SURREY HIRES 12 MORE MOUNTIES

A dozen more Mounties will hit the streets later this year, bringing
Surrey's detachment to 412 officers.

Surrey politicians unanimously endorsed the added personnel at Monday
night's council meeting.

The new hires are made possible by savings from several other city
departments, largely from vacant staff positions that have not yet been filled.

It allows Surrey to spend $400,000 of the $1.8 million in savings for the
new officers, while using the remainder to repay half the money borrowed to
balance this year's budget.

The one-time windfall covers the costs for only the last four months of
this year. Civic officials admit innovative solutions will be necessary to
finance them next year.

That could include a two per cent public safety tax, according to public
safety chair Dianne Watts. The tax, which represents about $15 for the
average Surrey home, would generate about $2 million in added revenue for
the city.

The proposed tax is a thorny issue among the Surrey Electors Team
(SET)-dominated council that has managed to freeze property taxes for eight
consecutive years.

Watts, a SET member, points out the tax would only be considered if the
city is out of other options.

"We have to have some pretty frank discussions at budget time," Watts said
Tuesday.

Several funding sources exist, including a fine of up to $5,000 on
landlords who allow their properties to be used for marijuana grow operations.

The city has already issued 12 of the fines since the bylaw was initiated
about a month ago.

In addition, the city wants to recuperate a four per cent tax on fire
insurance currently collected by the province.

Province-wide, the revenue represents about $58 million added to B.C.
coffers, and about $5 million of that originates from Surrey, according to
acting fire chief Len Garis.

He's asked for a meeting with the province to discuss the issue and expects
an answer by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the new police officers will target drugs and prostitution, seen
as a growing problem along the King George Hwy. corridor.

Chief Supt. Jamie Graham said Monday night that the new Mounties should
start arriving in the next two months.