Vancouver approves property tax hike to fight fentanyl crisis

Vancouver approves tax hike to fight fentanyl Property taxes are going up in 2017 to help in the fight against the record number of opioid overdoses.

Property taxes will be going up next year in Vancouver to help the fight against the record number of fentanyl overdoses.

Mayor Gregor Robertson and council approved a 0.5 per cent jump in property taxes Monday, in addition to the 3.5 per cent hike earmarked to invest in affordable housing and improve city services.

Robertson says the opioid crisis is putting a huge strain on city services, and more boots are needed on the ground to help.

The extra tax revenue will translate to about $3.5-million to hire more front-line support workers, including more firefighters, train staff and clean up needles on the Downtown Eastside, according to officials.

Last month, Vancouver fire crews responded to 735 overdoses and were required to use life-saving naloxone kits 35 times.

City councilors say the cost to taxpayers is minimal compared to the amount of lives they can save with the extra cash.

The extra .5 per cent translates to an increase of about $5 a year to condo owners and $10 dollars for single-family home owners.

The tax hike comes as the province rolls out its mobile medical unit to help deal with an unprecedented overdose crisis.