SURREY City Council adopted Budget 2021, which includes a five-year financial plan through to 2025, at Monday’s regular Council meeting. For the third year in a row the general property tax increase has been set at 2.9%, which is among the lowest among Metro Vancouver municipalities. A Capital Parcel Tax increase of $200 has also been introduced for the express purpose of building new facilities and upgrading existing amenities.

The following is a list of projects that the Capital Parcel Tax will directly fund:

1. Newton Community Centre and Land Acquisition
2. Sunnyside Reservoir Pickleball and Bike Park
3. City Centre Sports Complex – Phase 1
4. New Park Washrooms
5. Bear Creek Park Athletics Centre
6. Biodiversity Preserve Park Improvements
7. South Surrey Athletic Park Track Replacement and New Artificial Turf Field
8. Trail and Path Development
9. Crescent Park Studio/Building Renovation
10. Newton Turf and Washroom/Changeroom
11. Outdoor Volleyball Courts
12. Artificial Turf Field Replacements at Five Locations
13. New Park Shelters
14. Indigenous Carving Centres
15. Newton Athletic Park Walking Track
16. Cloverdale Sport and Ice Complex – with 2 sheets of ice (budgeted for 2022/23)

“As Surrey continues to grow and prosper, and with more and more people moving here it is important that our public amenities keep pace with our growth,” said Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum. “Council has adopted a Budget that funds 16 new capital projects that will benefit everyone in Surrey, which include a new community centre in Newton, a new sports complex in City Centre and new Pickleball Courts and Bike Park at Sunnyside. All 16 of these projects are funded so work can get underway next year.”

Despite the challenges that have been brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Surrey’s Budget 2021 is balanced in accordance with the Local Government Act and the Community Charter, the City noted.

“City Council has also made sure that Budget 2021 pairs strong community investment with fiscal responsibility,” said McCallum. “When it comes to property tax rates, I am very proud to say that Surrey continues to be in the bottom third of all Metro Vancouver cities. On behalf of Council, I want to thank all our citizens for making Surrey the livable and great city that it is. Council shares your civic pride and we will continue to work hard to bring our City to even greater heights.”

The full Budget 2021 document can be found here.