Maple Ridge city council effectively rubber stamped the 2024 budget, and five-year financial plan on April 23.
Having already given the property tax rates bylaw and financial plan three readings, they were adopted by a 6-1 vote, with only Coun. Ahmed Yousef dissenting and offering comment.
Yousef said he was voting against the 6.5 per cent tax increase, and the $160 million budget for 2024, because feedback said the public opposes the size of the tax increase.
Yousef said “looking at the feedback that we’ve received, with a 7-1 ratio in opposition to the proposed budget, as well as of course having some feedback at about three per cent – where we’re coming in at 6.5 per cent for a tax increase – I will not be supporting this.”
The opposition he referred to was city hall’s public feedback, obtained between Feb. 16 and March 22, which showed little support for the budget.
Out of 174 people who responded to the city’s request for public engagement, only 17 were categorized as in support, while 75 were classified as not in support. Also, 69 made general comments about the budget, which were not considered for or against the plan.
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Commenting after the April 23 meeting, Yousef said he is obligated to vote according to the public’s wishes.
“I know who I work for,” he said. “I know who I represent.”
He noted that further tax increases from School District 42 and Metro will be added to tax bills, increasing property taxes even higher.
The budget will fund only two police officers this year.
The city’s 2024 Operating Budget messaging highlights 16 front-line firefighters, 12 new RCMP officers and four city staff “to support housing creation.”
However, the financial plan document clarifies that 10 of the new RCMP members are not impacting the 2024 budget – the 6.5 per cent tax increase does not pay for these salaries as part of this year’s operating budget.
“Essentially, 12 members can be added immediately and will not impact the property tax increase until 2026 due to the time it takes to receive additional members and temporary funding using the Police Services Reserve,” reads the financial plan.
The plan shows an added cost of $1.48 million for 10 RCMP officers impacting the budget in 2026.