The average Delta home is looking at a combined increase of $108 for their property tax and flat rate utility bills.
Council on Monday approved a proposed 2.99 per cent increase to the Delta portion of the next property tax bill as well as an increase to the flat rate utility bill.
The tax increase works out to $74 for the average home assessed at $939,000, although the increase could be more for some if their homes see an increase in assessed value more than the average.
The utility bill goes up $34 for a typical Delta home.
The property tax increase works out to 1.65 per cent to maintain city services and 1.34 per cent for enhanced community infrastructure.
“Delta council recognize the continued financial pressures and uncertainties the pandemic is causing the community and has worked hard with staff to develop a 2022 Financial Plan which reflects continued fiscal restraint while maintaining city service levels and providing for enhanced community infrastructure,” a finance department report notes.
The report also notes council had identified several priorities including social action planning, accessibility enhancements, cycling improvements, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, place-making, Ladner Waterfront redevelopment, sport field upgrades, playground and sport court renewals, off-leash dog parks, boat launch replacements, facility renewal and neighborhood livability and safety improvements.
Some of the other upcoming expenses include a plan to demolish the city-owned Seven Seas building at Ladner Harbour and converting the site to a public open space next year.
As far as the utility bill, it will go up from $1,157 for a single-family home in 2021 to $1,191 in 2022.
It was noted Metro Vancouver’s portion of the $34 increase is $24.
The solid waste cost increase includes the return of the popular Spring Clean-Up program.
The city temporarily halted the program at the start of the pandemic, replacing it with a large item pickup program, but the plan for 2022 is to reinstate Spring Clean-Up while also maintaining the larger item service.
A separate report notes the large item program proved popular with roughly 9,000 items projected to have been collected by the end of this year.
Mattresses and box springs have been a popular item for pick up and have accounted for nearly a quarter of all materials being processed.
