Surrey residents will have to dig a little deeper when taxes are due this year, as Surrey considers hikes totalling $123 for the average home.
Surrey’s budget committee has already endorsed $23 in increases to utilities, including sewer, water and waste hauling.
The city is also expected to endorse an ongoing one-per-cent road levy, which would amount to $17.50 for the owner of the average home worth $720,400.
On Monday, Surrey’s budget committee was also considering a $10 increase to the $100 Capital Parcel Tax, introduced in 2014, just a month after the civic election.
The city is also expected to increase property taxes by 3.9 per cent, which amounts to $72 for the owner of the average Surrey home.
For the first time, Surrey has divided the discussions into three separate meetings, first examining the utility rates, then the capital program and then the operating budget.
The latter will be considered at a budget meeting on Dec. 21.
It’s at the operating budget meeting where the committee will discuss how many police officers, firefighters and bylaw officers will be hired.
The budget committee consists of the whole of council. Its recommendations are usually passed as suggested at a regular council meeting.
