PoCo pencils in 1.95% tax hike
Including water, sewer, waste, and property taxes, the owner of an average Port Coquitlam home is set to be pay a total of $3,829 this year – an increase of $126.
The average property in Port Coquitlam was assessed at $1.12 million for 2025.
“I’m going to call it the lowest in the region,” said Mayor Brad West on Tuesday. “I know Vancouver says there’s is a zero [percent increase] but they’re jacking up every single fee under the sun so it’s more of a shell game.”
Local news that matters to you
No one covers the Tri-Cities like we do. But we need your help to keep our community journalism sustainable.
In terms of city costs and Port Coquitlam’s share of the RCMP contract with Coquitlam, homeowners are slated to pay $2,370 – $45 more than last year.
That 1.95 percent tax increase is roughly divided between infrastructure costs and the RCMP contract. However, the city is aiming to keep taxes lower with revenue from new development, reserve funds, and money from investments.
West emphasized that many costs including inflation, labour agreements, and Metro Vancouver rate increases, are beyond the city’s control.
“So much of what is driving costs for cities are things that are completely out of our control,” West said. “So much of what appears on your property tax bill doesn’t even go to the municipality.”
Metro Vancouver water and sewer charges will cost Port Coquitlam homeowners $1,125 this year – $80 more than 2025.
Coun. Dean Washington noted the long journey to bring Port Coquitlam’s taxes from average to substantially below.
“We’ve improved by $2,000,” Washington said.
The city is likely to be less affected to provincial changes around the money developers pay to municipalities for extra height or density.
“We haven’t relied heavily on [development cost charges] as have a lot of the communities that surround us that have had tremendous growth,” Washington said, predicting their neighbours will be in for a “world of hurt” as that revenue dries up.
The budget is set to move into the public consultation phase before returning to council for final approval.
Comparison
Including property taxes and utility fees, Coquitlam residents are set to pay an average of $4.558 in 2026 – a 3.37 percent tax increase.
Port Moody is considering an 6.31 percent tax increase.
Author
