The Vancouver Park Board Responds to Mayor’s Budget Cuts
The Vancouver Park Board has issued a formal reply to Mayor Ken Sim’s significant budget reductions for the upcoming year. Approved by the city council last month, Sim’s ‘Zero Means Zero’ initiative aims to halt any increases in property taxes for the following year, leading to a $120 million reduction in the city’s operating budget. The Park Board is tasked with absorbing $15 million of this cut.
Concerns have been raised by the Park Board, pointing out that while its operating budget previously accounted for 7.9% of the city’s budget in 2025, it is now expected to shoulder 12.5% of the total reduction target.
Commissioner Brennan Bastyovanszky has expressed worries about the potential impact of these cuts. He highlights that major events and beloved programs may face elimination due to the proposed reductions. Bastyovanszky criticizes the inconsistency between the ‘Zero Means Zero’ objective and the mayor’s pledge to maintain frontline services, emphasizing the potential consequences on essential services like clean public facilities during events like the FIFA World Cup.
The Board has presented a motion to the city council, urging for a more balanced and proportionate allocation of the budget cuts. They advocate for a reduced target for the Park Board to align with its share of the municipal tax base, proposing a limit of 8% of the total reduction, equivalent to approximately $9.6 million.
Furthermore, the Park Board is seeking a meeting with the mayor and city manager to ensure fair budget distribution. It is noted that Mayor Sim has been actively pursuing the dissolution of the Park Board, with previous efforts dating back to December 2023. The province’s recent response indicates that any changes to the Vancouver Charter to transition Park Board responsibilities to the council would require electoral support through a citywide referendum.