---

A property tax increase in addition to the two-cent-per-litre gas tax is a very real possibility says Surrey Civic Coalition Candidate Stephanie Ryan.

She predicts the Metro Vancouver Mayors’ Council will get boxed in by the provincial government and “are likely to break their promise that transit won’t be funded through property tax increase.”

Ryan explained that the BC Liberals have put legislation in place for the new TransLink two-cent-per-litre gas tax to be deducted starting April 1, 2012. Mayor Dianne Watts and other members of the Mayors Council voted in favour of the new two-cent-per-litre gas tax.

Ryan said TransLink’s share of the $400 million required for the Evergreen Line is legislated to come from property taxes until the province and the Mayors’ Council agree on an alternative long-term, sustainable funding source. The gap in funding will need to be bridged within the next year.

Ryan said the province and Mayors Council haven’t got a good track record of negotiations and “are unlikely to reach agreement within the next year. So homeowners should anticipate an increase in their property taxes.”

Ryan said, “TransLink and the province have been unable to agree on a long-term, sustainable funding source for public transit in the Lower Mainland. Experience shows us that unless someone can work a miracle in the next 12 months, the Mayors Council will be forced to default to withdrawing funds from property taxes, something the majority of them previously promised would never happen.”

Ryan said she too is opposed to funding transit through property taxes, saying it is a regressive form of taxation that charges people based on the value of their property rather than their ability to pay.

“It’s time for the provincial government to provide adequate funding for local transit so residents can be assured their property taxes won’t be used to fund transportation.”

For further information, contact:

Stephanie Ryan
c. 778-855-8574
e. stephanieryan86@gmail.com

---