Among the 17 Metro Vancouver municipalities compared in a new study by the Fraser Institute, the City of Surrey was found to have the lowest taxes and municipal spending per person.
In the category of government revenue collection (property taxes and other fees) Surrey ranked the lowest in revenue collected per person, well below the regional average found in the study.
Lean and efficient government has allowed the City of Surrey to hold the line on taxes and spending while delivering effective and quality core services at the best value for taxpayers in the Lower Mainland’s 2nd largest municipality.
“I am pleased that Surrey has been recognized for having the lowest municipal taxes and spending in the region,” says Mayor Dianne Watts. “We are a very lean organization and our decisions are made to ensure the best value and level of service for our residents and businesses in Surrey.”
“Our experienced and knowledgeable staff allows us to operate in a lean and efficient manner at City Hall,” says Councillor Tom Gill, Chair of the City’s Finance Committee. “As a result we have been able to set a civic benchmark for fiscal responsibility and accountability.”
The City of Surrey spent $951 per person, which is less that the regional average of $1,384 per person and less than half of the top spending municipality on the list at $2,118 per person.
The study compares 17 of Metro Vancouver’s 21 municipalities on several categories of fiscal policy (government spending, revenue, and debt) from 2002 to 2012 (the latest year of available data).
