A Surrey councillor has raised concerns over the hiring of the city's new police chief, saying the process was not as transparent as it should have been.

Lipinski previously worked for the Edmonton Police Service and the RCMP before his role in Delta.

A majority of respondents also said the Surrey Police Board should disclose budget information and delay implementation of a new Surrey Police Service until after the next municipal election.

More than 52 per cent of respondents said they planned to stay with the RCMP.

Surrey closed its recreation centres in March due to COVID-19. The municipality is currently facing a $42 million deficit because of the pandemic.

Surrey was in the midst of replacing the largest RCMP detachment in Canada with a municipal force when the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis led to Black Lives Matter protests around the world.

The report found a Surrey Police Department would cost the city nearly 11 per cent more, but will come with more boots on the ground.

Surrey Coun. Brenda Locke is slamming Mayor Doug McCallum over the timing of two key reports on the transition away from the RCMP.

The city's 2020 budget, which includes no money for new police officers or firefighters, is set to be formally adopted on Monday.

"There's nothing wrong with having ambitious timelines, but I can tell you that the report we're doing will not be ready on the 11th of December," said Wally Oppal.