A property tax freeze for restaurants and grocery stores, free City parking for residents, and cost reporting on City projects
In October 2026 posts the organization promised to freeze municipal property taxes for restaurants and grocery stores, to make all City-run parking free for Richmond residents while visitors keep paying, and to publish timelines and costs for City projects. Kevin Lai's statement promised "a builder's discipline" on municipal projects. The posts give no cost for any of these.
TAXES AND THE CITY BUDGET
Advance Richmond on budget
The organization's second value, "create prosperity", promises to grow the economy so middle-class families and small businesses can thrive. Kevin Lai's statement to the City promises clear plans, realistic budgets, firm timelines and accountability for delays and cost overruns on municipal projects.
A post of October 15, 2026 says 85 cents of every parking dollar goes back into running the City's parking program, and promises free City-run parking for residents. voche.me has not checked that figure against the City's budget. Another post the same day promises a property tax freeze for restaurants and grocery stores. A post of October 13 on the Gilbert Road sewer project demands transparent timelines and public cost reporting.
Sheldon Starrett's statement to the City lists "freeze tax increases" and "stop wasteful spending" among his priorities. After the vote, Gary Law told Richmond News that raising taxes would not be the best way to add police officers, and that he hopes to increase the number of unpaid auxiliary constables instead.
6 PUBLISHED COMMITMENTS
What they say they will do
Freeze municipal property taxes for restaurants and grocery stores
A post of October 15, 2026 on the organization's site promises to freeze municipal property taxes for restaurants and grocery stores. It gives no cost and does not say how those businesses would be identified under the Community Charter's property classes.
Free City-run parking for Richmond residents
A post of October 15, 2026 promises to make all City-run parking free for local residents while visitors from outside Richmond continue to pay. It gives no cost and no way of telling residents from visitors.
Clear plans, realistic budgets and firm timelines on municipal projects
Kevin Lai's statement to the City promises to bring a builder's discipline to municipal projects, with accountability for delays and cost overruns. A post of October 14, 2026 repeats the promise for the whole team.
Public timelines and cost reporting on City projects
A post of October 13, 2026 on the Gilbert Road sewer project, which it says took 13 years, demands transparent timelines and public cost reporting. voche.me has not checked the project's dates.
Freeze tax increases
Sheldon Starrett's statement to the City lists "freeze tax increases" and "stop wasteful spending" among his five priorities. It gives no year and no amount.
More auxiliary constables instead of a tax increase for policing
Gary Law told Richmond News on October 18, 2026 that he hopes to ask the officer in charge of Richmond RCMP to increase the number of auxiliary constables, who are unpaid, so the City pays only for training and uniforms. He also named a pilot CCTV project in high-crime areas as a short-term goal.
What is not published
- No post or statement gives a cost, a saving or a year for any of these promises.
- The organization's figures on parking revenue and on the Gilbert Road project are its own, and voche.me has not checked them.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Questions about this
Does Advance Richmond promise a property tax freeze?
Its October 15, 2026 post promises a freeze on municipal property taxes for restaurants and grocery stores only. Sheldon Starrett's own statement to the City lists "freeze tax increases" with no year or amount. The organization has three of the eight council seats.
Advance Richmond Community AssociationCity of RichmondCity of Richmond
Sources
A source marked SAYS SO ITSELF is the party's own material. It proves what the party claims, not that the claim is true.
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