Spending increases higher than inflation, population growth
Metro Vancouver spending increases soared in the last three years, too
A report Monday from the Business Council of British Columbia confirms what West Vancouver taxpayers likely know: municipal spending has grown faster than the rate of inflation and population growth. And it says spending has soared at Metro Vancouver in the last three years.
It is a sign of poor fiscal management. It might be acceptable for spending to grow at the rate of inflation, or grow because it is serving a larger population, but not at rates beyond those.
The report says that between 2010 and 2024, the real growth in spending (that is, the amount already adjusted for inflation) in West Vancouver has been 2.2% year. The population growth in that time has only been 0.8% per year. Those two numbers ought to match.
Those increases drive tax increases. Of course, tax increases in this administration have been well beyond inflation: 4.14% in 2023, 7.54% in 2024, 3% in 2025 and 3.43% in 2026. As I’ve noted before, the 2025 and 2026 tax increases were lighter because mayor and council chose to draw from reserve funds–basically, tomorrow’s dollars spent today.
The compounded increase has been 19.3% during this administration. Its own documents suggest a further 7% increase in property tax is coming next year, in no small measure because it will be paying back the reserve funds after taking money from them this year and last year.
The increases at Metro Vancouver are even more problematic: 97% between 2010 and 2024, while population growth was 31% and inflation 36%. The Business Council notes that most of the spending increases took place in the last three years. It calls, as I have argued before and during my mayoralty campaign, for an overhaul of Metro Vancouver’s role and governance.
I agree with the Business Council that spending ought to be anchored to spending and population growth. I would go further to suggest that while it’s wise to have a ceiling on spending, we shouldn’t assume that’s the optimal target. We should always be looking for efficiency and savings, given that taxes everywhere are growing and affordability is the top issue for British Columbians.
I can deliver that change.