Dear Editor,
I’d like to get this letter out because I want to make sure I understand this property tax situation completely and would like the feedback of the community.
Am I to understand that long-term property owners who have watched their taxes skyrocket out of control due to the housing market are now going to face the further hardship of having their property assessments reflect the market value of homes, plus have the further indignity of paying another three per cent on top of that?
So, a long-term homeowner, who may now be retired and on a fixed income, will potentially be looking at an assessment of $1.8 million (up from $1.2 million) and will be facing another three per cent increase on top of that? So that same resident, who is potentially between 65 to 75 years of age, is looking at their taxes going up from $400 per month to $600 to $700?
On a fixed income?
I hope I am mistaken. If this is the case, I suggest the city include eviction notices with their tax assessments this year.
If this happens, I hope city councillors, who appear to have a three per cent increase automatically built into their paycheque, show the good grace to resign their positions.
I hope, if this is the case, the good people of Richmond, who built this community, start to push back and say, “screw you.”
We will not be pushed out of our homes. I hope someone in the community will tell me I am mistaken and do not understand what is really going on. I would be happy to hear it.
J. Tilden
Richmond
