Image: City of Chilliwack / Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popove (centre) and Councillors Jason Lum (left to right), Nicole Read, Jeff Shields, Harv Westeringh, Bud Shields and Chris Kloot are pictured. The City of Chilliwack is projecting a 7.17 per cent property tax increase to maintain or increase some municipal services in the 2025 Financial Plan with a heavy emphasis on public safety. Chilliwack City Council will give first and second reading to the 2025 Financial Plan at its meeting this coming Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Projected tax increase

Chilliwack Council to consider 7.17% tax increase amid heavy emphasis on public safety in 2025 budget

Nov 15, 2024 | 5:04 PM

CHILLIWACK — The City of Chilliwack is projecting a 7.17 per cent property tax increase to maintain or increase some municipal services in the 2025 Financial Plan with a heavy emphasis on public safety.

Chilliwack City Council will give first and second reading to the 2025 Financial Plan at its meeting this coming Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. A public information meeting is slated for Tuesday, Dec. 3 similarly.

According to a staff report authored by Glen Savard, a chartered public accountant and director of finance for the City of Chilliwack, one of the biggest drivers behind the proposed tax increase is the city’s contract with the RCMP, which accounts for nearly half (3.44 per cent) of the projected increase.

Savard wrote in his report that local governments continue to bear the brunt of rising costs for the delivery of many core services, and Chilliwack is no different in that regard.

“While inflationary pressures are encountered in various areas of the municipality’s operational and capital budgets each year, the continued economic landscape of inflation and rising costs for the delivery of municipal services and capital construction has had a substantial influence in shaping the City’s 2025 financial plan,” Savard said.

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As an example, Savard said the cost escalation to the contract with the RCMP has had the single largest impact on the financial plan, requiring a 3.44% tax increase solely to fund this contracted service, absent any additional RCMP members.

“This is the reality confronted by all municipalities in the delivery of policing services across the province and the country, whether it be RCMP, provincial or municipal police forces,” Savard said.

In addition to inflationary and non-discretionary costs that afford Chilliwack with little to no budgetary flexibility, Savard said many additional operational and capital requests had initially been submitted in response to operational service delivery challenges and to address capital needs that come with a rapidly growing city. In light of the overall budgetary cost challenges presented within the financial plan, Savard said “vigorous efforts” were undertaken to alleviate the impact on the 2025 tax increase as much as possible. However, in doing so, it was also important that certain service challenges be addressed.

As a result, Savard said, the 2025 financial plan has placed a heavy emphasis on public safety and has prioritized many needs in the areas of public safety services. To ensure that inflationary and non-discretionary cost obligations are being met, while providing additional resources and funding to address various objectives of Council, a tax increase of 7.17 per cent is being proposed for the 2025 financial plan.

“This maintains or increases levels of service, ensures infrastructure is being maintained in good repair and funds all capital expenditures without debt, in accordance with the city’s pay-as-you go no-debt capital financing policy,” Savard said.

This includes the addition of five (5) additional RCMP members, three and a half full-time equivalent (3.5 FTE) additional RCMP support positions, two (2) additional firefighters, increased funding towards firefighter training and equipment and one (1) bylaw enforcement officer. The policing additions have been prioritized to mitigate crime trends and high per officer caseloads, while providing support within policing service delivery, Savard said, adding that the firefighter additions have been incorporated to help with safe and effective fire response, while ensuring a continued high level of training and essential equipment is provided. The bylaw enforcement officer has been added to help respond to bylaw-related service requests.