City Tax Hike Just Shy Of Four-Percent

Thursday, February 25, 2010 10:24 AM

Prince George, B.C. - Prince George city residents will see their property tax bill rise 3.98-percent on July 1st...

Opinion250News erroneously reported in an earlier story today that council had approved a snow control levy in the 2010 budget; however, that is not the case. Opinion250 apologizes for any confusion this may have caused.

Pending final budget approval, the impact for the average homeowner (with a residence valued at $209-thousand dollars) is an extra $58.37 in taxes this year. The breakdown is: $45.66 for general levy expenses, another $4.51 for the road rehabilitation levy, and $8.20 for the service enhancements approved last night. The majority of that amount -- $7.34 -- is for the fund for improving the downtown core.

At just under four-percent, the 2010 increase is the third highest hike in city taxes since 2001. The highest increase in the past decade was in 2007 when taxes increased by 6.82-percent. The lowest was in 2000 when the tax increase was held at .31-percent.

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Posted on Thursday, February 25, 2010 10:24 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: redneck on February 25 2010 10:55 AM

is it enough to get the holes in the roads fixed.

Posted by: B Fish on February 25 2010 11:35 AM

This is just keeping the roads at current conditions. current levels.
If we want "less pot holes" we get higher taxes.

Posted by: IMO on February 25 2010 11:43 AM

They filled the many, many, many pot holes on our road less than a month ago. Most are back to what they were before. I do not know what they are doing but whatever it is, does not last. Waste of money.

Posted by: acrider54 on February 25 2010 11:54 AM

What happened to the previous tax story?

Posted by: acrider54 on February 25 2010 12:00 PM

I think it was titled "City Property Tax Hike Set For 2010" Must have been too hot a topic and got deleted.

Posted by: Resident on February 25 2010 12:42 PM

So $7.34 of the $58.37 tax increase on a $209,000.00 home, (if you can find a livable home for $209,000.00) works out 13% of the tax increase going to the downtown core. Too bad the $7.34 was not spent on the roads so people could drive and shop where they want. The downtown core is dead just like it is in other cities. Thunder Bay tried this type of revival and ended up with a white elephant called Victoriaville. Get with the real world council, people shop at the malls and big box retailers. Quit wasting our money on a dead horse.

Posted by: Mr. PG on February 25 2010 3:53 PM

Dan Rogers and the rest of City Council simply do not understand that a tax increase is not wanted and not warranted at this time.

They were elected 2008, to create efficiencies at City Hall, and to try to REDUCE taxes. They LIED to get elected, and I cannot support any of the current Council at the next civic election.

Let's get some people on Council with fiscal common sense, that actually care about the local taxpayers.

Bring on the electione in November 2011, so that we can get rid of the present incompetent bunch.

Posted by: Honestjoe on February 25 2010 5:19 PM

Again, the taxpayers of Prince George, pay for the incompetence of City Council and the bureaucracy that it supports. A sad day for Prince George. When will the handouts of taxpayers dollars stop!

Posted by: Oldun on February 25 2010 7:00 PM

I agree with your comment Mr. PG. I guess they have learned from the provincial Liberals as they have done the exact same thing (lied to get elected)

Posted by: Charlie B on February 25 2010 7:15 PM

If you think for a minute this is going to make a difference to pot holes I think we will be dissappointed. This is the 10th year in a row that we have had an increase. Every year the increase is well above inflation and definetly above wage increases. We have gone from $2286 to $3340 in 10 years. we have freinds in Kelowna , Kamloops abbotsford, North Vancouver all with house of similar size. all have lower taxes, if they sold though all are double in value with the exception of Kamloops and theirs is about 30% higher value. Our city hall is a joke. Talk to any business who have built in Prince George and the storey is the same that the biggest hassle they had was with the city . If council wants to act lkie the big city boys and girls then they need to get of their high horse and suck up a dose of reality. I used to consider PG as a place to retire but taxes alone are making that less of a option.

Posted by: omygod on February 25 2010 9:38 PM

Thanks City Hall and Dan Rogers. Not only another big tax increase on property but everyone just got their Utility bills with another tax increase. Looking at the downtown and vacant lots and driving in this pot hole paradise I would have to say Prince George is starting to really suck. I have lived here for 64 years and this latest city hall cash grab has helped to make up my mind to retire some place else now. Now we know why Dan Rogers rode his bike in his election campaign last year he knew the roads were to hard on his car, as he had been on council for to long already. We need some new minds in City Hall. Ignorance can be fixed but stupid is forever.

Posted by: MrPG on February 25 2010 10:33 PM

"They were elected 2008, to create efficiencies at City Hall, and to try to REDUCE taxes."

They (and especially Dan Rogers) never said they were going to reduce taxes. That's a big misconception. Feel free to prove me wrong on that.

Posted by: Donald Mackenzie on February 25 2010 10:48 PM

Why not use Proceeds of Crime laws, For all the grow ops that are busted.Each house lets say $200.00.00 per house X 3 this month = $600.000.00 (Free money for the City). Hell if we did this each time we bust a grow op We could be a TAX FREE City. In no time

Posted by: Denaljo on February 26 2010 8:03 AM

In 10 yrs. my taxes went fron $1200 up to $ 2000; I just wish my income had gone up that fast!!!

Posted by: cougs78 on February 26 2010 8:27 AM

Dan never got my vote last time and certainly will not get it this time.The lousiest road maintenance and roads in B.C.
Should be able to do far more with far less like the average citizen of P.G.

Posted by: IMO on February 26 2010 10:18 AM

So ...Now that we all agree, what exactly are we going to do about it? Someone please step up to the plate and lead. I will be there to back you up. Any suggestions?