Add StudioX as a preferred source on GoogleThe regional bill for water, sewer and garbage service is up for a vote on Friday. The people voting are mostly on their way out of office.
Metro Vancouver’s board meets Friday, Oct. 30. On the agenda is the regional district’s 2027 budget and five-year financial plan. That plan sets how much the average household pays for regional water, sewer, solid waste and parks.
Surrey mayor-elect Doug McCallum has asked board chair Mike Hurley and the directors to cancel the meeting. He wants the budget left for the new board.
“That is not how you treat voters,” McCallum said in a statement, as reported by the Peace Arch News.
New Westminster mayor-elect Daniel Fontaine backs the request, the Vancouver Sun reported.
What the budget means for your household
Metro Vancouver says the average household paid about $897 for regional services in 2026, roughly $75 a month. Residents pay it through municipal utility fees or property taxes.
The proposed 2027 budget would raise that to about $914 a year, an increase of $17, or about 1.9 per cent, the Vancouver Sun and Peace Arch News reported. That is lower than the three per cent increase Metro projected earlier this year.
About 90 per cent of what a household pays goes to the water, sewer and solid waste systems, according to Metro Vancouver.
The Sun reported operating spending of nearly $1.7 billion, up 7.4 per cent, and planned capital spending of $2 billion.
Why Surrey cares
Surrey holds 29 votes on the regional board. McCallum argues those votes should be cast by directors appointed by the council Surrey elected on Oct. 17, not by outgoing members.
Thirteen of the region’s 21 municipalities elected new mayors this month, including Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond, Coquitlam, Delta and both Langleys. In his statement, McCallum said those cities hold 114 of the board’s 145 votes.
Surrey’s new council is sworn in at City Hall on Monday, Nov. 2. The regional board’s next regular meeting is Nov. 27.
During the campaign, McCallum’s Safe Surrey Coalition pledged to pull Surrey out of the regional district, keeping only water, sewer and waste services, the Peace Arch News reported.
Metro Vancouver’s response
Metro Vancouver says the vote will go ahead as scheduled. Spokesperson Jillian Glover told the Peace Arch News the budget is usually approved in October so member cities have time to prepare their own financial plans.
She said the board could choose to receive the budget for information or refer it to a future meeting. “The Local Government Act recognizes the continuity of the board,” she said.
By law, the board has until March 31 to adopt its financial plan.
Business group also wants a delay
The Business Council of British Columbia has also asked Metro Vancouver to postpone the meeting. It wants the vote on the region’s Solid Waste Management Plan put off too.
The council says garbage disposal fees are expected to rise five per cent a year, or 63 per cent over ten years, under the plan. Residents and businesses pay those costs through their garbage bills.
What happens next
The outgoing board decides Friday whether to approve the budget, receive it for information, or hand it to the new board. StudioX News will report the outcome.
To see what Metro Vancouver charges in your city, check your municipal utility bill or Metro Vancouver’s budget page at metrovancouver.org.
Sources: Metro Vancouver, Peace Arch News, Vancouver Sun, Indo-Canadian Voice, Business Council of British Columbia, City of Surrey
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving multilingual diaspora communities across Canada. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, NEPMCC, and the Canadian Freelance Union (Unifor). Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
