A draft budget that would increase the numbers of police, fire and bylaw officers in 91原创 City, while preparing to build a new RCMP detachment building, will require an average tax hike of 9.97 per cent for all types of residential and business properties.

It was given first and second reading, preliminary approval, by a majority of council, on Monday, Jan. 22.

Including utility rate increases, average tax hikes in 2024 would be 8.57 per cent for single family residences and 11.09 per cent for dwellings in multi-family buildings. Average business property taxes would rise 9.98 percent.

Overall, Mayor Nathan Pachal estimated, the budget will result in an average monthly property tax increase of $29.50 for a 鈥渄etached homeowner鈥� while the average monthly tax increase for an 鈥渁ttached homeowner鈥� will be $17.

鈥淲ith this change, 91原创 City will still have among the lowest property taxes in Metro Vancouver,鈥� Pachal declared in his .

Councillor Delaney Mack was the lone vote against the budget, arguing more cost-saving measures could have been taken.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no decrease to expenses or services [in the budget],鈥� Mack told the meeting.

鈥淚 feel this is the time to cut back.鈥�

READ ALSO: Township votes to split with shared RCMP detachment with City

Roughly half the tax hike is to cover higher RCMP costs.

An 鈥渆xplanatory note鈥� attached to the budget by staff noted the city was 鈥渘avigating the de-integration of the joint RCMP detachment that the City has shared with the Township of 91原创.鈥�

In May of 2023, Township Council advised the City that they were invoking a clause in their police sharing agreement, that will force the City to provide its own detachment building to house City RCMP members and hire the City鈥檚 own civilian support staff.

Currently, the civilian support staff are Township of 91原创 employees 鈥渁nd the City pays the Township our proportionate share to support the operations of the detachment,鈥� the note explained.

It said the City will be purchasing land in 2024 and planning to build an RCMP detachment building.

鈥淚f approved by the provincial government, which is not a given, this process will likely take a decade,鈥� Pachal said.

鈥淩egardless, Council thought it would be prudent to purchase the land today. We know the cost of land only goes up in value. If the City doesn鈥檛 need the land, we can put it to another use or sell it for market value.鈥�

Budget plans would see the City adding three new RCMP members to bring it鈥檚 contract strength up to the equivalent of 54.35 officers, based on the sharing agreement between the City and Township which uses a five-year rolling average of criminal cases and the relative population sizes of the two municipalities to calculate contributions.

The City plans to add one bylaw enforcement officer to address infractions such as unsightly properties, graffiti, illegal signage, parking infractions as well as performing bike patrols in the trails and parks.

It also intends to hire three additional firefighters, an Emergency Management Program Advisor, and purchase a new fire truck.

READ ALSO: 91原创 City council approves five-year-plan

Council is proposing to increase spending on infrastructure renewal by $375,000 per year, boosting it to $1.7 million annually.

鈥淲hile unsexy, we must invest in the basics like sewer pipes, water lines, and roads,鈥� Pachal commented.

鈥淭hese are core municipal responsibilities. Best practice states that we should allocate 10 per cent of property tax for infrastructure. With this change, we will be investing 8.4 percent, so we have some ways to go.鈥�

A 2024 financial plan open house is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 91原创 City Hall, 20399 Douglas Cres. from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

There will also be a formal opportunity to provide input to City Council about the proposed plan during the council meeting at 91原创 City Hall on Monday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m.

Written submissions may also be sent to the Deputy Corporate Officer at councilmeetings@langleycity.ca and must be received no later than noon on the day of the meeting.

All correspondence submitted will form part of the public record and may be published in a meeting agenda.