Mission council is mulling over a proposed 4.99 per cent municipal tax increase.
That works out to an additional $101.06 in taxes on an average assessed home (valued at $747,930) in Mission.
The proposed budget is also calling for an increase of $19.62 (16.86 per cent) for the drainage levy, $4.80 (one per cent) water fees, $23.40 (5.4 per cent) for sewer costs, $3.30 (two per cent) refuse collection and $2.60 (two per cent) for recycling and compost collection.
All combined, the increase works out to $154.78 for the average assessed home in Mission.
According to the financial report presented to council on Monday night, the 4.99 per cent increase to municipal taxes (separate from the utility user fees and drainage levy) is equal to an increase of $1,660,237 to the general operating fund.
Staff said the money is required for several reasons – to maintain existing services ($1,125,565), new initiatives and increased services ($168,062), spending packages ($672,110), and paid on-call firefighter training ($60,000). That totals $2,025,737.
Estimated taxes from new construction ($360,000) and other potential impacts ($5,500) bring the total amount needed down to the requested amount of $1,660,237.
Council has not yet approved the budget and is looking for public consultation on the proposed increases.
Few people attended Monday night’s budget community consultation public meeting and no one from the public spoke on the report.
However, the public is invited to share feedback by visiting mission.ca and clicking on the budget link to fill out a budget comment survey.
Capital Projects:
From 2020 to 2024, the district’s capital plan has over $101 million worth of capital projects slated; $34 million is scheduled for capital projects in 2020.
Capital projects for 2020 to 2024 include:
- Leisure Centre roof replacements: $1.83 million
- Other Leisure Centre repairs and equipment upgrades: $1.08 million
- Information services equipment and software: $1.35 million
- Park upgrades: $700,000
- Paving and sidewalks: $12 million
- Water utility projects: $34.3 million
- Sewer utility projects: $31.6 million
- Drainage utility projects: $2.9 million
- Waste management utility projects : $700,000
- Equipment purchases: $4.9 million.
Debt:
Mission’s projected outstanding long-term debt will be $3.4 million as of Dec. 31, 2020.
Mission’s borrowing capacity is $264 million.
Water, sewer, waste management, and drainage utilities are all currently debt-free from external sources.