A budget shows a city's real priorities. We phased out the unsustainable use of development funds to keep taxes artificially low, aligning with BC's Bill 46. This caused a one-time 4% tax adjustment in 2024, but it structurally secured the predictable funding we need to build critical infrastructure—like safe sidewalks to schools. 

To keep taxes below 3% during Covid, over $10 million in amenity funds that had been collected through development were used to offset property tax increases. This practice disproportionately benefitted the most prolific and wealthiest Langford property owners, who saw the greatest subsidies during a time of massive increases in property value.

BC’s NDP's Bill 46 shifted municipalities away from ad-hoc, negotiated development agreements - which Langford had been using as short-term budget patches - toward fixed, transparent growth-funding frameworks. 

Aligning with BC's Bill 46 legislation meant facing a necessary 4% tax correction in 2024—but it structurally repaired our budget. Now, we can permanently and reliably fund the sidewalks creating safer routes to our schools.