Increasingly the new year has become a time to mark more rate hikes.
Like the march of time, ever forward, tax and fee increases never seem to relax on New Year’s Day but continue ever forward, ever higher, ever widening the gap between what we earn and what they take from us.
On Jan. 1, Medical Service Premiums rose $3 per month for a single person earning more than $30,000 per year — hardly a living wage. A family of two, in that same category, will pay $5.50 more per month and a family of three or more, again earning more than $30,000 per year, will pay $6 more each month.
That’s $36, $66 and $72 more per year, respectively.
A few bucks might not seem like a lot, but a few bucks here and there, there and here, certainly does add up.
This year, expect to pay more in ICBC basic rates, hydro, rent, cable, telephone and Internet services and other stuff as every level of government, Crown corporation and business that can get away with charging you more, will charge you more.
And while our dollar plummets, and groceries are increasingly expensive, the gouging continues.
Those of us who can still afford to buy liquor no doubt indulged on New Year’s Eve.
On Jan. 1, many of us made New Year’s resolutions. None, we’re sure, resolved to voluntarily pay more in taxes and fees.
If only government and Crown corporations would resolve to manage taxpayers’ hard-earned and increasingly scarce money competently, it would indeed be a happy new year.
— Black Press