Benjamin Perry Platform
Quick answer: Benjamin Perry believes Coquitlam needs responsible budgeting, clearer tax explanations, stronger cost accountability, and growth that helps pay for the infrastructure and services residents need.
Benjamin Perry on property taxes and responsible budgeting
Coquitlam residents are under real financial pressure. Housing costs, groceries, transportation, utilities, and property taxes all affect household budgets.
City Hall cannot control every cost residents face, but it can control how clearly it budgets, how carefully it spends, and how honestly it explains tax increases.
I believe residents deserve a City Council that respects taxpayers while still investing in the services and infrastructure that make Coquitlam liveable.
My approach
- Responsible budgeting: City spending should be careful, transparent, and tied to real public value.
- Clear explanations: Residents should understand why taxes are changing and what they are paying for.
- Cost accountability: Council should ask serious questions about major cost increases.
- Growth should pay its fair share: New development should help fund the infrastructure, parks, childcare, affordable housing, and services residents need.
- Metro Vancouver accountability: Regional costs affect local taxpayers, and residents deserve stronger accountability from Metro Vancouver.
- Protect essential services: Fiscal responsibility should not mean neglecting roads, parks, fire services, recreation, accessibility, or public safety.
Taxes should be fair and understandable
Residents should not need to be tax experts to understand their property tax bill.
If taxes are rising, City Hall should clearly explain:
- how much of the increase is municipal,
- how much comes from utilities, regional costs, or other authorities,
- which services or capital projects are driving the increase,
- what steps Council has taken to control costs, and
- how new development is contributing to infrastructure needs.
Growth and taxes are connected
Coquitlam is growing quickly. Growth can bring new homes, new residents, and new opportunities, but it also creates pressure on roads, parks, utilities, recreation facilities, schools, childcare, medical services, and public infrastructure.
That is why growth must be planned carefully. If density is approved without matching infrastructure, residents can end up paying the price through congestion, overcrowded amenities, and future tax pressure.
My position is simple: growth should work for residents. It should help deliver the services, amenities, and infrastructure that make neighbourhoods liveable.
Metro Vancouver costs need accountability
Some costs affecting Coquitlam residents are connected to regional services and regional decision-making. Residents still experience those costs through local bills and taxes.
I will advocate for greater accountability, cost control, and transparency from Metro Vancouver and other regional bodies where their decisions affect Coquitlam taxpayers.
What I would push for on Council
- clearer public explanations of tax increases,
- stronger review of major budget pressures,
- better reporting on regional cost impacts,
- linking major growth decisions to infrastructure planning,
- ensuring development contributes to public needs, and
- protecting core services residents rely on.
Confused about your tax bill?
If your property taxes went up even though your assessed value went down, you are not alone. This can happen because property taxes depend on more than your individual assessment.