Fraser-Fort George Regional District directors approved a $45.8-million operating budget during their monthly meeting Thursday.
The total is about $200,000 less than last year's budget but the total property tax levy will rise by $300,000 to $18.8 million. Most of the rest is covered through grants and reserve funds.
Prince George will account for the biggest chunk of the property tax levy at $7.4 million, a $145,425 increase over last year. At $55.57, that translates into a $1.76 decrease from last year's rate per $100,000 of assessed residential value.
In Mackenzie, homeowners will pay $64.31 per $100,000, down $5.31, while the rate in Valemount will be $293.17, down $16.80. McBride's will be $427.74, up $14.85.
In electoral area A, the rate will be $124.53, down $4.95, in area C, $138.33, down $4.52, in area D, $147.36, down $4.49, in area E, $162.16, down $5.83, in area F, $158.12, down $7.98, in area G, $116.14, down $4.94 and in area H, $135.91, down $4.47.
However, those decreases may not result in a decrease on the tax bill for many homeowners in the region. The average increase region-wide in property assessment was 4.84 per cent, meaning that the overall amount homeowners are taxed on may have increased.
At $21.4 million, solid waste management remains the largest expenditure. $13.6 million of that total will be taken in through tipping fees and the like while $4.8 million will come from anticipated surplus and $3 million from the tax levy.
Protective services is the next largest item at $4 million, followed by 911 emergency response services at $3.9 million and recreation and cultural services at $3.7 million.
FFGRD chairman Art Kaehn said the budget accounts for some significant capital projects and purchases, including the entrance relocation project at the Foothills landfill, conversion of the Mackenzie landfill to a transfer station and equipment purchases for volunteer fire departments. It also reflects a decline in the requisition for waste reduction.
"We are excited to move forward on some big projects that will improve quality of life for residents in our region without a significant impact on taxation," Kaehn said in a press release.
