With the exception of Coun. Lou Sekora - who traditionally opposes budget bylaws - Coquitlam council unanimously passed what is the lowest tax increase in the city since 2005.

The fourth and final reading of the 2013 budget bylaw will result in an average tax increase of 2.95 per cent - after a one-per-cent tax shift, that number will translate into a 3.34-per-cent increase for residential properties and a 2.34-per-cent increase for businesses.

The 2013 rates mean the owner of the average residential home assessed at $565,000 will pay about $2,911 in property taxes and levies - $95 more than last year.

Of that $95 increase, $64 comes from taxes, while the remaining $31 comes from utility charges for water, sewer and solid waste tipping fees.

Some of the factors that influenced the budget increase include contractual inflation for city and RCMP contracts, funding for fire protection services on Burke Mountain, and infrastructure improvements.

The utility increases, which are driven predominantly by Metro Vancouver, include a four-per-cent water rate increase ($16), a two-per-cent jump in sewer and drainage fees ($8), and a two-per-cent solid waste fee increase ($7).

jkurucz@thenownews.com