It was a tumultuous evening at the Langford City Council chambers on Monday, May 6, as the council unanimously passed the
The endorsement solidified the 15.63 per cent tax increase that the city council approved in March 2024.
A crowd of vocal opponents to the increase made their voices heard as they gathered outside on Goldstream Avenue.
“The current council blames the previous council for keeping taxes artificially low. That is incorrect. That is a narrative they are spreading. The previous council fought to keep money in taxpayers’ pockets,” said Lisa Foxall, an organizer of the protest group.
A decision by the Langford council to stop using the amenities and development fund to offset tax increases was a concern shared by the anti-tax group.
The argument was made that developers in Langford could continue to let developers pay for things like sidewalks as they had done under the previous council, said acting Langford Mayor Keith Yacucha.
“To be clear, developers are paying for the sidewalks. These were the amenity funds that were utilized for the sidewalks and those amenity funds were collected from the developers,” Yacucha said.
At least 30 per cent of people in Langford who do not own property still have needs, and correctly using the amenities fund would inject $6.4 million into the community for future projects.
The 15.63 per cent increase will see community taxpayers pay an extra $80 in taxes on average in 2024.
It is an $81 million budget that addresses many of Langford’s issues. Overall, it is a very strong budget, according to Coun. Mary Wagner. Five new RCMP officers and nine firefighters were hired to accommodate the rapidly growing municipality.
“We grow fast here in Langford…that’s just the way it is,” Wagner said.
The property tax increase will directly impact residential homeowners, but Langford City Councilor Colby Harder said that some work needed to be done on tax rates for small businesses.
“Looking at our tax rates to ensure that we’re making competitive rates within the region is going to be a strength and ongoing economic development for continued prosperity,” Harder said.
Proposing a tax hike of over 15 per cent is not what Coun. Yacucha got into politics for, but the increase was necessary to ensure public safety and provide community services for future generations.
“While it may not be popular, it stems from the dedication to the long-term well-being of Langford,” Yacucha said.
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