PoCo confirms 1.95 percent property tax increase

It’s the lowest tax rate in the Tri-Cities, and slightly lower than most milk.

Port Coquitlam’s 1.95 percent property tax increase means the owner of an average Port Coquitlam home will pay about $3,829 this year – an increase of $126.

The average property in Port Coquitlam was assessed at $1.12 million for 2025. The city’s rate includes water, sewer, and waste.

Council unanimously approved the rate on Tuesday. During the meeting, Coun. Steve Darling said he sometimes meets people willing to pay more to keep from losing services.

“It’s just the opposite,” Darling said. “We’re able to control costs and still get a lot of stuff done in the city. . . . Not one thing is being pushed to the side because we say we can’t afford it.”

That tax increase is roughly divided between infrastructure costs and the RCMP contract. Metro Vancouver water and sewer charges will cost Port Coquitlam homeowners $1,125 this year – $80 more than 2025.

Discussing the city budget earlier this year, Coun. Dean Washington predicted Port Coquitlam will be less affected by changes to the rules 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, adding their neighbours will be in for a “world of hurt” as that revenue dries up.

On Tuesday, Washington thanked the 1,250 residents who offered their responses on the city’s budget survey.

“it really is a guiding document for us,” he said. “It tells us whether we’re going in the right direction.”

With the financial plan adopted, council are set to formally approve property tax and solid waste rates before May 15.