’Cats Claw Totems PAGE 27
WEDNESDAY November 18, 2015 • www.langleytimes.com
4
NEWS Rethinking Rotary Park
Proposed tax increase actually double base estimate
ARTS & LIFE Continuing a 172-Year Tradition
19
SPORTS Lightning Rule Valleys
Former soldier struck while walking for gas
Frozen in Place
Township budget review hears adding police, paving and other costs would increase hike from $32 to around $60
Account set up to help member of Wounded Warriors
D AN FERGU SO N Ti m e s Re po r t e r
A projected Langley Township property tax hike of 1.95 per cent in 2016 will nearly double if council approves proposed budget measures that would add two RCMP officers, a road paving program, a new replacement fund for fire department vehicles and more money for parks, along with other proposed budget increases. The distinction between the cost of the “base” budget prepared by staff and the higher cost of the spending proposals in the “decision package” contained in the draft 2016 budget emerged during the first day of a detailed review by council. Councillor Angie Quaale flagged the difference during the first of two special budget meetings on Monday, Nov. 9. “That’s equal to almost another two per cent,” Quaale said of the proposed spending. Staff confirmed the actual tax increase would
MONIQUE TA MMING A Time s Re po rte r
ANGIE QUAALE be 3.84 per cent if council approved the suggested package of spending increases. That would bump the tax increase on an average single family house from $32 to about $60. Township CAO Mark Bakken called it a “segmented” approach to the budget. “We’re presenting those as options to council,” Bakken said. Councillor Kim Richer said the presentation was “misleading.” Continued Page 6
D A N FE R GUS ON Langley Time s
A near-speechless Sarah, 6, got to meet Queen Elsa from the Frozen movie at the second annual Christmas Show at the Langley Events Centre on Sunday.
129.95
$
604-532-9445 6 04
A 29-year-old Abbotsford man who survived the battlefields of Afghanistan is now in stable condition in hospital after being hit by a pickup truck on 232 Street last Thursday evening. Just before 5 p.m., newlywed John Lowe was on his way to visit his grandmother in Langley in his old pickup truck — a vehicle that was a replacement for his other old Dodge, which had recently been stolen. The truck doesn’t have a working gas gauge, so Lowe unwittingly ran out of gas while taking the 232 Street exit. There was a torrential downpour at the time. According to the gofundme page “John Lowe’s Recovery Fund,” he phoned his dad, Ray, who said he would pick up a gas can and meet him at the truck. Continued Page 3
BC’s #1 Power Stroke Specialist RIGHT HERE IN LANGLEY Fall Maintenance Special 5957 - 206A St., Langley
244
www.bernhausendiesel.com
A Treasure Chest of Unique Antiques Annual Christmas Sale Starts November 15th
20241 Fraser Hwy. • 604.530.2687 Open Daily 10:00 am - 5:30 pm info@langleyantiques.ca