BYLAW HARVESTS $90K

So far, the municipality of Delta has billed 50 landlords more than
$90,000 under a Surrey-style bylaw that charges property owners for
policing expenses whenever a marijuana grow op is raided. The cost
recovery bylaw was adopted in 2004.

Since then, police have carried out 53 raids, most of them in North
Delta, a report to council by the municipal planning and development
department said.

Three property owners have yet to be billed.

Owners have been assessed as much as $6,000 and as little as $900
based on the hours police have spent to execute a warrant and the
cost of equipment to dismantle some of the elaborate indoor marijuana
growing operations.

If a property owner refuses to pay, the money is added to their
property tax bill.

According to the report, 12 raided properties are unoccupied,
including 10 assessed a total of $30,000.

The Delta bylaw is based on the 2002 Surrey bylaw which is considered
the only practical way a municipality can claw back policing costs.

Current proceeds of crime legislation allowing the sale and seizure
of grow op homes and other criminal property doesn't share the money
with municipalities.