THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012
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‘Snowball’ fight at new Arts Umbrella, South Surrey Youngsters squeal in delight during a pretend “snowball” fight in a dress-up drama class at Arts Umbrella in South Surrey Wednesday. The newest branch of the not-for-profit arts education centre, serving children aged two to 19, opened in The Shops at Morgan Crossing on Jan. 11. Arts Umbrella Surrey offers visual, media and performing-arts classes. See more at www. artsumbrella.com/surrey. (Photo: AMY REID)
City finance committee
2.9% property tax hike in draft plan Amy Reid
Now staff twitter@amyreid87
SURREY — City council’s finance committee approved a 2.9 per cent property tax increase for 2012, but council points out Surrey still has the lowest taxes in the region. The budget will likely go before council for approval next Monday (Jan. 23). The draft five-year financial plan includes tax increases of more than $90 for the average home.
The 2.9 per cent property tax increase works out to approximately an extra $39 a year for the average single-family dwelling. The plan will also mean an additional $13.50 for the road and traffic safety levy for the average home, and utility costs, such as water and sewage, will increase by about $40. Other highlights outlined in the plan include $31 million toward the new City Hall in 2012 and $20 million in 2013. The plan proposes that the city hire 10 new RCMP officers in 2012 and continues hiring in later years to maintain the current ratio of officers to citizens. It’s recommended that the city hire eight firefighters in 2012 and add four additional fire services positions in 2013. It’s also proposed that one bylaw enforcement officer be added each year.
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At the public open house last Monday (Jan. 17), some residents spoke to council about the plan. Grant Rice, who ran for Surrey city council under the Surrey Civic Coalition banner in the last election, questioned some of the revenue projections outlined in the plan, such as the secondary-suite revenue projections. The financial plan proposes to raise secondary suite fees from $240 to $247. The plan says that more than 19,000 suites in single-family residences in Surrey are currently paying the fee. The plan projects 2012 fee revenues will be $6.1 million. Rice pointed out that 24,696 suites would have to pay fees in order to hit that projection — a number quite a bit higher than 19,000, he said.
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“You’ll need to identify 5,696 suites immediately in order to meet that budget projection of $6.1 million. Is there any indication to show you that is going to happen?” Rice said he thinks the projections for the following years are also quite high: $7.12 million in 2013, $8.3 million in 2014 and $9.39 million in 2015. “I want to know if these are realistic,” Rice said. City staff said there are 20,716 secondary suites identified in the City of Surrey as of Jan. 16. Rice went on to question the gaming revenue projections, asking if the Newton Bingo Hall was part of the reason that revenues were projected to go up.
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Increases equal more than $90 a year in taxes for average homeowner