Surrey could have a 0% property tax hike if she’s elected

The Surrey First party is following the lead of Vancouver’s ruling party by demanding a zero property tax increase in the future.

Coun. Linda Annis, who is running for mayor, is calling on city council to carry out a “transparent” core review of city services and expenditures that delivers a zero property tax increase in 2026.

Annis said if Mayor Brenda Locke and her four councillors refuse, she will carry out a full review if elected mayor next year, and will guarantee no property tax increase for 2027.

“Taxpayers should not be ATM machines for politicians who are unwilling to review and trim city costs when needed,” said Annis.

“It is just too easy to add or expand programs or ignore growing costs by hiking taxes. Taxpayers deserve better, and if I am elected mayor in 2026, there will be no property tax increase for 2027. Instead, there will be a fully transparent core review of every city program and expense. We will be looking for savings, efficiencies, and a chance to better align our priorities as a city, particularly when it comes to spending scarce taxpayer dollars.”

Surrey council was under fire in 2024 for a 7% property tax hike. A 2.8% increase was proposed earlier this year.

Vancouver council is pushing for a zero property tax increase, but opponents say that will only mean massive cuts to city services.

Vancouver city staff are now planning hundreds of millions of dollars in department cuts.

Annis said over the coming months, she and her Surrey First council candidates will be meeting with Surrey residents to hear about their concerns and priorities for the city.

“Surrey’s city budget is heading for $2 billion annually, and it would be a real surprise if savings could not be found, along with operational efficiencies,” said Annis. “Living within your means doesn’t just apply to families, it also needs to apply to city hall.”

Annis also wants to grow Surrey’s economy and business base, saying Surrey is too dependent on residential property taxes.

“Right now, we are too dependent on residential property taxes,” added Annis. “We need a stronger and larger business sector that can provide more jobs closer to home, with less commuting out of our city. I want Surrey to be the most livable, business friendly, and competitive city in the region, with a reputation for respecting taxpayers and cutting red tape.”

Annis said she has a similar message for the board and management of Metro Vancouver.

“Metro Vancouver is out of control as a regional governing organization, and as a growing expense for municipal taxpayers in Surrey and across the entire region,” added Annis. “Every taxpayer in the region is having to pay for Metro’s failure to manage the construction of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant. Every taxpayer is now on the hook for decades because of this project.

“Metro Vancouver also needs to get back to basics, namely sewer and water, and there needs to be a full and transparent review of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant fiasco. Frankly, you cannot be $3 billion over budget on that project, with no consequences for the board or management. Brenda Locke was part of Metro’s closed-door meeting that cancelled the review. Surrey taxpayers and voters deserve better from their mayor. Without an immediate and transparent review, it is impossible to take any future financial estimates, budgets or timelines from Metro Vancouver seriously. The current board and those who voted in secret to cancel the review need to be held accountable. There will always be skepticism about Metro’s decisions, numbers and competence, unless there is a full and transparent review.”

Annis believes Metro Vancouver must re-earn the trust of residents across the Lower Mainland, and it starts with transparency and getting their own house in order, both at the board and management levels.

Annis also repeated her promise to hire an independent auditor general, a position that every big city in the country already has in place, and one Brenda Locke and Doug McCallum opposed.

“An independent auditor general is not constrained by city council, they have the authority to look at every city program and expense, and make their findings public,” said Annis. “It provides some terrific oversight, but I could never get Doug McCallum or Brenda Locke to hire an auditor general, which raises serious questions about their lack of transparency and their unwillingness to better manage city tax dollars. I believe that their lack of respect for taxpayers deserves an answer at the ballot box next year.”