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- Wednesday - June 25, 2025 - Mission readies for tax hike
Wednesday - June 25, 2025 - Mission readies for tax hike
Tyler Olsen
June 25, 2025
🌧 High 20C
Good morning!
Sometimes I do let the kids win at things. I’ll throw a board game, allow them to take back ill-advised chess moves, and refrain from scoring when we play soccer. But it depends on the day. Yesterday, my daughter was off with mom, so I had the evening with my very competitive nine-year-old son. I beat him at Ticket To Ride, then at competitive drawing (he was the judge), then at Sudoku.
Finally we went outside to throw the baseball around. When we were done, my son wanted to have a foot-race. Now, if we were doing anything else, I would have taken it easy. But he was so sure he could beat me—and I’ve got so few years left in which that confidence will be misplaced—that I had to dash his dreams. He’ll inevitably beat me in a couple years. But at the age of 40, Dad still has it.
– Tyler
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News
Oh, baby
Record numbers of babies were born last year to mothers living in Langley, Abbotsford, and Chilliwack.📊 Tyler Olsen
Babies, babies, and more babies.
Last year was a record-setting 12 months for the Fraser Valley’s parents, as the region welcomed a massive surge in the number of new babies.
The thousands of crying babies shows how the Fraser Valley is becoming a refuge for would-be parents seeking homes large enough to raise a family.
Related
Need to Know
😷 Three unvaccinated people in Chilliwack have contracted the measles [CityNews]
💰 Tariff-related costs may increase the cost of Mission’s new high school—and lead to cuts of community projects because the province won’t provide more funds [Mission Record]
👉 A judge has handed a three-year jail sentence to a man convicted of dangerous driving in connection with a fatal 2022 accident in central Abbotsford [Abbotsford News]
⚖ A Chilliwack fentanyl dealer was sentenced to 28 months in prison [Chilliwack Progress]
🌲 Forestry changes could reduce the risk of wildfires, a provincial board has found [Coast reporter]
🎸 Brad Paisley will perform in Abbotsford in November [Abbotsford News]
👍 The new Dewdney Bridge has opened more than a year ahead of schedule [Mission Record]
😲 Video showed a massive iceberg calving in Newfoundland [CTV]
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The Agenda
Increasing city wages are set to further push taxes up in Mission. 📷 Grace Kennedy
Mission facing another inflation-breaking tax hike
Mission taxpayers are already looking at a significant possible tax increase for next year. In a preliminary report to council last week, staff wrote that the city expects expenses to rise by $3.4 million in 2026. That would require an average tax hike of about 6.8%.
Staff warned that those figures will change over the coming year. But the numbers show the challenges facing cities hoping to hold the line on taxes. Contractual obligations and increases to wages, salaries, and benefits are expected to account for more than three-quarters of next year’s potential tax increase.
Last year, Mission property taxes increased by 5.8%. Council had originally been faced with a 10% hike, but a slew of cuts trimmed that figure. Municipal budgets are usually unanimously approved by councils, but in a rare move, two councillors opposed Mission’s financial plan. Coun. Jag Gill had wanted to freeze pay hikes for city managers and non-unionized staff, given the fiscal challenges.
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🗓 Things to do
Lego and wine: Taves Estates Winery in Abbotsford is inviting adults to drink wine and build Lego on Thursday from 6 to 8:30pm. Details online.
Free day camps: The Abbotsford Youth Commission is hosting day camps and free drop-in activities throughout summer. Details online.
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