Tuesday December 30 2014
Please note: There will be no newspaper on Thursday January 1
The
Leader
▲ Let the tree chipping begin 16
▲ A thank you to blood donors 6
EXIT STAGE LEFT
2014 ▶ THE TOP STORIES AND PHOTOS FROM THE LAST YEAR PAGES 3-9
Members of RNB Dance and Theatre Arts perform ‘The Web Trap’ in the group acrodance category (16-20 years) on the final weekend of the annual month-long Surrey Festival of Dance in April. BOAZ JOSEPH
HEPNER DEFENDS CITY’S NEW $100 TAX
▶ MAYOR ACKNOWLEDGES THERE WAS NO MENTION OF LEVY DURING THE ELECTION KEVIN DIAKIW
Mayor Linda Hepner acknowledges a $100 levy was never raised by her party during the fall election, but the tax became necessary to maintain the city’s capital program. During the last civic election, Surrey First vowed to hire 100 police officers for $15 million annually. The party stated those officers could
be paid for with revenue from growth, a hike in secondary suite fees and dividends from the city’s development corporation. However, the chair of the city’s finance committee, Coun. Tom Gill, said cost pressures – primarily from the hiring of more RCMP – put the city’s aggressive capital program at risk. Gill said there were other cost pressures that came as a surprise, including a benefits increase for the RCMP and a pay increase for Surrey firefighters. Staff say those costs total $6.5 million, some of which the city was anticipating. Hepner said there were other unexpected costs as well. They include operating costs of new pools, she said.
“My fundamental piece was, are we going to remain competitive in the region with the lowest taxes?” Hepner said. “Frankly that’s the best we can do.” She acknowledged that the $100 levy was a new concept. “That was never raised during the election,” Hepner said. “Nor was I aware it was going to cost $2 million to operate a pool.” She also heard on the hustings that people wanted to keep the capital building program, which is extremely expensive. The budget was endorsed by the finance committee (all of council) on Dec. 8. It will be given final approval by council after the holidays.