Bie: Propane Sunday; April 16,1989

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AP eee

By SHELLY EASTON
Staff Reporter |
The West has won again.
- Angry East Vancouver
homeowners say-a tax cap
scheme leaves them subsidizing
their west-side neighbors.
“We're being treated like sec-
ond-class citizens,*’ said
homeowner Frank Withers, who
has lived with his wife, Anna. for

10 years in their East 28th.

Avenue three-bedroom home.

“don't think it's fair.”

The scheme was prompted by
Vancouver city council lobbying
to give homeowners a break on
skyrocketing property assess-
ments. The provincial govern-
ment introduced legislation
Tuesday putting a ceiling on
property assessments, limiting
them to 15. per cent above the
average municipal increase. _

in Vancouver, the cap will
affect about 16.500 homeowners,
mainly on the west side, whose
assessed land. values increased
more than 62 ‘per cent.

Some west-sice homeowners,
where assessments have greatly
increased, could have up to $500
cut from their taxes.

But to compensate for the
cap, all homes face an a extra
2.7 per cent in taxes, —

Withers, 75

assessment increased $26.000-
this year to $180,000. He doesn't’
know how much extra tax he'lt
pay because the mill rate:hasn't-
been set. Gg

“Et don't mind. subsidizing:
someone who.is down. arid gut-
but subsidizing someone. sitting:
on a $400,000 property isn’t rea-
sonable.” he said. .

His neighbor Cliff Jones, 61.
has been “screaming, hollering:
and pounding fists’* on citys
council doors in protest... ~ :

“If you're taxed’ on your?
actual value or assessment that:
is fair,” said Jones, who lives in.
a two-bedroom east-side-bunga.’
low: “Capping is absolutely not

a, ;
fair. k

Ted Rashleigh, whose Kérris-.
dale home's value has. gonewp
o7 per cent, said he won't ben
fit. ms Yk v

But he’s sympathetic to/eas&}
enders who may end up subsi-
dizing west-side residents. “It
doesn’t sound very fair i

East-side community spokesi
man Chris Taulu, said the ca ;
will cause average homeowners.
“to bear the burden so the rich:
can getricher, 2-0

“Everybody should get the.
same deal," said Taulau, who:
represents residents ‘in the Ren-
frew and Boundary Road area.

= Pts

Angry homeowner Frank Withers calls tax cap ‘uniale:? :