B.C. Views Will truth die on Deficit Hill? p6
B.C. backs down on flu vaccine edict. p15
THE NEws
Arts&life Dream and laugh with Sleeping Beauty. p31
www.mapleridgenews.com wednesday, December 5, 2012 · Serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows · est. 1978 · 604-467-1122 · 50¢
Fire dept. budget hits $10 million Budget increase to hire three more full-time staff by Ph i l M e lnych uk staff reporter
Christmas in the park
The Maple Ridge fire department is ratcheting up its spending as it makes the final push to a complete full-time, part-time force. According to an update provided to council Monday, the department’s operating budget will hit $10.5 million next year, up from $9.9 million from this year. Salary costs account for part of that jump, to $7.6 million next year from $7.2 million this year – a jump of six per cent. The increases worried Coun. Corisa Bell, who wanted more information about the hikes. “Just because it’s being rolled out doesn’t mean it can’t be amended, or it can’t be rolled out in a longer period of time.” All costs must be looked at, she added.
Santa waves to the crowd during the annual Maple Ridge Christmas parade in Memorial Peace Park on Saturday. See more photos of the celebration, p14. Colleen Flanagan/ the newS
See Fire dept., p12
Ridge tax rate set to rise 3.9 per cent Municipal portion is 2.75; overall, $98 more for average homeowner
on its financial plan, which will set the increase, during all-day meetings next Monday and Tuesday. “We realize people are under the gun. This will be the second year in a row where there’s no added services,” Mayor Ernie Daykin said last week. “We’re hearing it from our residents.” According to the overview, staff are proposing a general tax increase hike of 2.25 per cent in 2013, with another half per cent tacked on for roads and sewers. That produces a tax hike of 2.75 per cent – although residents shouldn’t break out their champagne bottles yet. With a new drainage and parks fee added on, the increase
by Phil M elnyc h u k staff reporter
Maple Ridge homeowners might be getting a break from the constant hammering of property tax increases, if the numbers work out. Instead of seeing four-per cent hikes, homeowners may only have to pay 2.75 per cent more for general operation of the district than last year. Council starts working
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springs back to 3.5 per cent. Roll in increases in water, sewer and recycling rates and homeowners will pay about 3.9 per cent more this year, compared to an increase of 5.6 per cent last year. That’s about an $98 increase over last year, on Daykin an average home valued at $410,000, according to the financial plan overview that will reach council’s desks this week.
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3 LOCATIONS 20468 Lougheed Hwy. • Haney Place Mall • 22805 Lougheed Hwy.
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Last May, council told staff to pare the budget back from the customary four-percent increases for general purposes, resulting in staff coming back with the smaller increase. While there hasn’t been a petition pressuring the municipality to trim taxes as there is in Pitt Meadows, Daykin said Maple Ridge politicians are getting the message. “We’re hearing it from our residents.” But any cut in taxes means the shortfalls could have to be made up later. “There are some things you can’t put off and somebody five years from now will have to worry about,” he said. See Taxes, p11
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