Pitt Meadows residents could see their taxes increase by 10 per cent next year to cover soaring garbage collection and policing costs.

The increase, approved after budget discussions last week, takes into consideration general tax as well as drainage, sewer, water and solid waste charges.

Rising costs for Ridge Meadows RCMP – for equipment, housing and more officers – means policing will gobble up $484,000 of the 2009 budget.

By next June, the owner of an average-priced home in Pitt Meadows (an assessed value of $363,000) will pay $217 more than last year.

“The first thing to really focus on is the solid waste area,” said Pitt Meadows’ director of finance Dean Rear.

Garbage and recycling services are going to increase to $201 from $86 for a single-family home.

A new contract signed for one year by the city and fluctuating recyclable costs are responsible for the hike.

Sewer charges are going to increase by one per cent, the dollar impact per family is approximately $2.

The flat rate for water is going up 1.2 per cent as Metro Vancouver is expected to increase its charge for water supply by 15.8 per cent in 2009.

The dollar impact of the water rate increase for a single family home is expected to be around $16 annually.

The city’s general tax rate is also going to increase but only by 2.37 per cent, to increase provisions to the city’s life cycle and equipment reserve fund.

The 10 per cent residential tax increase will bring Pitt Meadows in line with other cities in Metro Vancouver, moving it from its often lauded position as “the city with the lowest taxes.”

“Although our increase takes us from the absolute lowest to somewhere in the pack, other communities are experiencing similar challenges,” said Rear, like increased garbage collection, sewer and water charges.

The District of Maple Ridge will see residential taxes increase 5.75 per cent, or by $115 for the average homeowner.

Although city staff are drafting a budget bylaw, Rear believes there could be some relief once B.C. Assessment releases its figures for non-market growth in the city.

“We had some pretty conservative estimates going into the budget, but will still try to tighten things down so we can be a little more optimistic,” said Rear.

Pitt Meadows mayor Don MacLean didn’t want to say there is going to be a 10 per cent residential tax increase for sure - especially if non-market growth figures means the tax rate can be reduced by one or half a per cent.

“I don’t want to throw out a figure because it may change,” said MacLean.

He said council considered all its options during budget deliberations, but had no choice other than raise taxes.

“We have an option of cutting two to three officers to bring the rate down or eliminating garbage service,” MacLean added.

“If you take out those two items, we are under inflation because we have had some fairly good non-market growth.”

The draft bylaw will return to council for three readings in January, with final adoption expected in February.

The Pitt Meadows capital program for 2009 is aggressive with a budget of $19.7 million.

In 2008, the city completed a capital program worth $8.48 million.

Five projects being considered that would need to be partially funded through borrowing:

• replacement of pump station No. 1;

• construction of parkade at civic centre;

• potential renovations to fire hall;

• portion of the South Bonson Community Centre not funded by money available in the South Bonson Amenity Reserve Fund;

• Completion of investment in Pitt Meadows arena.

Other significant projects:

• Civic centre parking structure (developer funded);

• construction of turf field (grant dependent);

• completion of Airport Connector Road;

• reclaim of Dewdney Trunk Road from Sharpe to Neaves roads;

• Hammond Road water main replacement;

• Bonson Road water main replacement;

• Katzie Slough pedestrian bridge (grant dependant);

• Raising Hammond Road Lift station;

• Sewer pipe rehabilitation;

• emergency generator for Pitt rec centre.