PITT MEADOWS, BC – The 2022 budget will continue to support Council priorities related to enhanced safety, while maintaining service levels and supporting operational and community needs. It also provides for new initiatives to increase cultural understanding related to truth and reconciliation, anti-racism, and equity, diversity and inclusion.
On December 13, 2021, Council concluded budget deliberations with approving a budget of $47.7 million with a combined property tax and utilities increase of 5.30% for the average single-family, equalling $181 per year ($15 per month), and 5.00% for multi-family ($113 per year or $9 per month).
“The approved budget continues to show investments in areas important to our growing community such as health, safety and culture, while ensuring our City is set up for success in the future by providing important contributions to our asset savings reserves,” says Mayor Bill Dingwall. “Staff and Council have worked together to deliver a budget that provides exceptional value for our investments and in 2021 Pitt Meadows had the lowest tax rates for a single-family home in the Metro Vancouver region.” The City has historically had the lowest combined tax and utility rates in the Lower Mainland for the last six years and is expected to remain among the lowest this year.
The $181 increase is broken down as follows:
Major cost pressures come from:
- Non-discretionary charges related to Metro Vancouver water and sewage treatment and RCMP policing costs that includes a provision related to a 5-year retro-active pay raise pertaining to a newly negotiated collective agreement, all of which account for $55 or a 1.60% increase.
- Public health and safety enhancements for Fire Services including the cost of two full-time firefighters to address attrition and response concerns, as well as subscribing to the new digital region-wide E-Comm radio system for improved emergency communications, interoperability and for public and officer safety. These two areas accounted for $36 or 1.05%.
- Asset Savings account for $47 or 1.37%, providing $12.4 million towards future replacement of aging infrastructure and ensuring long-term sustainability.
Leaving $43 or 1.28% for all other City departments to maintain existing service levels.
2022 Capital Projects
The total Capital Plan is valued at $21 million and with the exception of the RCMP building, funding for the capital program will primarily come from reserve funds.
Some of the significant projects planned for 2022 include:
- Autonomous RCMP Detachment: planning and transition, site preparation, new building design and relocation of the Pitt Meadows Art Gallery
- New Fire Hall and Emergency Operations Centre construction completion
- Road and Rail Improvements Project: Harris Road underpass design agreement negotiations with the port authority, completion of the noise & vibration and air quality studies and working with the Museum Society to finalize building relocation plan
- Repaving Old Dewdney Trunk Road and Ladner Road
- Upgrades to the Sheridan Hill Booster Station
- Kennedy Pump Station upgrades: design (2022) and replacement (2023)
- Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan: formation of an advisory committee to prioritize recommendations and plans for new Amenity Lands
- Metro Vancouver Affordable Housing Project to include a daycare
- Recognition of National Truth and Reconciliation Day
- Pride Recognition / Equity, Diversity & Inclusion initiatives
- Community Garden Expansion
Council also supported:
- Developing A Place of Remembrance within Pitt Meadows for residents to have a space to pay tribute to loved ones and/or reflect within ones-self. A budget will be allocated once an appropriate location has been determined; and
- Accessibility Upgrades to the Heritage Hall, such as an elevator or lift that recognizes all types of accessibility needs. A budget will be allocated once all options have been fully explored.
“The 2022 budget is primarily focused on preserving services and keeping much-needed capital projects on track in response to increased inflation, rising costs and the continued uncertainty of COVID-19 and its potential impacts,” says Chief Administrative Officer Mark Roberts. “There is always a delicate balance between mitigating tax increases while ensuring the long-term sustainability of City services. As well, the City is making necessary investments to ensure future infrastructure needs are able to be met with annual contributions to the asset reserve savings.”
For a more comprehensive breakdown of the 2022 Budget, watch the November 22 and 29 business plan presentations and the Council budget deliberations on December 13 at pittmeadows.ca/councilmeetings. Learn more about the 2022 budget and business plans at pittmeadows.ca/budget.
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For more information please contact:
Carolyn Baldridge
Manager of Communications & Community Engagement
City of Pitt Meadows
cbaldridge@pittmeadows.ca