A core services review, tax increases held to inflation, and more policing in the next budget
Hobbs told the Richmond News he supports a core services review on a priority basis to deliver services more efficiently, that lower taxes would mean cuts to police, fire or parks, and that the goal is to keep tax increases to inflation. He said yes to raising taxes to pay for more police officers and firefighters, and said Richmond United would press for more policing in the next budget.
TAXES AND THE CITY BUDGET
Richmond United on budget
In the questionnaire of October 1, 2026, Hobbs answered the question on lower property taxes with a proposal for a core services review of how and why services are delivered, with input from many groups. He wrote that lower taxes "unavoidably means cuts to services" and that the goal is efficiency and increases held to inflation.
Richmond News reported in March 2026 that Hobbs, a former Vancouver police superintendent, said policing has become more complicated and that Richmond United would advocate for more policing in the next budget. He also said yes to raising taxes for more police and firefighters, and to more taxpayer-funded free community events.
Hobbs's statement to the City lists keeping Richmond's property tax among the lowest in the region among his aims.
4 PUBLISHED COMMITMENTS
What they say they will do
A core services review
Hobbs told the Richmond News he supports a core services review on a priority basis, looking at how and why services are delivered, with input from many groups, to be as efficient and cost-effective as possible.
Keep tax increases to inflation
Hobbs wrote that the goal is to keep tax increases to the minimum, which he set at inflation, and that lower taxes would mean cuts to services. His statement to the City aims to keep Richmond's property tax among the lowest in the region.
More policing in the next budget
Hobbs told the Richmond News in March 2026 that Richmond United would advocate for more policing in the next year's budget, and answered yes to raising taxes to pay for more police officers and firefighters.
Equal community amenities for every part of Richmond
Hobbs told the Richmond News that an underlying theme for the slate would be equity for different areas of Richmond in community amenities. He named no project.
What is not published
- No figure is given for the cost of more policing or for savings from a core services review.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Questions about this
Does Richmond United promise a property tax freeze?
No. Hobbs told the Richmond News that lower taxes would mean cuts to services, and that the goal is to keep increases to inflation after a core services review.
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.
- Register of Elector Organizations by Jurisdiction, as of October 30, 2026 Elections BC · published · checked
- Elector organizations: registration and financial reporting Elections BC · checked
- Financial Reports and Political Contributions System: local elections scanned reports search Elections BC · checked
- Declaration of Election by Voting, September 21, 2026 City of Richmond · published · checked
- Declaration of Official Election Results, October 21, 2026 City of Richmond · published · checked
- Candidate profile: Andy Hobbs, statement to the City City of Richmond · checked
- Council minutes, November 28, 2022 City of Richmond · published · checked
- Richmond United: home page and thank-you post SAYS SO ITSELFRichmond United Voters Association · checked
- Richmond United: Andy Hobbs SAYS SO ITSELFRichmond United Voters Association · checked
- Richmond United: Mike Gill SAYS SO ITSELFRichmond United Voters Association · checked
- Richmond United: Welcome to Richmond United SAYS SO ITSELFRichmond United Voters Association · checked
- Former top cop vies for council seat, ponders future run for Richmond mayor's chair Richmond News · published · checked
- Richmond election results in minimal change Richmond Sentinel · published · checked
- Steveston waterfront could have more homes Richmond News · published · checked
- Richmond looks for Oval board members after council rejects recommended directors Richmond News · published · checked
- Richmond Olympic Oval city subsidy capped at $2.5 million Richmond News · published · checked
- Candidates coming forward for fall Richmond city election Richmond News · published · checked
- Slates, candidates vie for seats on Richmond Board of Education Richmond News · published · checked
- Richmond Votes: Council candidate Andy Hobbs Richmond News · published · checked
- Richmond Votes: 29 council candidates face off in debate Richmond News · published · checked
- Richmond Votes: Municipal election turnout rises by 15K in 2026 Richmond News · published · checked