‘Taxpayers are not ATMs’: Criticism launched as Surrey passes tax hike

The budget and the new property tax hike are set to be a major election issue, with mayoral candidates arguing about what “modest” actually means.

Surrey First councillor and candidate for mayor Linda Annis opposed – along with Coun. Mike Bose – the 2026 budget as it passed on Monday night, and wants a core review of city programs and expenditures that would result in no tax increase this year. She has promised that, if elected mayor, there would be no tax hike in 2027.

Mayor Brenda Locke has called this tax hike a “modest” one, but Annis disagreed.

“There is no such thing as a modest tax increase, mostly because your tax bill will show additional charges and increases beyond your property tax,” noted Annis. “These increases include 5.3 percent for water, 1.4 percent for sewer, 1.2 percent for the parcel tax, and a three percent increase in other user fees. Meanwhile, there is a truckload of taxes and fees from Metro Vancouver where Brenda Locke keeps approving their budgets, which are downloaded to Surrey taxpayers. Those costs from Metro include paying Brenda Locke Metro’s meeting fees, something that should be abolished.”

According to Locke, however, the budget ensures the city keeps moving forward in a multitude of ways.

“We’re committed to making Surrey one of the most affordable communities for families to live in all of B.C.,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “With a modest 2.6% property tax increase, we will keep our property taxes among the lowest in all of the Metro region, while still making significant investments in public safety, roads, parks and facilities – and to build new major projects to serve our growing population and economy.”

For the average assessed single-family home, the proposed 2.6 per cent tax increase, would add $75 to the city portion of the annual property tax bill. This funding would cover general cost increases due to inflation; support the hiring of 20 additional firefighters and 10 additional bylaw officers; strengthen frontline policing and efforts to address the ongoing extortion crisis; and support investments in city-wide operations and infrastructure.

“Surrey taxpayers are not ATMs, and right now residents and businesses are struggling,” said Annis. “All of us on council owe it to our taxpayers to find savings and efficiencies. I believe in our $2 billion city budget we can find at least five per cent in savings and efficiencies, and that would mean no tax increase.”