Dear Editor
News of the City of Burnaby year-end surplus is an opportunity for those of not familiar with how this occurred to ask those who are. I have made inquiries and learned that this is due to e.g., as reported in the Burnaby NOW, new city auditor accounting practice requirements and the City of Burnaby practice of ensuring funds are available for significant infrastructure expenses such as water and sewer, roads and city buildings owned by the City.
Bonus density moneys are divided into two accounts – 80 per cent goes for community amenities for us as citizens and 20 per cent for future housing projects for citizens. This indicates our city is planning to ensure the maintenance and development of services and amenities with funds being available to do so rather than adding these costs in future tax years. I was easily able to find a comparison of municipal taxes in B.C. and found Burnaby to be 12th of the 24 listed, which indicates fiscal prudence by the City of Burnaby. Based on my personal and work experience in communities in B.C. and beyond, I am grateful to be living in Burnaby. I have found our mayor, council and city staff to be very responsive to concerns and to respond with practical, effective, financially sound measures. I encourage all who live in the City of Burnaby to consider which half of the cup of life they are looking at.
Mine is always at the very least half full as our city ensures our water services and so much more are easily and consistently accessible.
A previous version of this letter listed the two bonus density accounts as having 1.80 per cent and 2.20 per cent of funds respectively, instead of account 1. 80 per cent and account 2. 20 per cent. We've corrected the sentence above for clarity.
