Municipal Taxes Up 4.36%
By 250 News
Prince George, B.C. - Residents of Prince George can expect to see the municipal portion of their tax bill increase by 4.36%. City Council put the finishing touches on its enhancement requests this evening.
Prior to heading into the meeting, Chamber of Commerce President Garth Frizzell noted that while the plans are being laid for a diversified future for Prince George, the current reality is that the community still relies heavily on forestry. Frizzell says the industry is facing a catastrophe, "As Council deliberates the budget and possible tax increase, please consider that business is at a fragile time."
The air quality initiatives have been unanimously approved, but when it came to other items, such as $610 thousand for increasing the Parks fuding and boulevard enhancements, Councillor Brian Skakun says this is not the time to increase taxes "This is the largest tax hike I’ve seen in my six years in office." Councillor Debora Munoz says if there is a deficit in the Parks department "That needs to be sorted out in the department". In the past the deficit has been covered by Development Services, but this year, Development Services wants to add its own enhancment and that will eat up any dollars that may have been available to Parks.
Here are the enhancements, the source of funding and the impact on your taxes:
Item | Cost for ‘08 | Funding Source | Impact On Taxes | Cumulative Impact | Approved ? |
Base Increase | Tax levy | 2.5% | 2.5% | yes | |
Youth Day | $6,100 | Base Budget –General Fund | yes | ||
PG Athletic Commission | $6,000 | Base Budget –General Fund | yes | ||
Water Leak Detection | $120,000 | Base Budget –Water Fund | yes | ||
RCMP Fleet Mechanics | $166,368 | Base Budget –General Fund | yes | ||
Air Quality Initiatives (1 year ) | $72,500 | ‘07 Surplus | yes | ||
Accounting and Reporting Tangible Assets (1 year) | $80,000 | ’07 Surplus | yes | ||
Air Quality Initiatives (on going funding) | $63,000 | Tax Levy | .10% | 2.60% | yes |
Accounting and Tangible Assets (on going) | $105,000 | Tax Levy | .17% | 2.77% | yes |
Parks Funding- Boulevard Enhancement | $305,000 | Tax Levy | .48% | 3.25% | yes |
Pothole Patching | $170,000 | Tax Levy | .27% | 3.52% | yes |
Send 3 People to Beijing | $10,000 | ‘07 surplus | yes | ||
’09 Winter Lights Symposium | $10,000 | ’07 surplus | yes | ||
Heritage Strategic Plan | $25,500 | ’07 Surplus | yes | ||
Public Art Trust | $75,000 | Incremental Gaming | yes | ||
Hospice Society | $150,000 | Incremental Gaming | yes | ||
’09 Curling Pre-Trial | $300,000 | Major Events Reserve | yes | ||
Festival Grants | $15,000 | Community Tourism phase 2 | yes | ||
On Going Funding | |||||
Community Street Banner | $25,000 every 2 yrs | Tax levy | .04% | 3.56% | yes |
RCMP Prime Staff positions (partial year) | $128,809 | Tax levy | .20% | 3.76% | yes |
Fire Services Rescue Truck firefighters (partial yr) | $245,820 | Tax Levy | .39% | 4.15% | yes |
Trails Increased Maintenance | $34,000 | Tax Levy | .05% | 4.20% | yes |
Street Light Rewiring | $95,000 | Tax Levy | .15% | ---------- | no |
Storm System CCTV Assessment and Repair | $100,000 (1/2 of initial request) | Tax Levy | .16% | --------- | no |
Supervisor Aplication Review | $103,430 | Tax Levy | .16% | ------- | no |
Human Resources Advisor (partial yr) | $51,620 | Tax Levy | .08% | --------- | no |
Leadership Development | $50,000 | Tax Levy | .08% | --------- | no |
Initiatives P.G. - CCV | $102,000 | Tax Levy | .16% | -------- | no |
P.G. Library Request above base budget | $19,852 | Tax levy | .03% | 4.23% | yes |
Cultural Grants | $54,000 | Tax Levy | .09% | 4.32% | yes |
Active Communities Coordinator | $17,000 | Tax Levy | .03% | 4.35% | yes |
P.G. Sport Council | $8,000 | Tax Levy | .01% | 4.36% | yes |
TOTAL | 4.36% |
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Posted by: Wileycoyote on February 27 2008 8:25 PM
Every year the City generates more revenue, and of course spends more money and increases our taxes.
The mandate of a Municipality is to spend tax dollars for the benefit its Citizens and not to spend any money on major projects without input from tax payers. I repeat ***taxpayers*** not vested interest groups.
This budget will see an increase in staffing at City Hall, the RCMP, and the Firehall. How can we justify this continueous hiring of staff, and increases in taxes. When will it stop.
The City of Prince Rupert was recently told by the Province that it could not finiance any more Capital projects until it got its finiances in order.
We need the Province to look at this Citys spending over the past few years to determine just how far in debt are we, and how out of controlis our spending.