Vancouver park board told to find 15M in cuts to offset mayor's property tax freeze

The Vancouver Park Board has been instructed to find $15 million in cuts to align with Mayor Ken Sim's property tax freeze for 2026. This figure accounts for about 12. 5% of the total $120 million in cuts the mayor has requested from city departments. The park board's budget is estimated at $98 million, which is about 8% of the city's overall operating budget. Services such as park maintenance and programs for equity-denied communities are at risk, as noted in a briefing document by chair Laura Christensen.

She advocates for transparency, urging residents to understand the potential impacts before the city council votes on the budget. Commissioner Brennan Bastyovanszky labeled the tax freeze move as "reckless," highlighting concerns about job losses and service cuts. In June, city officials indicated that a property tax increase of 6-7% was necessary to maintain current service levels. The park board is also concerned that revenue generated may not be reinvested into park services.