City council finalized the 2011 property tax rate today after a last-minute change made earlier this week.
Going into the May 9 city meeting, council had approved the first three readings of the bylaw, which would have resulted in an approximately 25 per cent increase to the light industrial tax rate.
But Coun. Shari Green spearheaded a turnabout on the balance of light industrial, business, utility and major industrial classes. The move ended with the tax proposal being defeated with only days to make changes before the legislated deadline of May 14.
The tax rate was quickly amended after the defeat, and today, councillors met again to make the tax official.
Councillors Shari Green and Brian Skakun were the only ones present during the meeting while the others attended via phone during a break from the North Central Local Government Association annual general meeting in Prince Rupert.
After the meeting, Green justified her change of heart.
"I got several letters of thanks from people in the light industry area. They felt their concerns had been heard," Green said. "It still went up, but not as drastically as proposed."
Green said the biggest concern she heard from business owners was that there was no warning that rates were going to jump so dramatically.
"I think what they're looking for is for us to get that information out there sooner, so they have time to respond," she said.
Skakun echoed Green's comments.
"We need to get input sooner so we don't end up in this crisis situation," he said.
Skakun said the light industrial property owners were very vocal in voicing their opposition to the proposed tax rate, which would have seen light industry paying $33.485 per $1,000, up from $26.61715 per $1,000 in 2010.
FINAL TAX RATE
The city rate comprises approximately two-thirds of the total property tax rate. The remainder is comprised of school taxes, regional district taxes, hospital district taxes and other costs.
The city tax rates for 2011 will be:
Residential/supportive housing: $7.6304 per $1,000 assessed value.
Light industrial: $27.357 per $1,000.
Major industrial: $47.89847 per $1,000.
Business/other: $16.28435 per $1,000.
Utility: $40.71087 per $1,000.
Farm: $5.20001 per $1,000
