Port Moody residents and business owners invited to provide input on 2019 budget

Members of the public can visit portmoody.ca/budget to read the City’s Budget Booklet, with information about the budget process and the City’s proposed net operating expenses for 2019, and provide input by completing an online survey (paper forms are available at City Hall, 100 Newport Drive).

The City also invites residents and business owners to attend a town hall meeting at City Hall starting at 7pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2019, to hear Council discuss the 2019-2023 Draft Financial Plan. At the meeting, members of the public who wish to speak will have a chance to share their thoughts on proposed budget changes and priorities.

In 2019, the City is proposing to collect $43.3 million in property taxes from residents and businesses to balance the budget. In order to collect that amount, on January 22, 2019 Council approved a draft proposed net budget increase of $2.26 million with an estimated tax rate increase of 5.55 per cent. The average household would see an increase of about $124 for the year – that’s $10.33 per month, or $2.38 per week.

When proposing an increase, the City takes into consideration rising costs, due to factors such as inflation, and the need for additional services, facility and infrastructure improvements, new equipment, insurance, and many other operating costs. The City is proposing to collect an additional $407,000 – or one per cent of the proposed increase to the property tax rate – for the Asset Levy to continue fund the replacement of existing critical infrastructure throughout the city.

Examples of proposed capital and operating projects contained in the 2019-2023 Draft Financial Plan.

• fleet replacement, including a specialized truck for sewer maintenance and repair, mobile generator for emergency responses, Parks tractor, and eight police vehicles;
• road rehabilitation at various locations, e.g. Angela Drive, Cecile Drive, Alisa Avenue, and Heritage Mountain Boulevard;
• facilities maintenance, e.g. ice plant upgrades and chiller replacement for Arena 2, geothermal heat pump replacement at the Public Safety Building, updating fire safety plans, and improved outdoor lighting at Old Orchard Hall;
• updates to the sewer and drainage master plan, plus sanitary sewer and drainage improvements at various locations, e.g. Avalon Drive (sewer and drainage repairs); Shoreline Trail (sewer improvements); Glenayre, Seaview, College Park, and North Shore neighbourhoods (sewer rehabilitation); and Heritage Mountain Boulevard (drainage improvements);
• water infrastructure projects, including continued water main renewal on Murray Street, improvements at Avalon Drive, fire hydrant improvements, and upgrades to infrastructure monitoring and control systems;
• trail, park, and playground rehabilitation projects at various locations, e.g. Shoreline Trail bike path rehabilitation, Westhill Park playground, Inlet Trail boardwalk and pedestrian bridge reconstruction, treatment and removal of invasive plant species (knotweed and spartina), and the continued removal of dangerous trees on City lands;
• replacement of two pieces of heavy Fire Rescue apparatus that will go into service in 2021;
• improvements to traffic signals, street lights, and bus stops; and
• civic events, such as Canada Day, Public Works Day, and Holiday Cheer at the Pier celebrations.