Surrey could reduce tax hike if RCMP remains: Mayor

A final decision on the City of Surrey’s tax increase hasn’t been decided just yet, and there could be a condition in place to see a reduction in the proposed hike.

According to a release from the City of Surrey Monday, Mayor Locke says a reduction to property tax increases would be made possible by a significant amount of funding coming from the provincial government.

“Since the proposed budget was made public two weeks ago, the city has secured nearly $90M from the province of British Columbia,” she said. “As a result, we are now in a position to revise the budget and bring the overall property tax rate down.”

This $89.9 million in funding from the B.C. government comes as part of the Growing Communities fund. After news of the fund came across, Surrey council voted to send the proposed budget and tax plan back to staff to be revised.

Although Locke says the city will look to reduce its proposed property tax hike, she says it will only happen if the RCMP remains, and the Surrey Police Service transition is fully stopped.

“It is important to note that the proposed 2023 budget is built on the unwinding of the Surrey Police Service and maintaining the RCMP as the police of jurisdiction in Surrey. Should the police transition be allowed to continue, the extra costs would not be covered in the proposed 2023 budget,” she said.

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Locke says the funding from the province could reduce property taxes from 17.5 per cent, to 12.5 per cent. This is made possible by reducing the policing transition surcharge from 9.5 per cent to 4.5 per cent.

While Surrey’s city council met Monday night after this announcement came out, a revised budget won’t be presented until its Apr. 6 council meeting.

Earlier Monday, locals gathered in Surrey to voice their displeasure with the city’s ongoing property tax hike saga.

“The proposed budget is extremely high and is unethical, and just plain wrong,” one local said.

“Even to propose a 17.5 per cent tax increase, the highest ever in the Metro Vancouver region, is completely irresponsible,” said another.

Outside of tax increase money going towards the city’s policing transition, locals are still seeing an eight per cent increase.

Seven per cent is to be used for resources in the city’s emergency and bylaw services, while one per cent will support the city’s transportation network.

With files from Michael Williams