Stop Runaway Property Tax Increases in Sooke
This petition continues from our late-2024 petition that gathered over 300 signatures in a very short time. Many people told us they only saw it at the last minute. This year, we are starting earlier so residents can be heard before decisions are made.

Recent property tax increases in Sooke:

2023: 6.99%
2024: 10.53%
2025: 15.29%
2026: ???

Many residents are stretched. Some are simply tapped out.

We respect that serving on Council is difficult and often thankless. As local resident Mr. N. Amirault, Sooke resident, wrote on Facebook:

“I have great respect for those who offer their time for public service and make difficult decisions for our community. It is often a thankless task.” But respect also comes with the right to raise concerns.

He also noted:

“Council updated its tax exemption policy to exclude below-market housing, then only months later approved exemptions for those same units. That inconsistency shifts the burden directly onto taxpayers.”
Mr. N. Amirault, Sooke resident                                                       

And as one local resident shared publicly:

“My taxes went up $700 last year, not $76. They went up $500 the year before.”
Kelli Norton-Tuele, Sooke resident, public Facebook comment
 
This petition is not about targeting low-cost housing, non-profits, churches, environmental pushes, bike lanes and so-on.

It is about telling Council something simple and honest:

Residents cannot afford this pace of increases anymore.

We support municipal responsibilities such as:

• Roads and basic infrastructure
• Drinking water and sewer systems
• Storm drainage
• Public safety including fire/police services
• Essential operations of the municipality

And we ask that Council prioritize practical, cost-effective solutions versus gold-plated options. 

What Real Engagement Looks Like
Real engagement means understanding the reality of daily life in Sooke.

A large portion of residents leave Sooke every day for work in Victoria. Long commutes, traffic congestion, and frequent accidents take hours out of already packed days. By the time people get home, they are exhausted. Kids need dinner, homework, baths, bedtime stories. There is no time or energy left to track council websites, scan newspapers, or watch meeting streams.

That does not mean people do not care.
It means the current engagement approach does not match real life.

When people feel constantly rushed, financially squeezed, and unheard, last-minute notices and online surveys do not feel like true consultation.

People are not disengaged.
They are exhausted.
And they still deserve to be heard.

 
We are asking Sooke Mayor and Council for:

• Responsible and sustainable property tax planning
• Focus on core municipal services and necessities
• Affordable, practical alternatives to high-cost projects
• Clear transparency around tax exemptions and who pays
• Real and accessible engagement before decisions are locked in

This is not about the past.
It is about preventing another financial shock.

Please sign and share.

🚫 Stop Runaway Property Tax Increases in Sooke 🚫

Sign and share this petition today, together, we can push for a fair, sustainable, and community-centered budget.  Join the Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/sooketaxes/

🔗 Sign now and protect Sooke’s families and residents future!