Dear Editor,
Re: Langley Township disintegration of RCMP agreement with the City of Langley
As a taxpayer and resident of Langley City, I am so confused on the true reasoning why the Township mayor feels Langley City is not paying its fair share of the Langley RCMP shared detachment, and wishes to disband the agreement without any dialogue on ways to rectify the issue.
Mayor Woodward has been quoted stating that “We are investing in public safety and the City of Langley is not.”
According to the City of Langley’s website, Mayor Pachal has stated that the City has been paying what was agreed upon, based upon the current formula. The document provided a chart from the past five years depicting what was budgeted and paid for. The chart shows that the City has complied with the required “contract strength” and “financial contribution”, whereas the Township statistics show that although they have been assessed a “contract strength” level, they did not pay for all the staff required, due to RCMP staff shortages and leaves.
Was the Township paying their fair share, if they do not get charged for these staff vacancies? How can Mayor Woodward say the City is to blame if the Township isn’t being charged for the vacancies and the City continues to pay for what is asked?
What also puzzles me is that in the 2024 Langley City budget, the City wants to hire three more RCMP members. So why now? Were we not paying “our fair share” these past five years, or is there a sudden change in our population and Criminal Code cases that require the increase?
This disintegration will cost all Langley taxpayers money.
The City is planning to spend $11 million on property for its own detachment in 2024, $30 million each in the 2026 and 2027 budgets, even without a transition plan being approved by the provincial government. Langley City cannot afford to continue to ask its residents for 10 per cent-plus increase every year!
The Township will also be paying more for policing and its administration, which will affect their tax rate as well.
Has anyone seen the financial plan for this transition? From either the Township or City?
In light of severe RCMP member shortages throughout B.C. and Canada, it seems a bit presumptuous to think B.C. Solicitor General Mike Farnworth will approve this request. It would be prudent that both communities come together, modernize the agreement and continue with a shared plan.
What is the truth, and what is rhetoric? If there are RCMP staff shortages, all citizens of Langley are going to be affected with longer response times, no matter where you live and what agreements are in place.
Vicki Krell, Langley City
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• READ MORE: Township votes to split with City over shared RCMP detachment
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