The Township of Langley is underway with its 2024 budgeting process, and is currently considering a 7.01% budget/property tax increase for this year.  This increase is down from an original proposed 7.59% increase.  The Langley Chamber is challenging Council to seek additional ways to further trim the 2024 budget with a goal of bringing the increase below 7%.  

While the Township is making many investments that are needed in our community, we must balance these investments with the cost-of-living and cost-of-doing-business challenges facing our residents and businesses and should seek ways of tempering the proposed tax increases.   The Langley Chamber has reviewed the proposed budget documents and the two budget presentations from staff, and has provided input and recommendations to Mayor and Council to lower the proposed tax increase. 

The Chamber has reminded Council that businesses in Langley Township pay a tax rate 3.27 times that of residents, which has translated into a situation where “Business Other” properties pay fully 25.5% of the tax burden whilst representing less than 10% of total properties and using demonstrably fewer Township resources than residents.  We've encouraged Council to consider the impact of its actions on all taxpayers in the Township, including our important business sector.   

Our recommendations to Township Council include:

• Find reductions in spending or increases in revenue to further reduce the proposed tax increase below the current 7.01%
  • Possible suggestions include:
    • Phasing-in of the new $642,000 snow and ice removal program
    • Increasing the paving budget by a lesser amount than the current $742,000 increase
    • Phasing in of the proposed three additional bylaw enforcement officers 
    • Re-evaluate recreation revenue forecasts for possible increased revenue 
• Consider efforts to reduce the difference between Business and Residential property taxes, currently at a 3.27:1 ratio 
• Adjust future budget timetables for more robust public consultation which does not overlap with the holidays as this year

In addition, throughout the year we have encouraged Council to consider carefully the ongoing carrying costs from increased debt being taken on, including principal and interest payments, which are now budgeted at nearly $30 million in the 2024 Operating Budget. 

Read our letter to Council here or below > 

See the Initial 2024 Proposed Operating Budget >