Surrey Mayor Sparks Controversy Over Proposed Police Budget Hike

A significant political divide emerged at Surrey City Hall following the release of the proposed 2026 budget for the Surrey Police Service (SPS). Mayor Brenda Locke expressed strong opposition to the draft budget, which includes a proposed increase of $91 million over the previous year. This figure, according to Locke, could lead to an unprecedented property tax hike of 18 percent for residents.

Locke characterized the proposed budget as “extraordinarily excessive,” stating that she cannot support it in its current form. “As Mayor, a top priority of mine has always been to improve public safety while protecting taxpayers from costly tax hikes,” she stated. She emphasized the need for fiscal prudence, especially as affordability remains a pressing concern for many residents.

In contrast, city councillors Mandeep Nagra and Doug Elford challenged Locke’s assessment. They claim that the actual budget request from the SPS is $69.9 million and argue that the municipal government possesses sufficient reserves and unspent policing funds to cover the proposed increase without imposing additional costs on property owners. Elford accused Locke of undermining the SPS transition, stating, “Brenda Locke has spent her entire term sabotaging the SPS transition. She is not acting in good faith.”

Debate Over Transition and Costs

The debate intensified as city councillor Linda Annis, a supporter of the SPS transition and Locke’s challenger in the upcoming October 2026 mayoral race, rebuked the mayor’s stance. Annis accused Locke of politicizing the budget and suggested that the rising costs stem from her attempts to halt the transition initiated in 2018. “It took less time to win the Second World War,” Annis remarked, reflecting on the prolonged transition period.

Annis highlighted that the SPS had recorded a $25 million surplus last year and remains within the provincial government’s overall $250 million funding for the transition. She attributed part of the financial pressure to the RCMP’s slow withdrawal from Surrey, framing it as a broader operational issue rather than one solely related to the SPS.

“Locke needs to review the budget thoroughly and with transparency rather than using it as political theatre,” Annis urged. She reiterated that the draft budget is just one component of a long-term financial plan as the SPS expands and the RCMP gradually reduces its presence.

Future Staffing and Policing Needs

The proposed budget outlines a significant increase in workforce costs, with salaries and benefits rising by $62.4 million. This would facilitate a 23 percent growth in personnel, increasing the workforce from 1,039 staff in 2025 to 1,277 staff in 2026, which includes 808 police officers and 469 civilian staff.

Additionally, the SPS has requested funding for new equipment, including 75 new vehicles, as many of those transferred from the Surrey RCMP are nearing the end of their operational lifespan. Earlier this fall, Locke highlighted the need to hire 150 additional police officers to combat extortion crimes affecting the South Asian community and businesses.

Despite the call for increased staffing, Nagra accused Locke of refusing to allocate necessary funds for these hires. Annis has proposed hiring an even larger number, advocating for 300 additional officers over the next four years.

As the municipal government begins a formal review of the proposed SPS budget, it is clear that public safety will remain a contentious issue leading up to the next civic election in less than a year. Both Locke and Annis have expressed their commitment to enhancing public safety, yet their contrasting approaches highlight the complex dynamics at play within Surrey’s political landscape.