Last year's aquisition of the aquatic centre and Woodlands Park, the cost of police dispatch services and RCMP staffing, are some of the factors contributing to Langford’s proposed tax increase of 14.51 per cent.
But with the looming threat of U.S. President Donald Trump's import tariffs for Canada, on top of a cost of living crisis, some residents are not happy about the possibility of having to tighten their belts further.
Criticizing the city for “reckless spending” in reference to the purchases last year of the Westhills YW/YMCA Langford Aquatic Centre and Woodlands Park, Wendy Hobbs appealed for cuts to the proposed budget to ease the impact on residents, particularly families.
“Sorry, bouncy castles and free hotdogs are not what families need,” she said about the city’s free events for locals. “They need to not worry about having a roof over their heads and food on the table. Times are tough and you are not helping.”
A sentiment echoed by B. Armstrong at the Feb. 20 Committee of the Whole Meeting. “We need to dial it back just a little, see where you can find even the smallest measure of savings,” she said.
And dial it back they did, with councillors finding a number of opportunities to chip away at the proposed tax hike when discussing key budget items for 2025.
By the end of the meeting, the proposed tax increase had been reduced to just under 12 per cent.
Decreasing the city’s debt payment for ‘internal capital borrowing’ and postponing putting money aside for future technology upgrades, were some of the savings made by councillors.
Further information on all staff positions was also requested by councillors, to allow “for better decision making” at a future meeting.
Discussion was also had about removing police dispatch service E-Comm 911 from the proposed budget – a cost that has been downloaded by the province and federal governments to Langford and nine other south Island municipalities.
“This is beyond unjust,” said Coun. Keith Yacucha, who said the 2.36 per cent E-Comm tax hike could be added back to the city's financial plan before its adoption in May if the province doesn’t agree to continue its funding.
But Mayor Scott Goodmanson had bad news for his colleagues.
He told them a letter from Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Garry Begg, received on Thursday (Feb. 20), made it clear “in no uncertain terms” that Langford and the other nine affected municipalities will be taking over the full cost of the E-Comm 911 service form April 1, “without question."
“There was nothing in that letter that showed there was even the slightest hesitation on that,” he said.
Budget discussions will continue for Langford on March 4, where councillors will consider protective services, including a four per cent increase for the RCMP, which will help fund five additional officers.
