ARTICLE
MEDIA RELEASE IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 08, 2010 City’s Pace on Tax Reduction too Slow Victoria, B.C. –The City of Victoria has reduced its business to residential tax ratio for next year’s budget, but the reduction is too slow a pace to fulfill the Mayor’s stated election promise says that Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. The Mayor noted that his commitment was to bring the business to residential property tax ratio to 3:1. This year they will reduce it from 3.66:1 to 3.59:1 – a reduction of only .07 to business. “At this rate, the Mayor won’t attain his stated goal and commitment to the business community until 2019! says Bruce Carter, CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. “We were expecting a bit more progressive action from council than this.” The Chamber has been advocating for a reduced business to residential ratio for years along with the reintroduction of the business vote. “The small business community is the backbone of our region’s economy. Fair property tax levels are an important part of supporting small business and this is something that the city could deliver on right now. The business vote is a larger issue that we are taking up with the province”, continues Carter. The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has approximately 1500 members and is the voice of business for the Greater Victoria region. The Greater Victoria Chamber has received Accreditation with Distinction from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. -30- For more information contact: Shannon Renault Bruce Carter Manager Policy Development & Communications Chief Executive Officer Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Cell 250-812-0510 Email: bcarter@gvcc.org Email: srenault@gvcc.org
MEDIA RELEASE
April 08, 2010
City’s Pace on Tax Reduction too Slow
Victoria, B.C. –The City of Victoria has reduced its business to residential tax ratio for next year’s budget, but the reduction is too slow a pace to fulfill the Mayor’s stated election promise says that Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.
The Mayor noted that his commitment was to bring the business to residential property tax ratio to 3:1. This year they will reduce it from 3.66:1 to 3.59:1 – a reduction of only .07 to business. “At this rate, the Mayor won’t attain his stated goal and commitment to the business community until 2019! says Bruce Carter, CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. “We were expecting a bit more progressive action from council than this.”
The Chamber has been advocating for a reduced business to residential ratio for years along with the reintroduction of the business vote.
“The small business community is the backbone of our region’s economy. Fair property tax levels are an important part of supporting small business and this is something that the city could deliver on right now. The business vote is a larger issue that we are taking up with the province”, continues Carter.
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has approximately 1500 members and is the voice of business for the Greater Victoria region. The Greater Victoria Chamber has received Accreditation with Distinction from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
-30-
For more information contact:
Shannon Renault Bruce Carter
Cell 250-812-0510 Email: bcarter@gvcc.org
Email: srenault@gvcc.org