Dear Editor:
Re: Residents irate over big jump in property taxes, Burnaby NOW, June 1, and Tax hikes outrageous, Letter to the editor, Burnaby NOW, June 1.
I couldn't agree more with the com-ments of the homeowners in these articles. I'm a retired homeowner on fixed income, yet have to pay the 3.95 per cent increase in property tax, plus higher tax due to increase in property value (total of 11.5 per cent tax increase for us).
How does this council get away with taxing us like crazy while employing a "director of golf services" at more than $100,000 in salary? Excuse me? What on earth does Burnaby need a highly paid director like this for? Then I see on page 10 of your paper, "Confederation Park to get new playground" for $295,000 and city tennis courts approved for $180,000!
I'm sick of continually paying higher taxes while the City of Burnaby holds hundreds of thousands in reserves for some future possible big ticket items. Isn't the rebuild of the old water/sewer lines big enough to use those reserves? Not according to our mayor, who says one reason for the tax increase is to replace these aging pipes.
I want good roads so traffic can get through the city, and lower taxes so we can afford to live here - not more playgrounds, sister-city nonsense or new playing fields (e.g. the clearcut land being prepared near Burnaby Lake).
Too bad this city council has been monopolized by one party for so long. Wake up, Burnabyites, time for some opposition in our municipal government!
Yours in solidarity,
Denise DeLeebeeck, Burnaby
