Residents will have three opportunities in the coming week to learn more from city staff about Delta’s draft 2025 budget, as the city solicits feedback online Oct. 22 through Nov. 3.
Delta’s 2025 Draft Financial Plan would see property taxes increase 6.75 per cent — one per cent less than in 2024 — which for an average Delta home valued at $1.3 million would equal about $192 for the year, or $16 per month.
That’s in addition to a combined $21 per month increase in water, sewer and solid waste collection fees, collected via a flat-rate utility fee.
The draft budget was presented to Delta council Monday evening (Oct. 21) ahead of two in-person open houses planned for Thursday (Oct. 24) at North Delta Centre for the Arts from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday (Oct. 26) at South Delta Recreation Centre from 10 a.m. to noon.
An online information session is also scheduled for Monday, Oct. 28 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. — registration is required.
The draft budget, feedback form and link to register for the Zoom-based info session can be found at letstalk.delta.ca/2025-budget.
Feedback collected during these sessions will be summarized and presented to mayor and council during three budget workshops planned for Nov. 13, 14, and 20. For the first time, these workshops will be open to the public. More information on the workshops will be available on the city’s website (delta.ca) early next month.
Delta’s 2025 Draft Financial Plan calls for total expenditures of $551 million, which covers the city’s general operating costs ($257.4 million, 40 per cent of which will go towards police and fire services), utilities operating ($65.5 million) and capital projects ($228.1 million).
The proposed capital program includes $153.1 million dedicated to new recreation, roads, drainage, parks, sewer and water projects to support Delta’s current and future needs. Another $75 million is for provisions and carry-forward projects.
“Over the past year, the City of Delta has made significant investments in our community and exciting progress towards achieving key goals like enhancing our recreational facilities and creating a more vibrant community,” Navin Chand, the city’s general manager of finance, said in a press release.
“The proposed 2025 budget continues this important work, ensuring that not only is the city maintaining the infrastructure, programs and services that Delta residents and businesses rely on each day, but that we are also investing in new projects that will serve our growing city for years to come.”
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One of the major projects funded in the draft 2025 budget is the new Winskill Aquatic and Fitness Centre in Tsawwassen, which will include a redesign of the baseball diamonds. The project is budgeted for $130 million, with $10 million in the 2024 budget, $60 million in 2025 and the same in 2026.
As presented to council earlier this year, the city is planning to primarily fund this project by borrowing, which will be serviced through a two-per cent Recreation Capital Investment Levy.
Other projects funded through the 2025 budget include the Ladner Waterfront Revitalization Project, upgrades to fields at Seaquam and South Delta secondary schools, Annieville and Cromie Park upgrades, a 96 Avenue multi-use pathway and road improvements (happening jointly with the City of Surrey), Sungod Recreation Centre parking lot resurfacing, and infrastructure upgrades to allow for new housing growth — proposed investments in roads, infrastructure, green technology and recreation the city says are consistent with resident feedback received during the first phase of budget public engagement.
The rest of the property tax increase (4.75 per cent) is driven by inflation and “significant cost escalations” relating to things like construction materials, labour and services — for example, the price for E-Comm 911, which manages emergency calls for police, fire and ambulance, is set to go up by 20 per cent.
The budget also incorporates a projected 40 per cent increase to the Metro Vancouver sewer levy charge, primarily due to rising project costs for the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant which are being shared by all member municipalities.
Based on the city’s estimates, the average Delta home will see their sewer charge increase by about 35 per cent or $14 per month, while fees for water and solid waste are anticipated to go up by $6 and $1 per month, respectively.
The Metro Vancouver board is meeting on Nov. 1 to discuss its proposed 2025 budget, which once passed will determine the fees charged to municipalities.
A public information board included with Monday night’s council package shows Delta’s taxes and fees are among the lowest in the Lower Mainland, typically costing the average homeowner $4,400 a year compared to the regional average of $5,600. Further, property tax increases in the city over the past 20 years have been about 20 per cent less than in comparable Metro Vancouver cities.
As well, Delta had the lowest business tax to residential tax ratio of comparable Metro Vancouver cities in 2024, with local businesses paying 1.91 times what residents pay. Richmond’s ratio was 2.14, Surrey 2.36, Langley Township 2.88 and New Westminster 3.05. The highest was Coquitlam with 3.40.
First, second and third readings of Delta’s financial plan bylaw are schedule to take place on Dec. 2, with final adoption on Dec. 9. Readings and adoption of the city’s annual tax rates bylaw will take place in April and/or May.
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