Fraser-Fort George Regional District directors approved a $46-million operating budget during their monthly meeting Thursday.
Of the total, $18.6 million will be raised through property taxes, a $507,080 increase over last year. The rest is covered through service fees, grants and anticipated surpluses.
Prince George will account for the biggest chunk of the property tax levy at $7.3 million, a $155,229 increase over last year. For homeowners within city limits, that translates into $57.33 per $100,000 residential assessment.
In Mackenzie, homeowners will pay $69.62 per $100,000, while the rate in McBride will be $412.89 and in Valemount it will be $309.97, based on the latest assessment figures.
In electoral area A, the rate will be $129.48, in area C, $142.85, in area D, $151.85, in area E, $167.99, in area F, $166.10, in ara G, $121.08 and in area H, $140.38.
The rates for the electoral areas are for services paid for the whole area and do not include the cost of local area services that cover only part of the electoral area.
At $20.4 million, solid waste management remains the biggest expenditure. $12 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 $5.7 million, followed by recreation and cultural services at $3.6 million and 911 emergency response services at $3.5 million.
FFGRD chairman Art Kaehn said the budget maintains existing services.
A handful of projects - a new Exploration and Learning Centre in McBride, a full service transfer station at the landfill in Mackenzie and the entrance relocation at the Foothills landfill - are planned to begin work.
"Many of these projects and purchases are fortunately supported with capital grants from the federal and provincial governments, NDI Trust and reserve accounts, so we can move forward on projects that will improve quality of life for residents in our region without a significant impact on taxation," he said in a press release.
A breakdown of the budget can be found with this story at www.pgcitizen.ca.
