Editor:
The City of Abbotsford is attacking the middle class with significant tax increases.
Here are my property taxes for the last few years in Abbotsford. In 2015 my home was worth $515,000; now in 2017 it’s worth $793,000.
My property taxes, along with our neighbours, have gone up $1,000 just in the last two years.
Year Tax amount Increase
2017 5,408.29 11.05% $538.35
2016 4,869.94 12.42% $537.90
2015 4,332.04 0.98% $42.23
2014 4,289.81 3.96% $163.32
2013 4,126.49 0.61% $25.05
2012 4,101.44
People with larger, more expensive homes were spared much of the brunt of the 2017 increase and their properties didn’t go up much. But people with regular middle class homes saw 40 to 50 per cent increases. Since this was more than the “average” the middle class who can’t afford it are paying way too much.
In 2011 Abbotsford had 59,320 households (it’s much higher now). Multiply that by even half of my increase ($500) and thats an extra $30 million in increased taxes the city is taking. And at the same time our services like recycling are getting worse.
People need to know about this. It’s a huge cash grab.
I’m personally not voting for this city council again after this.
I know the city does not control property values, but they do control percentage of property taxation, and this $1,000 increase over two years is way too much for a middle class family to afford.
Mason Kealy, Abbotsford