Most of 91大黄鸭 council supported the 2025 budget, which includes a 4.34 per cent property tax increase.
Council and staff spent Thursday deliberating the budget and its implications for residents, reducing the tax increase slightly from 4.36 per cent.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud of the staff and all of us coming together to come up with a number that I think is supportable in the general public,鈥� said Councillor Luke Stack.
The 2025 budget includes funding for seven new RCMP officers and four firefighters. Councillor Maxine DeHart praised the budget, noting it addressed council鈥檚 priorities.
鈥淭he crime and safety for sure, affordable housing, homelessness, agriculture, climate change, and environment," said DeHart.
Councillor Mohini Singh called the budget a 鈥減eople鈥檚 budget."
鈥淭here is something in this for everybody鈥攕omething that improves and impacts their lives.鈥�
However, not everyone was in favour. Councillor Ron Cannan voted against the budget, citing concerns about its impact on residents.
鈥淔or a lot of people, this has been a tough year,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 believe that we as elected officials need to be cognizant that we can鈥檛 raise property taxes that are double the cost of living.鈥�
Mayor Tom Dyas countered, pointing out the unique challenges the city faces.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not dealing with the consumer price index,鈥� he explained. 鈥淲e鈥檙e buying concrete, steel, and machinery--everything which has an inflation rate on it of six or seven per cent.鈥�
Councillor Loyal Wooldridge pointed out that only 25 per cent of the city鈥檚 $839 million budget is funded by taxation. 鈥淭he rest has been funded by development, grants from senior levels of government, and savings that past councils have made," he said.
Councillor Rick Webber noted that the city is likely to experience a period of intense development and growth to keep pace with population growth. "I think we're doing everything that most residents want us to do," he said. "Improve road networks, parks, recreation facilities and we're doing it with the smallest tax increase in the province."
Councillor Gord Lovegrove also opposed the budget, expressing disappointment that some priorities were overlooked. 鈥淚f we鈥檙e are serious about tree canopy, how is it that we could not fund something from council priorities to get this tree canopy going?鈥� he asked.
Lovegrove was referring to a $200,000 funding request for expanding 91大黄鸭's tree canopy coverage in the budget that only he and Councillor Charlie Hodge supported.
Despite voting in favour of the overall budget, Hodge acknowledged room for improvement. 鈥淭he city has had better budgets,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not about always making everybody happy; it鈥檚 about doing what you think is the right thing.鈥�
Mayor Dyas commended city staff for their efforts. 鈥淔or them to be able to manage the way that they鈥檝e managed these funds and advance these projects, I truly believe that is what the community wants,鈥� he said. He warned that delaying capital projects would be detrimental to the community.
City Manager Doug Gilchrist said the budget is a commitment to financial management and sustainable growth. 鈥淲e鈥檙e also working diligently to generate the majority of our revenues from sources other than property taxes,鈥� he added.
The , was approved, with Councillors Cannan and Lovegrove opposed.
Based on the average value of a single-detached home in 91大黄鸭, the increase amounts to $107.80 a year, or $8.98 per month, and remains well below the average increase being considered throughout the province, according to a city media release.
