The Sunshine Coast Regional District has trimmed its 2004 budget so total property taxes will increase by only half a per cent over the 2003 tax level. While holding the line on the regional district budget, regional directors increased the regional hospital budget by 24 per cent. The hospital will receive $669,000 from regional property taxes this year. That budget includes $200,000 for capital equipment, to be spent at the hospital's discretion, up from $125,500 in 2003.
The total regional property tax bill for 2004 will be almost $7.5 million. During preliminary budget planning in February, the SCRD board had considered a tax increase of about four per cent. In a series of marathon meetings during March, directors trimmed the budget to achieve a much smaller increase, chopping allocations to contingency, administrative services, transfers to capital funds, grants in aid, the Sechelt library, ports maintenance and parks.
But while total property taxes remain nearly flat, many homeowners in the rural parts of the Sunshine Coast will see a significant increase to their tax bills this year. People with waterfront and view property will take a big tax hit because of the large assessment increases to those properties this year.
As well, the Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Mill, which is the Sunshine Coast's single biggest taxpayer, had its property assessment drop because of depreciation. Residential taxes increased to make up the difference.
That depreciation will continue to shrink the mill's tax contribution each year, unless the mill owners make a major capital investment, which increases its value. As a result, barring other major new developments, residential property owners will take on an ever-increasing share of the tax burden in years to come.
For 2004, the biggest tax increases will come in Halfmoon Bay (6.9 per cent), Roberts Creek (6.9 per cent) and Elphinstone (6.8 per cent). West Howe Sound's total tax bill will drop five per cent, but that doesn't mean Langdale homeowners will get a tax break; instead that drop reflects the lower assessments at the Howe Sound pulp mill and other commercial properties in the area.
The District of Sechelt, Town of Gibsons and Sechelt Indian Government District will all pay less tax to the SCRD this year. Partly that reflects the effect of the new property assessments. As well, the municipality tax bills are smaller because they do not pay for some of the regional services, which cost more this year, such as parks and rural fire departments.
