After a year of inflation and the wild economic swings of the post-pandemic era, 91原创 Township and City diverged on taxes in 2023 鈥� although both increased them.

91原创 City raised taxes by 11.56 per cent, while the Township went with a 5.37 per cent increase.

Higher tax increases were common around the Lower Mainland this year, as the sharp rise in inflation in 2022 hit local governments in the pocketbook.

In the City the increase was suggested at a range of 10 to 12 per cent early in the year, including utility rate increases that are not controlled by the City itself.

Those increases were driven by big projects like rehabilitating the one-way section of Fraser Highway, including upgrading utilities and putting power lines underground, and adding more full-time firefighters.

In addition, the City planned to borrow $15 million for property purchases related to its preparation for the 2028 arrival of SkyTrain.

After council had wrapped up most of their debate on the annual budget, Councillor Delaney Mack tried to re-open the issue because of a $7.2 million grant from the provincial government.

In early May, Mack asked her fellow councillor to rescind third reading of the annual financial plan. That would have let the council consider rejigging the budget and potentially lowering property taxes

鈥淚 feel that budget amendments are possible, and that we鈥檝e been given an opportunity,鈥� Mack said.

Other councillors, however, felt that using the grant to cut taxes now would simply be kicking the can down the road.

鈥淭he challenge with this $7.2 million funding is, if we use it to defray鈥� any taxes, then we鈥檙e going to have the same situation again next year,鈥� said Coun. Teri James.

91原创 Township鈥檚 increase of 5.37 per cent was lower than many across the region, but it was higher than the four per cent goal the council had set for itself in January.

鈥淭his council has found ways to fund new services and amenities people want and need, aside from using large property tax increases that other municipalities are putting in place,鈥� said Mayor Eric Woodward said after the vote.

The budget included 11 new firefighters, five new RCMP officers, and three new bylaw officers.

In addition, more civic staff were hired to speed up the processing of development applications and permits amid ongoing explosive growth in the Township and a housing crisis across the entire province.

Both the City and the Township have among the lowest rates of residential property taxes in the Lower Mainland.