When compared to surrounding cities, Delta residents and businesses enjoy some of the lowest property taxes in the Lower Mainland. But with rising costs mounting from Metro Vancouver, Translink, ICBC, and the province, Delta families are keeping less of their hard-earned money.
Achieving for Delta’s mayoral candidate George Harvie is sounding the alarm on the urgent need to keep Delta’s taxes low.
“It’s a major concern I’m hearing daily: people love living in Delta, but they’re feeling the pinch of rising taxes and fees across the board, and they’re not sure if a future for their family here is possible,” said Harvie. “It’s incredibly stressful for them – and I’m concerned that on Oct. 20, after nearly two decades of low taxes, Delta could lose its way as a fiscally responsible city, and it’s these young families and seniors who are going to feel it the most.
“That’s exactly who Achieving for Delta is working to protect – and it’s why we’re committed to keeping taxes low by setting a four-year fiscal plan and sticking to it to keep Delta debt-free.”
With a 17-year record of strong fiscal management in his role as City Manager, Harvie worked with Mayor Lois Jackson to establish a debt management policy in 2002 to halt borrowing and gradually eliminate Delta's debt. Since then, Delta has paid down nearly $60 million in debt to eliminate it entirely in 2017 – five years ahead of schedule.
Together as a team, Harvie and Jackson led a series of successful delegations to Ottawa between 2008 and 2016, which resulted in Delta securing federal grant funding for a total of 14 major infrastructure projects. Delta undertook the projects, worth a total of approximately $42.5 million, at a cost to Delta of approximately $14.8 million. All projects were successfully completed on time and on budget.
“I am the only candidate in this race with a proven record of strong financial management here in Delta, and it’s this experience that will allow me to fight for and protect our taxpayers from day one,” said Harvie. “Our four-year plan will meet community needs, set priorities, and ensure that we aren’t borrowing to pay for our promises – because every dollar spent on interest payments is a dollar taken away from improving our community services and keeping Delta safe.
“We simply can’t afford that. We need to keep moving forward by investing every cent of taxpayer money back into a plan for a better, more affordable Delta for our young families and seniors, which I will be announcing more on in the coming days.”
As part of his plan to invest in Delta’s residents and facilities while keeping the books in balance, Harvie says he will focus on growing the tax base by attracting new jobs and businesses to Delta with incentives and reduced approval times – particularly in Delta’s industrial areas. He says the goal is to increase the tax base “so there will be more people paying taxes -- not the same people paying more taxes.”
Harvie added that a key part of this plan to attract businesses will also involve getting to the table with provincial and federal partners to move forward on the construction of the George Massey Tunnel Replacement project to ensure a safer and more efficient flow of people and goods in and out of Delta.
