Vancouver considers series of fee hikes on everything from parking to business licences
The cost of living in the City of Vancouver could be climbing yet again.
Council is considering a slew of new fees on everything from parking permits to ride-hailing costs.
City staff suggest the price hikes could alleviate pressure on property taxes.
Homeowners were hit with a nearly 11-per-cent tax hike this year.
A report from the director of finance proposes a host of higher fees.
Among the recommendations is a nearly 50-per-cent hike to business licenses.
The cost of short-term rental licences could more than quadruple from $110 to $450 a year.
City councillor Pete Fry told CTV News that there’s been an issue with some short-term rental operators not following bylaws and getting around regulations.
“We don’t have enough resources to really go out and do the audits,” said Fry. “Most of our business license appeal hearings are about Airbnbs and it eats up a lot of staff resources.”
The Green councillor went on to say that possible fee increases will help offset the work that goes into short-term rental regulation, while predominantly being paid for by tourists and hopefully opening additional rental housing for Vancouverites.
“A lot of these proposals are to mitigate impacts on taxpayers come 2024 budget (time),” said Fry, Thursday morning.
Increases are also being proposed for residential parking permits, pet licences, and ride-hailing fees. Staff believe the higher fees could rake in $15.2 million a year.
That revenue would reduce next year’s property tax hike by about 1.4 per cent.
The budget outlook released in June warned that Vancouverites could face a nine-per-cent property tax hike every year for the next five years if the city continues spending the way it has been.
The report will be presented to council next Wednesday.
If approved, the hikes would take effect in January.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Prince William and Kate release photo of daughter Charlotte to mark ninth birthday
Prince William and his wife Kate released a picture of their daughter Charlotte to mark the princess's ninth birthday on Thursday.
Doctors concerned about potential spread of bird flu in Canada
H5N1 or avian flu has been detected at dozens of US dairy farms and Canadian experts are urging surveillance on our side of the border too.
This Canadian restaurant just lowered its prices. Here's how it did it
A Canadian restaurant lowered its prices this week, and though news of price tags dropping rather than climbing sounds unusual, the business strategy in this case is not, according to experts in the field.
Man involved in Dartmouth, N.S., emergency alert earlier this week turns himself in
A 49-year-old man has been charged in connection with an alleged assault that happened earlier this week in Dartmouth, N.S.
Concerns about Plexiglas prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall Plexiglas barriers.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Goring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Imagine living in a 4-foot body that doesn't develop chronic diseases
Nathaly Paola Castro Torres has a rare disorder called Laron syndrome that is caused by a genetic mutation. It stunts her growth but also provides a hidden silver lining: Her body is protected from chronic diseases such as cancer that often take life away long before old age.
'Oh, there you go': Tyler Black, son of veteran broadcaster Rod Black, has memorable Major League Baseball debut
Canadian baseball player Tyler Black made a major splash in his first-ever big league game for the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.
Groundbreaking American guitarist Duane Eddy dies age 86
Guitarist Duane Eddy, best known for twangy riffs on hits such as 'Rebel Rouser' and 'Cannonball,' has died at the age of 86.