Surrey city council passes tightened operating budget amid criticism

Surrey city council passed its operating budget in a 5-4 vote on Monday night, amid protests from members of the community.

Under the new budget, the construction of an ice rink in Cloverdalewill be delayed, and the hiring of Surrey RCMP officers will be put on hold until nextyear.

Earlier this month, the city posted a proposed five-year spending plansigned off by city manager Vincent Lalonde and general finance manager Kam Grewal, outlining how it could save $136 million in future debt through the "postponement" ofdebt-funded projects already approved.

Spending on theCloverdale Sport andIce Complex, the Grandview Heights Community Centre and Library, an Indigenous gathering place, a modular child care project, and work on RCMP facilities were all on thelistof proposed postponements, sparking outcry from a number of community groups.

Critics of the budget tightening have accused the mayor of bringing in acapital spending freeze to free up funds for a new municipal police force in Surrey.

MayorDoug McCallumhas defended the spending plan, saying "we need to live within our means in Surrey."