Vancouver city councillor proposes shifting property tax burden from businesses to pr

[Sheba]

Let the fireworks begin...

Global News

As Vancouver city council debates its proposed budget Thursday, one city councillor wants to make some changes to the proposed property tax hike in order to help local businesses.

NPA Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung tabled a motion Thursday asking to explore shifting two per cent of the fixed property tax levy from business to residential, saying retail shops are suffering in the current market.

“It’s become increasingly difficult to operate, particularly for small businesses in the city,” Kirby-Yung said. “We are losing a lot of heart and soul in neighbourhoods that way.

“This [tax shift] is something that [business improvement associations] advocated for on behalf of their business members, specifically for this and specifically in this amount.”

Council is already considering a 4.9-per-cent property tax hike for residents, which Kirby-Yung said she does not support. She’s also asking staff to take a second look at that proposal and hopes cutting it down would make room for her proposed tax shift.

Kirby-Yung said she would also ask staff at Thursday’s council meeting to look for more savings in the proposed budget to further help alleviate the 4.9-per-cent tax hike or hold off on approving that budget.