The cost of 9-1-1 call-taking and police dispatch services will account for almost a third of ColwoodB次元官网网址檚 tax hike in 2025.

Of the proposed 7.9 per cent tax increase for residents next year, the cost of funding the E-Comm 9-1-1 service amounts to 2.2 per cent.

Currently funded by the province and federal governments, from April 1, 2025, 100 per cent of the cost of the E-Comm 9-1-1 service is being passed on to Colwood and nine other South Island municipalities B次元官网网址� including Langford, Metchosin and View Royal.

For Colwood, the cost of the service in 2025 is expected to be $495,000.

B次元官网网址淎lmost a third of ColwoodB次元官网网址檚 municipal tax increase this year will be solely because of this decision by the province to download these costs,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Ian Ward speaking to Goldstream B次元官网网址 Gazette.

B次元官网网址淚t's concerning B次元官网网址� it has a real world impact on people right now that are struggling with housing costs and rising grocery costs and other things.B次元官网网址�

Originally managed by a local RCMP operational communication centre (OCC), the dispatch service was moved to E-Comm 9-1-1 in 2019.

The province and federal governments will continue funding for RCMP OCC dispatch services in most areas across B.C.

All 10 mayors from the affected municipalities have previously asked for B次元官网网址減rovince-wide equity,B次元官网网址� appealing for a pause in the plans to offload the cost of the police dispatch service.

But their words fell on deaf ears.

B次元官网网址淚t's unfair, because a lot of the province doesn't have these costs, and we've been selected to have to pay this,B次元官网网址� said Ward. B次元官网网址淐olwood taxpayers will bear the brunt of this decision.B次元官网网址�

City of Colwood budget deliberations are currently underway and are scheduled to continue on Monday, Dec. 16.