For years, residents of Nanaimo have seen property taxes rise far faster than wages, inflation, or service levels. At the same time, City Hall continues to grow its internal staffing and expand into costly projects that often provide little direct benefit to the average taxpayer. This petition is a call to restore balance, transparency, and fiscal restraint to municipal governance.

Petition Text
We, the undersigned residents and taxpayers of Nanaimo, are deeply concerned about the ongoing and unsustainable increases in property taxes and staffing levels at City Hall.

Over the past several years, the City of Nanaimo has significantly expanded its internal workforce, while frontline service levels and infrastructure performance have not kept pace. At the same time, property taxes have risen far above the rate of inflation, placing growing pressure on homeowners, renters, and local businesses alike.

We believe:

• That core services—such as road maintenance, public safety, sanitation, and parks—must remain the City’s priority.

• That staffing levels and compensation growth should be publicly justified with clear evidence of service improvements.

• That taxpayers deserve transparent budgeting, independent cost reviews, and a clear plan to control spending.

We call on Mayor and Council to:

1. Commission a third-party Core Services Review to evaluate City staffing, wage growth, and service outcomes.

2. Commit to budget restraint, aligning tax increases with inflation and ability to pay.

3. Publish clear metrics tracking staff headcount, salary growth, and productivity over time.

Nanaimo is not a bottomless wallet. We are calling for responsible stewardship of public funds, in the interest of all residents—not just internal departments or special interests.

We support efforts like Voice of Nanaimo that seek to hold City Hall accountable, educate the public, and advocate for responsible municipal governance.