1. Big Tax Increases
Your taxes have been raised significantly to fund the new police service. The City of Surrey should be providing support for vulnerable citizens instead of funding this costly police transition.
- Since 2018, Surrey residents have faced increasing property taxes on average 2.9% annually,
- This is in addition to tripling the property levy from $100 to $300 per homeowner, which has collected millions of additional dollars from taxpayers to fund a new police service, from $17 million in 2020, to a forecasted $50.7 million in 2025.
2. Hidden and Unknown Costs
This is an expensive plan with future hidden and unknown costs for taxpayers. This transition needs to be halted until full costs are known and a feasibility study can be done.
- Transition costs skyrocketed from $19 million to $64 million in 2020; with their recent 2022 budget showing another potential increase to $81+ million.
- The City of Surrey benefits through millions in federal subsidies and provincial tax exemptions by having the Surrey RCMP as their police service. Each year these savings average $22 million, that will be lost by having a new police service. Over five years, that is $110 million in lost revenues for the City that will need to be made up by the taxpayer.
- Funds allocated for the police transition could better serve Surrey residents by investing in the Surrey RCMP and other vital services like pre-schools, community pools, youth programs, improved infrastructure, or addressing the opioid and housing crises.
3. Unwanted Plan
Surrey residents overwhelmingly do not support this unwanted plan. Multiple rounds of research have shown:
- 75% of residents support keeping the RCMP in Surrey with improvements such as increased policing resources.
- 82% of residents believe the transition should be halted until detailed costs are shared publicly
-
89% of Surrey residents have a favourable impression of RCMP Members.
- 90% female
- 88% male
- 87% South Asian
- 75% want to keep property taxes affordable.
Do you like this page?