2021 Budget Consultation

Thank you to the 176 engaged participants who took part in our 2021 Budget Consultation. We value your feedback and rely on input from the community to ensure we’re balancing the delivery of services and programs with property taxes, fees, and charges.

City staff presented the 2021 Budget Consultation report at the March 16, 2021 Finance Committee Meeting (Item 3.1). Watch a video recording of the meeting here.

Some key findings from the report include:

More than 70% of respondents identified the following City services as very important:

1. Fire Rescue services (77%);
2. Water distribution, drainage, and sewer systems (maintenance and upgrades) (75%); and
3. Garbage, green waste, recycling, and glass collection (70%).

• 76% of survey respondents indicated that they received good (63%) or excellent (13%) value in relation to the taxes and utility fees that they pay.
• 42% of survey respondents wanted to maintain current service levels through a tax increase.
• 43% of respondents wanted to leave subsidies and user fees the way they are (no change); however 41% wanted to decrease subsidies so users pay more than they do now.

For more information on this consultation, download the full report, review complete survey results, and read all public engagement comments.

In 2021, the City is proposing to collect $46,590,000 – approximately $1,998,000 more than last year – in property taxes from residents and businesses to balance the budget. The proposed tax rate increase is 4.5 per cent over 2020. The average household would see an increase of about $108 for the year – that’s $9 per month, or $2.08 per week.

One percentage point (equal to $444,000 in 2021) of the proposed 4.5 per cent tax rate increase is for the Asset Renewal Levy, which funds the replacement of existing critical infrastructure, amenities, and facilities; the other 3.5 percentage points (equal to $1,554,000 in 2021) would be used to fund increases to the operating budget.

Here’s what it would cost an average* household to run the City in 2021:

	City Administration $117 (-$5 from 2020)
	Community Services $565 (+$93 from 2020)
	Engineering and Operations $149 (+$6 from 2020)
	Finance and Technology $177 (+$21 from 2020)
	Fire Rescue $503 (+$14 from 2020)
	Fiscal Services $91 (–$83 from 2020)
	People, Communications & Engagement $97 (+$6 from 2020)
	Port Moody Public Library $110 (+$6 from 2020)
	Community Development $52 (+$12 from 2020)
	Port Moody Police $651 (+$38 from 2020)

* The average property assessment for a Port Moody home is $970,000 in 2021

The City has two types of budget expenses: operating and capital. Our operating budget covers spending related to Port Moody’s day-to-day operations. The City’s capital budget funds larger, longer-term projects, mostly related to maintaining, upgrading, and replacing the City’s infrastructure and facilities.

Here are some of the capital projects proposed in the 2021-2025 Draft Financial Plan:

• road rehabilitation projects and planning, e.g. St. Johns Street multi-use pathway, Clarke Street functional design, Ioco Road transportation and mobility study;
• traffic safety projects, e.g. School Traffic Safety Initiative, improvements to street lights, bus stop accessibility improvements;
• sanitary sewer and drainage improvements, e.g. North Shore sanitary sewer rehabilitation phases 1 and 2; Ioco Road low-pressure sanitary siphon and Valve replacement; Inlet Centre integrated stormwater management planning;
• water infrastructure projects, e.g. Chestnut Reservoir seismic upgrade, fire hydrant improvements, Glenayre/Seaview/College Park water system rehabilitation;
• facilities maintenance projects and planning, e.g. Old Orchard Hall balcony replacement and envelope repairs, Public Safety Building geothermal heat pump replacement, Westhill childcare facility, seniors’ centre feasibility study;
• trail, park, and playground rehabilitation, e.g. Inlet Trail boardwalk and pedestrian bridge reconstruction, Rocky Point Park Master Plan review, paving of Shoreline Trail bike path (North Shore in coordination with sanitary sewer project), Tree Protection Bylaw update;
• and climate change response, e.g. climate resilient landscaping, extreme weather response plan, zero emissions plan for new and existing buildings.