Mission taxpayers will pay 1.36 per cent more in municipal tax.
Council approved the 2015 budget and tax increase at a special meeting on Monday.
The impact of the 1.36 per cent increase on the average Mission home owner (based on a house valued at $390,500) will be $24.64. Council also approved a two per cent increase to water and sewer fees which should increase the average homeowners bill by $16.71 for a total increase of $41.35 this year.
“I think the budget is fair,” said Mission Mayor Randy Hawes.
“We are quite happy with 1.36 per cent, particularly considering there are three new policemen in that mix.”
Hawes said council wanted the increase to stay within the Vancouver Price Index (1.1 per cent).
“This is just slightly over. But for future years we want to stay within that if we can. That’s our target.”
Hawes said when council looked at services cuts that are needed in order to reach a zero per cent increase, it didn’t make sense to council members.
“All that kind of thing does is put you farther behind in future years ... If your whole target is financial, there is only one thing that suffers and that’s lifestyle.”