LETTER: Langley City tax increase reflects years of inaction

Dear Editor,

[Re: LETTER: Tax hike reflects years of inaction, Langley Advance Times, March 30]

We agree with Scott Thompson’s view on the tax hike Langley City residents are about to face this year and years moving forward. The council failed to recognize the impacts of this decision on all city residents.

Taxpayers need to know that council could have held back on passing the budget until more information on the provincial grant was available, as proposed by Councillor Delaney Mack and seconded by Coun. Leith White.

They could have used the $7.2 million provincial grant to support the infrastructure project and choose to borrow less money ($7.8 million).

Instead, they chose to stick with the $15 million loan ($30.2 million at current interest rates over 20 years). In addition, we are borrowing this money when interest rates are at their highest in years. We will now see this as a budget line item for the next 20 years.

The $7.2 million given to the City by the province is our taxpayer money – we have already paid for this money and should have a say on how it is spent.

We do have a say on whether the City should borrow $15 million for infrastructure and property acquisition for SkyTrain. In late May or early June, the City will advertise the loan. Taxpayers can submit a (negative) response form within a specified time period. If 10 per cent of the voters are not in agreement, it will trigger either a referendum or reconsideration of the loan.

If you disagree, please watch for the ad and be prepared to submit the negative response form – inaction means you approve of the loan and tax hike of 11.5 per cent.

Let’s not compound mistakes from the previous years. If they can minimize the amount borrowed, they can limit the stress put on taxpayers in the form of tax hikes for years to come.

Darrell and Vicki Krell, Langley City

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