Property tax to increase by 3.9%

Burnaby residents can expect a 3.9% increase in their property taxes this year, with an additional 1.9% “infrastructure levy” bringing the total increase to 5.8%. Among the reasons cited for the increase is provincial legislation that has reduced city income from new developments and increased costs and economic uncertainty due to the tariffs imposed by the US government. 

Burnaby City Council held a special council meeting on Mar. 4 to discuss the increases and the upcoming financial plan. 

According to a report submitted to council during the special council meeting on Mar. 4, “​​During the Feb. 24, 2025 meeting, the Draft 2025 Operating Budget proposed a property tax levy increase of 5.37%. Council has requested the following adjustments, which would result in a reduced property tax levy increase of 3.90%.”

During the meeting, council members had a somewhat heated discussion about the rate of increase. 

“I think this 3.9% is still too high for our residents. We know that later, we are going to pass a resolution, another levy, a property levy, and an additional 1.9%...If this is 1.9% plus 3.9% for this regular operating budget increase, it will be a 5.8% total for the taxpayers to absorb,” said Coun. Richard Lee. “I think for the pensioners, the limited-income people in our city, the 3.9% is a really high increase for them, for a general tax increase. So I would like to see if possible a 3.0% increase so that it is more in line with inflation.”

Most of the other council members supported the tax increase and levy. Coun. Sav Dhaliwal spoke at length about the “difficult choices” council had to make in order to keep providing the same level of services to residents. 

Coun. Pietro Calendino supported the increases and compared the city favourably to other neighbouring municipalities. Calendino said that other cities have been increasing their taxes, while Burnaby has kept its taxes within the same range.  

“We’ve stayed between three and 4% every single year for the last 10 to 15 years, and we have fallen about 25% behind all the comparable municipalities in Metro Vancouver for the last five years,” Calendino said. 

Coun. Alison Gu also spoke in favour of the increase and called Lee’s comments and request to staff to reduce the increases and send the proposal back to staff to find additional savings “irresponsible.”

The mayor and several councillors spoke about economic uncertainty due to US President Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada. Coun. Maita Santiago cited the economic uncertainty due to the new tariffs. Santiago added that 3.9% is reasonable and allows the city to continue to provide services to Burnaby residents. 

“To say that these are uncertain economic times ahead is an understatement, and so I’m also glad to see that here in Burnaby, with council, with staff, we’ve really been very prudent and mindful about the challenges our residents face,” Santiago said. 

Both Dhaliwal and Gu agreed that the city’s capital contribution is already too low and will not help people down the line. 

“When a sewer main bursts in front of somebody’s home and floods three different homes, I don’t think they’ll think that the $50 savings across the entire city of Burnaby for every resident, every household, is going to be worth it,” Gu said. “We have already used growth to offset property taxes by $7.8 million and we already used growth to further contribute to capital, as per the ACC/DCC legislation. What Councillor Lee is proposing is not just inequitable across the City of Burnaby, not just financially irresponsible, but it ultimately doesn’t put people first. It puts the highest paying residents, the people who are living in seven $7 million mansions, first at the expense of everybody else.” 

Coun. Daniel Tetrault also spoke about the importance of the tax increase and levy for infrastructure projects, especially the missing sidewalks, as discussed at last week’s council meeting. 

“Last week, we had a presentation at the council meeting about the top 10 prioritized sidewalks around the city, and it was eye-opening for me as well, just to see all around the city the areas where there are no sidewalks,” Tetrault said. “This also speaks to the Jim Lorimer Park, which is in an area already in need of green space and park space.”

This piece was made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.

Like what you just read? Do you support local journalism? Help us keep going—and growing.

Sign up for our once a week newsletter, or become an Insider to show your love for local reporters and writers.