Thursday December 18 2014
The
Leader
▲ What’s up – and down – at the pumps 19 ▲ A twisted tale for Christmas 9
CLAYTON RISES UP OVER LOSS OF PARKING ▶ GROUP PLANS TO JAM TRAFFIC ON 72 AVENUE AND 192 STREET ON SUNDAY AS PART OF A PROTEST KEVIN DIAKIW
Avoid using 72 Avenue or 192 Street on Sunday (Dec. 21), as it’s likely to be a parking lot due to a protest planned for the day. Clayton residents are “outraged” that existing parking space is being taken away, according to area resident Scott Anderson. The parking is being lost because of the long-planned four-laning of 72 Avenue. The project was given the goahead on Monday night by Surrey council. It means about 300 parking spaces along the side of the road will be lost as part of the expansion. Anderson says that’s completely unacceptable. “The neighbourhood is just outraged,” Anderson said, adding a shortage of parking was already a sore point. “I think this was the straw that broke the camel’s back.” The community has been in consultation with the city for some time and originally heard the project was going ahead despite residents’ concerns. continued on page 7
▶ “The neighbourhood is just outraged. I think this was the straw that broke the camel’s back.” SCOTT ANDERSON
▶ REIN-DOG SEES SANTA Kaya, a two-year-old German shepherd-husky cross, prepares for a photo with Santa at the Urban Safari Rescue Society. Cloverdale’s Alison Vlooswyk brought the dog to the South Surrey non-profit society’s first Christmas fundraiser on Dec. 6. BOAZ JOSEPH
TAX HIKES GET THE GO-AHEAD ▶ SURREY COUNCIL APPROVES INCREASE OF $162 PER AVERAGE HOME NEXT YEAR KEVIN DIAKIW
She said she wept as she walked to Surrey’s budget meeting Monday, knowing that if planned tax hikes passed, she would no longer be available to afford her home. On Monday night, Surrey’s finance committee – comprised of all of city council – approved a budget that calls for a $162 hike in taxes.
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For Binder Mahal, it also means an additional $116 for her secondary suite, a necessary addition to make her home affordable. “Our house needs a fence and we can’t afford it,” she told the finance committee. “Who knows how long our fridge or stove will last? “Please, please, this is not fair,” she implored. “We are not happy to live in Surrey anymore.” Since Surrey First came into power nine years ago, taxes have gone up 100 per cent, she said, adding her taxes are now $4,000 annually. “I cannot take this any more.” Surrey’s finance committee met on Monday afternoon to discuss the five-year financial plan for 2014-2018.
Staff outlined several changes to next year’s budget, the most prominent of which is the addition of a $100 recreation and culture levy to cover the cost of rec centres and other parks construction. The levy became necessary to fund the hiring of 100 new police officers, which was a major part of the Surrey First election campaign in the fall. The coalition now holds all seats on Surrey council. Surrey is planning to keep the property tax increase to 2.9 per cent next year – or $46.20 for the average home worth $648,000. continued on page 4
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