Surrey city council passed its 2024 operating and capital budget Monday night, which includes a seven per cent tax hike for residents.
The increased tax has been broken down as a six per cent general property tax increase and a one per cent roads and traffic tax. Together, they’re expected to cost the average single-family household around an extra $177.
It follows a 12.5 per cent property tax hike in 2023.
The city says the general property tax will help cover general inflationary pressures and citywide operations, as well as hiring frontline staff including first responders.
“This is a really great news budget,” said Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke, after it passed.
Policing debate looms large
The five-year general operating and capital program financial plans both passed by a vote of 5-4.
Locke’s party, Surrey Connect, currently controls the council with a majority.
Councillors in opposing parties criticized the tax increase, pinning the blame on Locke’s opposition to transitioning the city’s police service from the RCMP to a municipal force.
Coun. Mandeep Nagra with the Safe Surrey Coalition voted against the budget, saying Locke’s lengthy battle with the province over the transition to the Surrey Police Service (SPS) continues to cost taxpayers.
At the beginning of April, the city rejected a $250 million offer from the province to help its transition to a municipal force.
“This [tax increase] could have been avoided by using all the money the province was offering us and by not delaying the transition,” Nagra said.
Locke claimed in a statement that if the city is mandated to transition to the SPS, it will cost over half a billion dollars more over the next decade compared to the costs of keeping the RCMP.
“The fact is, Surrey Police Service is putting a financial strain on our ability to deliver new projects,” she said.
Coun. Linda Annis, who also voted against the budget, said in a statement that taxpayers are paying the price for council’s mismanagement and lack of vision.
“The mayor has said having two police departments costs Surrey $8 million every month,” said Annis.
“Knowing that, you’d think we would have accepted the province’s $250 million and completed the transition as quickly as possible.”
New community centre among projects
The city says the general property tax will cover the hiring of 26 police officers, 20 firefighters and 10 new bylaw officers.
The approved budgets include several infrastructure projects for the city, including the new Newton Community Centre, which is expected to cost $310.6 million.
It will be the largest community centre in Surrey and will include two pools, two gymnasiums, a fitness centre and a library among other amenities.
Other major capital projects include the Cloverdale Sport and Ice Complex and several new parks and upgrades.
Coun. Mike Bose said in a statement that the budget’s investments in community infrastructure “barely scratches the surface of what is actually needed,” given the city’s growth rate.