A commentary by a former member of Victoria city council.

It is little wonder Victoria council is reluctant to cut popular spending programs even in the face of rapidly rising property tax rates.

While every politician promises fiscal prudence, councillors know that, in actuality, most City of Victoria voters are not affected by tax increases.

That’s because a majority of Victoria residents are renters, not owners, and renters are well aware that it is the provincial decision about the allowable annual rental increase that determines how much their rent rises, not council decisions about property taxes.

Economists can explain that higher taxes will discourage building in the city and eventually make accommodation harder to find, driving up rental........

© Times Colonist