Budget infographic released; open house set for tonight, plus other ways to provide feedback on 2018 Langley City budget

Earlier this month, I posted about the proposed 2018 Langley City Financial Plan including highlights from the operating budget as well as the capital works budget.

Langley City staff will be hosting an open house tonight at City Hall where you will be able to ask questions directly to the folks that put together the financial plan. I also plan on stopping by the open house near the beginning. The details are as follows:

Date: January 31, 2018
Time: 6:00pm -7:30pm
Location: Langley City Hall Finance Department Foyer
20399 Douglas Crescent

City staff have also created two infographics that provide a high-level overview of the financial plan, including the changes in property taxes over the last four years.

2018 Financial Plan Infographic - Property Tax. Select graphic to enlarge.

The infographic clearly shows that policing is the largest expense in our community. As the RCMP provides policing services to our community, local property taxes pay for 90% of the cost to provide policing while the federal government pays 10%. Municipalities with their own police forces pay generally more for the same level of service.

2018 Financial Plan Infographic - Expenses. Select graphic to enlarge.

I believe that we have a good relationship with the RCMP. The official powers of local governments when it comes to poling is pretty much to set the number of RCMP members. Considering that police enforce federal and provincial laws, and considering the limited role that local governments play in policing, I find it interesting that the provincial government mandates that municipalities with populations over 5,000 pay for policing costs.

Water, sewer, and drainage expenses are a distance second and third respectively as shown in the infographic.

You can also provide feedback by emailing info@langleycity.ca. There will be another opportunity to provide feedback at the next council meeting which is scheduled for:

Date: February 5, 2018
Arrive by: 7:00pm
Location: Langley City Hall Council Chambers
20399 Douglas Crescent