Surrey’s mayor is warning of an 18 per cent hike to property taxes next year if a provisional budget from the city’s new police force is approved. Opposition city councillors say she’s just playing politics.

The draft budget shows the municipal force is asking for an increase of $91 million for next year.

The document was released by Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke on Wednesday over the objections of opposition councillors Linda Annis, Mike Bose, Mandeep Nagra and Doug Elford.

“It is extraordinarily excessive, and Surrey taxpayers cannot afford it,” Locke said.

“Surrey taxpayers want to see action to improve public safety, and we’re prepared to make those investments. But they also expect us to be prudent with public money and avoid significant tax hikes at a time when affordability remains

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