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YOUR SOURCE FOR LOCAL SPORTS, NEWS, WEATHER AND ENTERTAINMENT! WWW.DELTA-OPTIMIST.COM The Voice of Delta since 1922 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013
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Taxes up 1.9%, utility bills rise $30
Average house to pay municipal hall $40 more in property taxes in 2014, while utility charges will hit $960 BY
JESSICA KERR
jkerr@delta-optimist.com
Delta homeowners can expect to see an increase in both property taxes and utility rates next year. On Monday night, civic politicians gave preliminary approval to a 1.9 per cent property tax increase as well as a $30 increase to utility rates. The 1.9 per cent hike will
amount to an extra $40 on Delta’s portion of the property bill for a house assessed at $567,000, said civic finance director Karl Preuss. The property tax increase includes .7 per cent to maintain general municipal services, .7 per cent for a neighbourhood road improvement program and .5 per cent for an increase in police staffing levels. The police department is planning to add five full-
time positions next year — three officers and two civilians. Preuss said the tax increase is also needed to cover higher costs, such as hydro charges and insurance premiums. He said the increase in hydro charges is estimated to cost Delta $200,000. The $30 hike will bring the 2014 utility bill to $960, which Preuss said is still on the low end of the scale when compared to
other municipalities in the region. In terms of proposed 2014 utility rates, Delta comes in lower than Coquitlam ($1,092), the District of North Vancouver ($1,473), New Westminster ($1,216), Port Moody ($990) and Richmond ($1,248). Municipal hall has also stated Delta’s proposed property tax increase is below other Metro Vancouver municipalities. White
Rock and Maple Ridge have proposed increases of 3.25 per cent, while Surrey, Richmond, Pitt Meadows and the Township of Langley all have hikes of more than 2.5 per cent. Flat rate utility bills will be mailed out at the end of February and payment is due by March 31. Property tax bills typically go out in May and payment is due in early July.
Frustrating commute in South Delta BY
SANDOR GYARMATI & JESSICA KERR
Long lines made for a frustrating commute for many drivers heading to Tsawwassen or the ferry terminal this week. On Sunday, a stretch of the new South Fraser Perimeter Road (now called Highway 17) opened in South Delta. It was a necessary move because the former Highway 17 (now called Highway 17A), between 34B and 28th avenues, is closed to traffic for construction. That ramp and paving work is scheduled for completion this Thursday. Those exiting Tsawwassen headed to the George Massey Tunnel are being funneled onto the South Fraser Perimeter Road, which takes them to northbound Highway 99. See COMMUTE page 3
PHOTO BY
Drivers that didn’t use the new South Fraser Perimeter Road Monday faced long lines as Highway 17A traffic was re-routed onto Deltaport Way.
GORD GOBLE