Taxpayers give Surrey draft budget a failing grade

VANCOUVER, B.C.: Canadian Taxpayers Federation is giving Surrey’s draft budget a failing grade because of double digit tax hikes.

 “The high cost of housing across the Lower Mainland is one of the issues that keeps people up at night,” said Carson Binda, B.C. Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “Jacking up property taxes is going to make housing more expensive.” 

The draft budget, published this weekend, would see homeowners and businesses pay 17.5 per cent more in property taxes next year. The city has until May 15 to finalize their budget.  

As a fast growing city in the Lower Mainland, Surrey already sees some of the most expensive housing costs in the country. Last year, the average home cost almost $1.6 million. 

“Politicians and bureaucrats in Surrey need to be looking for savings, not taking the easy way out by raising taxes on struggling taxpayers,” said Binda. “Tens of thousands of British Columbians are turning to food banks and prices across B.C. continue to go jet up. The budget proposed by Surrey bureaucrats will cause real pain for taxpayers”.

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For more information or to schedule interviews, please contact:

Carson Binda

CTF British Columbia Director

Cell: 604 719 1677

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @BindaCarson