax increase in 2014. Plus, there are elections coming.

Peter Finch,

Port Alberni