Delta residents will see their property taxes go up by 7.75 per cent in 2024, in addition to a $95 increase in their flat rate utility fees for the year.
On Monday (Dec. 11), council unanimously approved the city’s 2024 budget and five-year financial plan. The budget calls for a 5.75 per cent tax increase in 2024 to fund the city’s operational services, plus a two per cent recreation capital investment levy to pay for major projects like facility renewals, sport field upgrades, civic amenity improvements and community park enhancements.
As well, council approved a proposed 7.5 per cent increase to the flat rate utility fees for 2024. The $95 bump in fees — from $1,262 for a single-family home in 2023 to $1,357 in 2024 — represents a $25 increase for water service, $61 for sewer and $9 for garbage and recycling pick up. for the year.
For a typical Delta home, the property tax increase amounts to around $208 for the year, or $17 per month. Combined with the higher utility fees, the overall increase in charges for an average residence is $303, or $25 per month.
Speaking at third reading of the budget on Dec. 4, Mayor George Harvie called the increase a “surprising” but “realistic” number, noting the new two per cent recreation levy — which will be be charged again in 2025 — allows the city to move forward on a number of much-needed projects without having to borrow in the area of $100 million.
“Overall, do I wish the number was lower? Absolutely. [But] that’s going to be actually one of the lower numbers from what I hear in Metro Vancouver,” Harvie said. “So I really appreciate the good work staff did and I look forward to moving forward quickly with regards to the capital projects. It’s important that our residents see what they’re paying for as soon as possible. It’s a challenge, but we’re up for it.”
A staff report to council presented at last week’s council meeting notes the city is dealing with “significant inflationary pressures” as well as rising material and labour costs that are beyond its control, resulting in higher costs for fuel, maintenance contracts, insurance premiums and utilities
The report also notes there has also been a “substantial” nearly 25 per cent increase in costs relating to E-comm, which provides 911 services for Delta and the rest of Metro Vancouver, as well as recently-signed collective agreements with increases that are in line with other cities in the region.
Delta’s 2024 budget is set at $450.1 million — an increase of $60.9 million over 2023 — and includes $231.7 million for the city’s general operating budget ($21.2 million more than in 2023). Part of that money will go towards increasing the budgets of both Delta Fire & Emergency Services and the Police Police Department, providing for additional police officers, community safety offices and civilian staff.
The budget also includes increased resources for the city’s development services, funded from development revenues, in order to achieve the provincial housing targets set for Delta — 3,607 net new units over the next five years.
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The 2024 capital plan calls for $160.8 million in spending, an increase of $33.8 million over 2023. This includes $85.8 million for new projects and an estimated $75 million in provisions and capital projects carried forward from previous years.
Bolstered by the two per cent recreation capital investment levy, the plan includes several “key major capital projects” including upgrading Annieville Lions Park, a second synthetic turf field at Mackie Park, improving track facilities at Seaquam Secondary School, creating a master plan for John Oliver Park and exploring adding a cover for the outdoor pool at North Delta Recreation Centre.
Other major recreation projects include renewing Winskill Aquatic and Fitness Centre, revitalizing the Ladner Waterfront, advancing the Cromie Park Master Plan, improving track facilities at Delta Secondary School, and field design for South Delta Secondary School.
The capital plan also provides dedicated funding for road work, including traffic calming and safety improvements for various cycling and sidewalk connections, traffic management, crosswalks, traffic signals and devices, and other improvements, plus money for extreme weather preparedness equipment and various climate action initiatives.
Carried-forward projects include the second phase of road improvements along 72nd Avenue and on Progress Way between 76nd Street and 80th, water main work on Annacis Island and along Centennial Parkway, 56th Street sanitary upgrades from 12th Avenue to 16th Avenue, and a variety of improvements to parks and city-owned buildings.
“When you build an entire city at once as we did in the 1970s and 80s, all of your infrastructure gets old really fast at the exact same time,” Coun. Dylan Kruger said at third reading on Dec. 4.
Kruger noted the city is facing pressures that, in his view, are “unique even compared to 20 years ago to maintain and upgrade that infrastructure and promises we made to the community,” adding the work the two per cent levy will pay for represents “an incredible amount of value.”
“It’s work that we need to do if we’re going to continue to grow our infrastructure as a city,” he said.
Delta’s 7.75 per cent property tax increase does not include levies from other taxing authorities — such as Metro Vancouver, TransLink, BC Assessment, Municipal Finance Authority and the Province of B.C. school tax — typically included in the annual property tax notice.
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