LangfordB次元官网网址檚 former mayor castigated the new city council for proposing an 11.94 per cent tax hike in its draft 2023 to 2027 financial plan, but the cityB次元官网网址檚 current mayor is defending its approach.

Speaking with Black Press Media, Stew Young said the new budget proposal shifts the burden from development companies to taxpayers, saddling them with the bill.

B次元官网网址淚 would lose sleep if I had to raise taxes 12 per cent B次元官网网址� I would resign,B次元官网网址� Young said.

YoungB次元官网网址檚 comments were in reference to the frequent use during his time as mayor of the general amenity reserve fund to help lower taxes.

The fund comes from money collected from developers, which is charged to them as a condition of rezoning. Those fees varied depending on the type of zoning and were often charged per unit in the case of residential developments. For example, buildings rezoned to the CC2 city centre zone had to pay $3,800 into the general amenity reserve fund per unit.

Previous mayor and council had strived to keep taxes lower B次元官网网址� partially through the use of surplus and reserves and higher-than-expected revenues. Prior to the 2022 budget, city staff had initially pitched a five per cent increase, which was worked down to 2.95 per cent. In 2021, 3.95 per cent became 2.95 per cent and in 2020, 3.49 per cent became 1.9 per cent.

LAST YEARB次元官网网址橲 INCREASE: Langford proposes modest 2.95-per-cent tax increase; larger increases down the road

To get to the 11.94 per cent hike in this yearB次元官网网址檚 draft financial plan, $1.7 million from the general amenity reserve was used.

But Michael Dillabaugh, director of the finance department, said continuing to do that wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be sustainable during the March 27 committee of the whole meeting when the draft financial plan was presented.

B次元官网网址淲e have grown to the point where itB次元官网网址檚 not really sustainable anymore, growing it at least,B次元官网网址� Dillabaugh said. B次元官网网址淚f anything, we should be working towards getting off of our reliance on the general amenity fund B次元官网网址� to pay for ongoing operations.B次元官网网址�

Dillabaugh pointed to the higher amounts taken from the amenity reserve during the pandemic years as evidence of that, adding that tax levels should be brought up to pay for operation costs.

B次元官网网址淗indsight being 2020, the reality is that while certainly with the information we had at the time I think we certainly made the absolute best decisions we could at the time,B次元官网网址� Dillabaugh said. B次元官网网址淭he pandemic didnB次元官网网址檛 have the impact to the cityB次元官网网址檚 operations and the ongoing operations of the municipality from a financial perspective that we early on thought that it may have.B次元官网网址�

Mayor Scott Goodmanson says taxes were kept artificially low by using reserves in previous years B次元官网网址� something Young disputes, pointing to his record over 30 years of low taxes.

The tax increase may still change. Funding for the purchase of the YMCA-YWCA Westhills facility, the design phase of the new RCMP detachment, and ongoing capital asset management are also up for consideration. Those items, if approved, could add a further one per cent to this yearB次元官网网址檚 bill and 3.5 per cent over the next four years.

Young also questioned plans to hire 6.5 new city staff while development has slowed.

Goodmanson defended the money, saying city staff asked for hires in B次元官网网址渃riticalB次元官网网址� positions.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not just about development, itB次元官网网址檚 about public services,B次元官网网址� Goodmanson said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e adding B次元官网网址� people every year. Those new residents, there are services that they need, and itB次元官网网址檚 not just planning for new development.B次元官网网址�

He added while the city is early in its budget deliberations process, with several public meetings between now and a vote, he says the budget mainly covers necessities.

B次元官网网址淚 wish there were grandiose dreams that council had wished and then we can cut down, but this is a pretty nuts and bolts budget.B次元官网网址�

Taxes would go up by more than $240 for the average residential property with the draftB次元官网网址檚 proposed increase, according to City of Langford estimates.

The five-year financial plan for 2022 to 2026 B次元官网网址� passed by Young and the previous council B次元官网网址� also forecasted higher tax hikes down the road: 5.84 per cent for 2023, 5.80 in 2024, 7.91 in 2025 and 6.07 per cent in 2026.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 compared with the updated forecasted figures from this financial plan: 7.75 per cent in 2024, 6.24 per cent in 2025, 5.86 per cent in 2026 and 5.42 per cent in 2027.

READ MORE: Langford draft budget includes 11.94% tax hike, but could change