--- title: "Advance Richmond on budget | Richmond 2026 | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/advance-richmond/platform/taxes-and-budget" last_updated: "2026-10-31T17:02:47.750Z" meta: description: "In October 2026 posts the organization promised to freeze municipal property taxes for restaurants and grocery stores, to make all City-run parking free fo..." "og:description": "In October 2026 posts the organization promised to freeze municipal property taxes for restaurants and grocery stores, to make all City-run parking free fo..." "og:title": "Advance Richmond on budget | Richmond 2026" "twitter:description": "In October 2026 posts the organization promised to freeze municipal property taxes for restaurants and grocery stores, to make all City-run parking free fo..." "twitter:title": "Advance Richmond on budget | Richmond 2026" --- Advance Richmond · Richmond 2026 # 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. [Compare all parties on this ](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/issues/taxes-and-budget) [All four issues](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/advance-richmond/platform) [**6**Candidates](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/advance-richmond/candidates) [**4/4**Issues with published policy](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/advance-richmond/platform) [**31**Sources on file](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/advance-richmond/money) **10**Questions answered 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. [Advance Richmond Community Association](https://www.advancerichmond.com/latest-news/) - ### 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. [Advance Richmond Community Association](https://www.advancerichmond.com/latest-news/) - ### 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. [City of Richmond](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=85) [Advance Richmond Community Association](https://www.advancerichmond.com/latest-news/) - ### 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. [Advance Richmond Community Association](https://www.advancerichmond.com/latest-news/) - ### 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. [City of Richmond](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=94) - ### 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. [Richmond News](https://www.richmond-news.com/2026-civic-election/richmond-bc-votes-four-fresh-faces-on-richmond-council-12908027) ### 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. 1. [Register of Elector Organizations by Jurisdiction, as of October 30, 2026 ](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/fin/List-of-elector-organizations-by-jurisdiction.pdf)Elections BC · published October 30, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 2. [Elector organizations: registration and financial reporting ](https://elections.bc.ca/local-elections/elector-organizations/)Elections BC · checked October 30, 2026 3. [Financial Reports and Political Contributions System: local elections search ](https://contributions.electionsbc.gov.bc.ca/pcs/LESearch.aspx)Elections BC · checked October 30, 2026 4. [Declaration of Election by Voting, September 21, 2026 ](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Declaration_of_Election_by_Voting_-_September_21__202679778.pdf)City of Richmond · published September 21, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 5. [Declaration of Official Election Results, October 21, 2026 ](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/2026_declaration_of_official_result79945.pdf)City of Richmond · published October 21, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 6. [Candidate profile: Kevin Lai, statement to the City ](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=85)City of Richmond · checked October 30, 2026 7. [Candidate profile: Grace Tsang, statement to the City ](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=86)City of Richmond · checked October 30, 2026 8. [Candidate profile: Sheldon Starrett, statement to the City ](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=94)City of Richmond · checked October 30, 2026 9. [Candidate profile: Rod Belleza, statement to the City ](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=101)City of Richmond · checked October 30, 2026 10. [Candidate profile: Dean Billings, statement to the City ](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=98)City of Richmond · checked October 30, 2026 11. [Candidate profile: Danny Chang, statement to the City ](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=103)City of Richmond · checked October 30, 2026 12. [Advance Richmond: home page and values ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 13. [Advance Richmond: About ARCA ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/about/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 14. [Advance Richmond: 2026 Richmond Election Candidates ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/election-2026/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 15. [Advance Richmond: Latest News and community updates ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/latest-news/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 16. [Advance Richmond Congratulates Six Team Members Following the 2026 Richmond Election ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/latest-news/richmond-2026-election-results/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · published October 18, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 17. [Advance Richmond: Kevin Lai ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/kevin-lai/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 18. [Advance Richmond: Gary Law ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/gary-law/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 19. [Advance Richmond: Sheldon Starrett ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/sheldon-starrett/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 20. [Advance Richmond: Rod Belleza ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/rod-belleza/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 21. [Advance Richmond: Dean Billings ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/dean-billings/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 22. [Advance Richmond: Danny Chang ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/danny-chang/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 23. [Advance Richmond adds four more candidates to slate ](https://www.richmond-news.com/2026-civic-election/advance-richmond-adds-four-more-candidates-to-slate-12760189)Richmond News · published September 9, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 24. [Richmond election 2026: A complete list of local candidates ](https://www.richmond-news.com/local-news/heres-who-running-in-richmond-come-election-time-in-october-12771026)Richmond News · published September 11, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 25. [Richmond Votes: Newly formed slate Advance Richmond elects three councillors ](https://www.richmond-news.com/local-news/richmond-votes-advance-richmond-elects-three-councillors-12907463)Richmond News · published October 18, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 26. [Richmond Votes: Five fresh faces on Richmond city council ](https://www.richmond-news.com/2026-civic-election/richmond-bc-votes-four-fresh-faces-on-richmond-council-12908027)Richmond News · published October 18, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 27. [Richmond Votes: Municipal election turnout rises by 15K in 2026 ](https://www.richmond-news.com/2026-civic-election/richmond-bc-votes-municipal-election-turnout-rises-by-15k-in-2026-12911501)Richmond News · published October 19, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 28. [Richmond council votes 8-1 to explore safe drug consumption site ](https://www.richmond-news.com/local-opioid-crisis-news/richmond-council-votes-8-1-to-explore-safe-drug-consumption-site-8214640)Richmond News · published February 5, 2024 · checked October 30, 2026 29. [Scores rally against supportive housing, B.C. drug policy in Richmond ](https://globalnews.ca/news/11022267/richmond-rally-drug-housing/)Global News · published February 17, 2025 · checked October 30, 2026 30. [Richmond election results in minimal change ](https://www.richmondsentinel.ca/article-detail/27708/richmond-election-results-in-minimal-change)Richmond Sentinel · published October 15, 2022 · checked October 30, 2026 31. [VoteMate: Advance Richmond, 2026 BC Local Elections ](https://en.votemate.org/bc2026/parties/305)VoteMate · checked October 30, 2026 ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/bc/richmond-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.