White Rock Council Faces Balancing Act Over 2026 Budget
White Rock council is grappling with difficult decisions as it prepares the city’s 2026 budget. Financial Services Director Candice Gartry informed council that a 6% property tax increase could be on the horizon if no spending cuts are made.
Aiming for a Lower Tax Hike
At the November 3 meeting, council voted to explore a 5.41% tax increase, with 1% attributed to rising RCMP contract costs and 4.41% tied to maintaining current services based on inflation and collective agreements.
Coun. Elaine Cheung’s motion, supported by Bill Lawrence, also directed staff to calculate what a 2.5% increase, matching Canada’s current inflation rate would mean for city finances.
Risk of Service Cuts
Chief Administrative Officer Guillermo Ferrero cautioned that a 2.5% limit could slash about $1.3 million from the city’s budget, likely leading to job cuts and service reductions.
“There’s a human impact to those cuts,” Ferrero said. “It’s not an easy exercise.”
Balancing Residents’ Strain
Coun. Anthony Manning countered that tax hikes also come with a human cost, noting that many White Rock seniors already struggle to meet their obligations.
Coun. Christopher Trevelyan emphasized that the 2.5% scenario should serve as a public exercise in transparency and priority setting, not necessarily a target. “We need to show residents why we land at a specific rate,” he said.
What Comes Next
City staff will present operating budget figures and recommendations at the December 15 meeting, where council will finalize what stays and what goes in the 2026 budget.
Meanwhile, White Rock’s finance team was recognized again with the Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for excellence in planning and transparency — marking the city’s fourth consecutive year of receiving the honour.
Source: Surrey Now-Leader
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