This is really no surprise. I can't remember the last time I went downtown for anything. Why go downtown and dodge the panhandlers and drunks when I can easily handle my shopping needs elsewhere?

There is no vision for the downtown and it shows.

Just remember-as the "downtown" assessments go "down" the residential assessments go "UP." The city requires a certain amount of money to operate, which the Assessment Authorities are made aware of, and the figures are calculated accordingly. It is a "hand in glove" determination performed between the two bodies.
The downtown is basically "finished business," and the calculations performed by the Assessment Authorities are really just a token gesture, as the many owners of the buildings are now paying taxes on a property value-less building. How they can even place a value on the land is beyond me, but then they are the Authority, and when anyone appeals you can bet on whose side the Appeal Board is on.
I truly wish there was a subject brought forward that I could feel had a segment of honesty and integrity remaining.
I really do not like being such a realist and ultimately a "cynic."
It really is a beautiful world in so many ways, if only we could live in it with a bit of security and peace!!!!

Small business in BC is very much against a higher mill rate for businesses than for residences. However, that is the way the system has worked throughout Canada.

Prince George is held up as an example for other communities to follow in BC by the small business community.

The link shows a table at the bottom of the page. The residential versus busineess tax ratio is the lowest in PG. So, based on same assessed value, residents here pay more of the tax burden than in other cities; in fact 50% more than in Kelowna, for example.

http://www.cfib.ca/research/businfo/pdf/Din0515-0402.pdf

The rates are phenominally low in the "high rise" office buildings.

If one signs a 5 year lease, for example, you can get a rate of $15/SF/year for say a 2,000 SF space, includes taxes, utilities, janitorial services, etc ....

plus you can get the cost of reasonable tenant improvements coverd for the equivalent of say 6 months rent .....

such a deal is impossible in similar type of retail space in or near downtown .... more like $20 per square foot all inclusive with some tenant improvements covered ... in Parkwood you are looking at $18 to $25+ triple net ...

that is why people have moved out ..... no parking in parts due to theatre patrons taking spaces on Saturdays and Sundays as well as evenings .....

krisb-I have never been known to argue with stupidity-so I shall leave you to your own determinations and put you on ignore at this time. I really hope you never run for any office or position politically. You could be dangerous!!!! Have a nice day.

I suspect the 'truth' lies somewhere between gypsy and krisb.

We pay one of the highest (if not THE highest) property tax rates in the province per $100,000 of assessed value. The city finds out what the property is valued at and sets the mill rate based on what it thinks it needs. Since our property values have been historically low, the mill rate has been fairly high.

The way krisb talks, it sounds as if he/she is already involved in municipal politics or works for the city on some level.

I watch City council meetings fairly regularly. At one such meeting they were discussing the upcoming budget, and a councillor made the comment, "Well, we have already notified the B C Assessment Authorities as to how much money we will need." Was there any type of message there??? I have attended many appeals, and I have seen repeatedly where they do not lean towards the party who initiated the Appeal. The parties on the board are generously paid by the Government, and the majority are probably retired, so surely hope for a recall the next year. Now go ahead and tell me again there is no bias, and I will tell you once again I normally do not respond to out and out stupidity. I could go into detail, but it would be at the risk of disclosing my identity, and I have no desire to go public. I do believe krisb has dreams of becoming an aspiring politician, but I hope we will not be subjected to such mistreatment. Thanks, but no thanks!!!

Well gypsy, I'm not too sure how far you will get with the name calling... let's stick to the issues.

I'm not denying what you believe you heard from a councillor at a municipal meeting, but what difference does it make what a property assesses at as long as the city can set the mill rate to whatever they want to get the money they need? It makes no sense to me.

Mr PG ...

We pay one of the highest residential MILL RATES ...

We do not pay one of the highest residential TAXES

I do not know what people find so hard to understand about the difference between the two ....

Here is a table which is available from the City of Nanaimo web page. It was based on taxes paid in 2003 in BC .....

of the 33 cities on which information was gathered, PG was the 28 LOWEST!!!!!!!

That's why this city looks the way it does!!!

And people keep believing that we are overtaxed. We are not, when compared to other cities in BC.

It is based, and MUST be based, on average assessment or average house price for a given type of house.

http://www.city.nanaimo.bc.ca/uploadedfiles/Site_Structure/Corporate_Services/Finance_Deparment/Comparison.PDF

You get what you pay for!!

I did not do any name calling, and if it was implied I am sorry-as it was not my intention. I do not care enough about the postings to get emotionally involved unfortunately. I simply submit an opinion, and those who disagree are welcome to do so.
It is of little consequence to me what other people in other areas pay for taxes. I really do not believe the residents of Prince George are recipients of the true benefits which could be realized from the taxes they pay in this city.If I think an opinion is not well thought out and seems stupid to me, it certainly does not mean the person is stupid-just the opinion. Do not be so quick to take remarks as personal. If I am wrong-so be it.

Owl, if you had read my post carefully, you would have found that we agree completely. No need to explain mill rates to me.

Mr. PG ....

The only reason I butted in the way I did is because you said: "We pay one of the highest (if not THE highest) property tax rates in the province per $100,000 of assessed value" .....

Comparing mill rates to me is a meaningless comparison. Not only that, but the way it was written implies that we pay more dollars per year in residential taxes for similar accommodation than others in the province do.

That, to me, is the kind of spin that a politician will often put on something to drive home a point which has little substance otherwise.

Now, I find gypsy's comment interesting. Who cares waht we pay compared to others. Are we getting our buck's worht is the real measure.

So, how do we tell that we are? Where is this city being inefficent? What program are we paying more for due to mismanagement and how can it be improved? Are there examples elsewhere which handel the program more effectively and efficiently than we do?

I know one thing, the garbage system around here is lousy. Why we do not have curbside recycling pickup for garden waste and paper products at least is beyond me. Instead we either put it into the regular garbage and increase the landfill, or take individual vehicles to dump the stuff, thus wasting gas and increasing pollution.

And some cuncillors are talking "smart growth". Where do we find the "smart people" on Council to help us get with "smart growth"?

;-)

Here we go again. I think we pretty much agree on this, but you've taken something I've said out of context.

My point is that the mill rate is an interesting figure because it highlights the low property values in the region. This is slowly starting to change, but that is all I was trying to get across.

And owl, it sounds like you have a lot of interesting ideas and a lot of disdain for the folks in city council. Why not take a run at local politics and try to change things if you think you can do it better?

Mr PG

One needs name recognition to have a chance at winning a seat in civic politics around here .....

"night owl" or "barn owl" or "white owl" just will not do .... and "grey owl" I am not ....

;-)

Now, if I were a sportscaster, or a radio talk show host .... or loved little league baseball, or lacrosse, or my dad was a mayor, or I had the NDP working with me, or was executive of a business organization, or my name sounded like I was a member of a famous forest product family .... well, then it would be a cinch ....

As they say, its not what you know, it is who you know ....

but working behind the scenes, it actually is possible to succeed in making changes through what you know rather than than who you know, although the two going hand in hand works even better on occasion ... :-)

Too true owl... not too many people around this town look much beyond name recognition when casting their ballots. Although, a couple kicks at the can might yield results if your ideas are good.

And you may not want to openly associate yourself with the NDP if you want people to vote for you...