AT Wednesday’s Special Regular Council meeting Surrey City Council passed the third reading of Budget 2022, which includes a five-year financial plan through to 2026. For the fourth consecutive year the property tax increase has stayed at 2.9%, making it one of the lowest among Metro Vancouver municipalities.
“With the ongoing uncertainty around COVID, Surrey City Council has taken the position to maintain the property tax rate increase to 2.9%,” said Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum. “Surrey’s property tax rate has remained constant for the fourth year in a row and we believe it is important for our residents to not be presented with an unexpected tax burden. While we are holding the line on property taxes, Budget 2022 has also built in new projects that will benefit the people of Surrey such as the fast tracking of a new Olympic size, 50-meter pool as the first component of the new Newton Community Centre.”
Below are the nine new projects funded in the proposed 2022-2026 Capital Financial Budget:
* Police Training Facility
* Crescent Park Pickleball Courts
* Bus Layover Facility
* Park Improvements
* Tamanawis Park – 3rd Field Hockey Turf and Changeroom
* Fleetwood Firehall #6 Relocation
* New Park Washrooms
* Disc Golf at Port Mann Park
* Future Sport Facility Site Development
The new projects are in addition to the following 16 public infrastructure projects funded in last year’s budget:
* Newton Community Centre and Land Acquisition
* Sunnyside Reservoir Pickleball and Bike Park
* City Centre Sports Complex – Phase 1
* New Park Washrooms
* Bear Creek Park Athletics Centre
* Biodiversity Preserve Park Improvements
* South Surrey Athletic Park Track Replacement and New Artificial Turf Field
* Trail and Path Development
* Crescent Park Studio/Building Renovation
* Newton Turf and Washroom/Changeroom
* Outdoor Volleyball Courts
* Artificial Turf Field Replacements at Five Locations
* New Park Shelters
* Cloverdale Sport and Ice Complex
* Indigenous Carving Centres
* Newton Athletic Park Walking Track
City Council will convene for a Special Regular Council meeting on Friday, December 24 to consider final adoption of Budget 2022.
“As with previous budgets, public input has been conducted through the year and is reflected in the projects and services in Budget 2022,” said McCallum. “This budget is equal parts financial prudency and visionary as Council plans for Surrey’s post pandemic future. On behalf of Council, I want to sincerely thank City Staff for their hard work in meeting Council’s request of delivering a fiscally prudent and responsible budget before the holiday break.”
The operating budget for police related services, which include the RCMP and the Surrey Police Service, was at $184 million in the 2021 Budget. City staff regularly reviews this item as the transition progresses and has budgeted $194.8 million for police related services in the 2022 Budget, which includes the funding of the new salary increases for RCMP members.
The full Budget 2022 document can be viewed here.
