NEW WAY TO CHASE: Delta is first department to use StarChase, 3 CAPTAIN RETURNS: Delta Ice Hawks make final roster moves, 19 TIE THE KNOT
Wedding Planner, 12 & 13
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The voice of Delta since 1922
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017
First bridge contracts going out to tender
Skating in the sunshine!
SANDOR GYARMATI
s g y a r m a t i @ d e l t a - o i p t i m i s t .c o m
Olivia Caswell does some stickhandling on the outdoor rink at Tsawwassen Springs last Saturday morning.
PHOTO BY GORD GOBLE
2.75% tax hike proposed Average home would pay an extra $61 this year if council approves budget SANDOR GYARMATI
s g y a r m a t i @ d e l t a - o p t i m i s t .c o m
Delta is proposing a 2.75 per cent property tax hike this year, which works out to a $61 increase for the average home. Mayor Lois Jackson made the announcement Monday during Delta council’s weekly meeting. The increase, which only applies to the municipal portion
of the tax bill, came about after council members and civic staff undertook a recent budgeting exercise to determine priorities for the year. Last year, council approved a 3.5 per cent tax hike that translated into an increase of approximately $75 on the Delta portion of the property tax bill for the average house, which at the time was assessed at $650,000.
This time around, all three areas of Delta saw “typical” assessment increases in excess of 40 per cent. According to the finance department, the average home is now assessed at $932,000. Homeowners whose assessments increased at a greater rate than the average could see a larger jump in their tax bills. The tax increase will see 0.5
per cent directed to maintain city government services, 0.25 per cent for police services, 0.5 per cent for the drainage program and 1.5 per cent for a new emergency operations centre, fire hall and training facility at Boundary Bay Airport. Delta is gathering feedback on the proposed financial plan until Friday. One way to submit input is at delta.citizenbudget.com.
After years of debate, the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project has moved a step closer to reality. The province last week announced that two contracts for preliminary construction work are going out to tender. The contracts are for site preparation in order to improve ground conditions for future lane widening. The ministry will award one contract for work in Delta and one for work in Richmond. Work will begin only after the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure receives the project’s environmental assessment and Agricultural Land Commission certificates. Both contracts will operate under an environmental management plan to ensure work is in line with the project’s obligations, the ministry said. Last week project director Geoff Freer made a presentation to Delta council to provide an update as well as reiterate many of the positives of the 10-lane bridge, which also includes an extensive series of road projects on both sides of the river. “If we don’t build a new bridge or build a new crossing, things will certainly get a lot worse. So, with or without the project, traffic is going to increase and we will see continued congestion that will continue to get worse,” said Freer. WORK: see Page 3
Indeed Martha, the gang at Tsawwassen Collision sure know their stuff! Frank, the car, it feels like new! A u t o R e p a i r. G e t i t d o n e r i g h t , g e t i t d o n e f o r s a f e t y a t T s a w w a s s e n C o l l i s i o n
604.943.6383
17-1835 56th St. Tsawwassen (Behind Mcdonalds) www.tsawwassencollision.com