The City of Langford approved a whopping 15.63 percent tax increase on March 4 for the 2024 fiscal year.

The tax increase was initially scheduled to be 11.79 per cent, but Langford council voted to abandon the long-established practice of using the amenity fund to offset tax increases.

B次元官网网址淭he best course of action would be to stop using these funds, and $10 million had been taken from the amenity fund over the last decade to keep taxes down,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Kimberly Guiry.

At least 30 per cent of people in Langford who do not own property still have needs, and correctly using the amenities fund would inject $6.4 million into the community for future projects, she added.

Guiry acknowledged that these are challenging times but did not think it would be wise to use a tool meant to help fund amenities and the larger community.

The 15.63 per cent increase will bring the city $53,922,397 in additional tax revenue, and taxpayers within the community will pay an extra $80 in taxes in 2024.

The initial tax increase of 11.79 per cent would have resulted in an extra $247 being paid by homeowners around Langford. It will now increase to $327 with the 15.63 per cent hike.

After 2024, property taxes would fall to 11.19 per cent next year and decrease to 7.87 per cent, 7.99 per cent, and 4.89 per cent through 2028 as reported in the City of LangfordB次元官网网址檚 Proposed 2024-2028 Financial Plan .

B次元官网网址淭he amenity funds are meant for city amenities, but the steep tax increase would punish homeowners,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Mark Morely. B次元官网网址淩ipping the band-aid off might hurt our population, which is in great need.B次元官网网址�

The lack of amenities in the community is something that Coun. Colby Harder is very aware of and gets told by residents that it is a problem.

B次元官网网址淚 want to make sure we are empowering our community and city to do the work that comes through those plans that have a budget that matches that ambition,B次元官网网址� said Harder.

The City of Colwood will increase tax to 4.9 per cent and the City of Victoria will increase taxation to 8.37 per cent.