Thursday April 25, 2013 (Vol. 38 No. 34)
V O I C E
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Electron analysis: When it comes to doing more with less, Panorama Ridge Secondary students and staff have proven they’ve got what it takes, and now they’ve got a trophy to back up the claim. › see page A19
$4 million for three civic projects alone
Dropping HST to cost Surrey Kevin Diakiw Black Press
Surrey taxpayers are taking an unexpected hit with the switch back to the provincial sales tax. In three civic projects alone, Surrey will shell out $4 million more with the dissolution of the harmonized sales tax, which combined the PST (seven per cent) and goods and services tax (five per cent). Under the HST, Surrey would have received a 10.25-per-cent refund for building materials. Extra costs for the new city hall in Whalley will be another $1.5 million, while the tab for two recreation centres are jumping $2.5 million. Those extra costs were not factored into the current budget, so when Surrey sits down to figure out next year’s budget, savings will have to be found. “I think we have some significant challenges in our finances, there’s no question,” said Coun. Tom Gill, chair of the city finance committee. “Yes, we need to find some of the dollars.” Surrey is writing the provincial minister of finance asking that the PST on supplies be reimbursed,
but even the most hopeful don’t believe that’s going to happen. Gill believes the city can stick to its plan of property-tax increases of 2.9 per cent annually with a one per cent road levy. He thinks the savings can be found internally at city hall. But that may pose a significant challenge to staff, which is already operating well under budget – partly due to vacancies, particularly in fire services, engineering, planning and development and the city manager’s office. Gill said it’s far too early to say where the savings will be found. “I think it’s going to be a combination of finding the money internally through the existing budgets or looking at some revenue-generation opportunities we may not have looked at in the past,” Gill said. Surrey council won’t be considering the 2014 budget until fall, but Gill said the anticipated impacts are already in his mind. “What worries me still is the (funding for) roads,” Gill said. “That would probably be the one priority for me just from the engineering side.”
Coal train decision expected in June
Port vows consultation Jeff Nagel Black Press
Into the wind
Jose Larochelle photo
Surrey Sailing Club member Doug Honey leans back to keep his dinghy moving as he cuts through the waters just off Crescent Beach Sunday. Honey and his fellow sailors were taking part in the club’s Spring Shield event, the first race of the season.
CELEBRATING
A Special Supplement In Today’s Issue
Stung by public opposition to coal exports, Port Metro Vancouver officials are pledging more consultation and open houses next month over a contentious plan to build a new coal terminal at Fraser Surrey Docks. But a decision could then be made swiftly, according to Duncan Wilson, the port’s vice-president of corporate social responsibility. “If things go relatively well and we’re confident issues within our purview are adequately addressed,
then I think we could probably see a decision before the end of June,” he said. Open houses on May 23 and 25 are expected to respond to public concerns raised to date, present measures to address impacts and gather more feedback. “There is a lot of coal that is already handled in this port and it’s handled in an environmentally sustainable way,” port planning director Jim Crandles said. “There is no doubt that you can do it.” › see page A4
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