The City of Mission has made cuts to reduce the upcoming property tax increase from roughly 10 per cent to 7.55 per cent.
The council-directed reductions include the disbandment of the tourism and film division, fewer victim services on evenings and weekends and the suspension of a one per cent general capital reserve transfer for 2025.
Departmental budgets were also reduced by an average of 0.75 per cent.
“These were difficult decisions for council to make but essential in the current economy,” the budget document reads.
The reductions came after a line-by-line review of the operating budget that included evaluations of departmental activities, efficiencies and budget savings.
The city’s overall operating expenditures for the coming year are approximately $117.9 million, per the budget document provided to the public.
The city is currently gathering community feedback about the 2025 budget on engage.mission.ca and during information sessions scheduled for Wednesday (Nov. 6) from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Mission Leisure Centre.
“With the continued impacts of rising inflation, the 2025 budget is focused on maintaining existing day-to-day service levels while ensuring the City of Mission keeps up with the needs of a growing community,” a City of Mission news release reads.
The approximate 10 per cent property tax increase previously proposed came due to inflation and contractual increases.
A breakdown from the city attributed the increase to 3.4 per cent for wages, salary, & benefits, 2.68 per cent for RCMP contract costs and police services, 1.13 per cent for the BC Transit contract, 0.78 per cent for all other inflationary increases and prior years’ decisions, 0.51 per cent for the change to the Secondary Dwelling Units program, 0.50 per cent for all other contractual obligations, 0.42 per cent operating costs associated with capital projects, 0.39 per cent for transit expansion, 0.25 per cent for fee-for-service grants, 0.23 per cent for fleet maintenance and 0.02 per cent for expansionary services proposed.
A freestanding committee of the whole meeting is scheduled for Nov. 19 when council can debate and refine the budget.
Council is expected to vote on the final bylaw, which will set the budget and property tax increase, by the end of the year.
NOTE: An earlier version of this story stated that the cuts were proposed. After receiving further information, the story was updated to reflect the service reductions are final.
