Vancouver councillor Melissa De Genova questions proposed additional property tax for fentanyl crisis

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      A Vancouver councillor has raised questions about a recommendation to impose an additional property tax in order for the city to deal with the ongoing drug overdose calamity.

      Melissa De Genova asked about the need for an extra 0.5 percent increase in property taxes next year after staff presented to council Tuesday (December 7) the proposed 2017 city budget.

      If approved, the hike will be on top of the 3.4 property tax that has been suggested for next year.

      De Genova asked why a tax increase is being sought when funds may be found elsewhere in the city’s budget to respond to the drug crisis.

      “Why aren’t we looking within our own budget instead of putting that burden on taxpayers?” De Genova inquired.

      According to the first-term councillor, there are “large pockets of money” in the city budget in other city programs that are described in “buzz words”.

      De Genova also asked why the city is not calling on the province to “step up” considering that there is a drug overdose crisis.

      Based on a memo by Patrice Impey, general manager of finance, risk and supply chain management, the proposed additional 0.5 percent property tax will raise $3.5 million.

      “That, in addition to the regular Council Contingency of $4 million would give Council $7.5 million that could be available to direct to initiatives noted above or new opportunities as needed to address the crisis,” Impey wrote in her memo.

      British Columbia has declared a public health emergency after another surge in drug-related overdoses and deaths

      For the first 10 months of 2016, a total of 622 illicit drug-overdose deaths have been recorded in the province.

      The opiod Fentanyl has been detected in about 60 percent of the fatal overdoses.

      In 2015, the number of drug-overdose deaths in B.C. was placed at 510. Fentanyl use accounted for 31 percent of those deaths.

      Councillor Geoff Meggs, chair of the committee on city finance and services, noted after the budget presentation that the fentanyl was not anticipated.

      City staff have proposed a $1.3 billion operating budget, and $485 million capital budget in 2017.

      The operating budget will require a 3.4 percent increase in property taxes next year.

      With a 3.4 percent property tax increase, a median condo unit assessed at $478,000 will have a tax bill of $757 in 2017. That’s going to be an increase of $25 from 2015.

      For a home assessed at $936,000, the bill is $1,483 next year. It’s a $49 increase from 2016.

      For a single-family house valued at $1.3 million, the tax bill with a 3.4 percent tax increase for next year is $2,126. That’s $72 more than last year.

      Council will vote on the budget on December 13.

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