Revelstoke city council on Mar. 28 approved a motion to increase property taxes in 2023 by five per cent, and three per cent in years after that until 2027. The finance director, Sheanna Moore, requested the motion saying two per cent of the taxes collected will be set aside in a fund for a new arena.

Council previously approved a three per cent tax increase for 2023, which the finance department calculated would cover operating costs and allow $57,000 in savings. The department estimates the five per cent increase will allow the city to save $270,000 per year.

Coun. Tim Stapenhurst voted against the motion and everyone else was in favour.

Stapenhurst read a statement before the vote, asking if this is really the time to be raising taxes beyond the bare minimum. He also said the city doesn't have a plan for a new arena, so it seemed premature to save for it.

Mayor Gary Sulz pointed out the plan was to save two per cent of taxes from the five per cent increase. The city budgeted money this year to create a communication plan so it can work with the public to figure out what kind of new arena is desired.

Coun. Lee Devlin agreed that a higher tax increase is a tough pill to swallow for affordability, but he said that saving more now will make it so the city has to borrow less later.

Coun. Matt Cherry said that for the last 20 years politicians haven't raised the taxes beyond the bare minimum, which he said is why the arena needs to be replaced in the first place.

Coun. Aaron Orlando said the arena project has been around for a long time. He floated the idea of a five per cent increase with four per cent going to the arena, saying he's eager to move forward. Sulz and Moore said one per cent wouldn't be enough to cover the city's operating costs.

Now that the tax increase amounts have been approved council has to approve the budget by May 12.

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