Canadian currency. (Pixabay)
Quesnel City Council has unanimously approved the first three readings of the 2021 tax rate bylaw and the bottom line is that taxes will increase.
CFO Kari Bolton explained what the impact would be on the average homeowner at Tuesday night’s meeting.
“The average residence in Quesnel valued at $ 229,367 will see an increase of $ 33.53 in the municipal tax portion of its property tax bill, or $ 14.62 per $ 100,000.”
Bolton went on to say that commercial businesses will see an increase of $ 52.50 per $ 100,000 of valuation, plus there could be an additional “shock” to businesses due to the school tax rate the city collects. for the province.
“Last year the province lowered the school tax rate for all business classes, but this year it’s back to normal, so business businesses will see an increase in their property tax just because of it.
The tax rate by-law, recommended by the City’s financial viability and audit committee, provided for an additional snow tax of $ 165,000 and a shift in light industrial taxes.
Bolton also noted a few other changes for this year.
“Last year the province set the penalty date for Oct. 1, and they don’t this year, so we’re back to our normal July 2 dates, which is when property taxes are due, and penalties are applied on July 3. . “
Bolton also reminded Council and residents that the City will no longer collect information for the home ownership subsidy.
“This will all be happening across the province, so we’ll be sending out a lot of information. There will be information on your property tax bill, in a flyer, on our website, so people know what to do this year. “
Concerns have been expressed around the Council table that the City could be blamed for the increase in school taxes for commercial taxpayers.
Councilor Ron Paull suggests that the Union of Municipalities of British Columbia do this.
“About the possibility of redesigning or designing the tax notice so that it is perfectly clear what is municipal and what is not. The way the tax notice is currently designed, all of these things are merged together, and on a quick read the taxpayer really doesn’t know what is municipal and what is not. “
Manager Bolton has indicated they are looking to separate him better for next year.