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Budget adopted, taxes yet to be set

District of Sechelt

Sechelt council adopted its 2016 budget at the April 20 regular council meeting, but taxation related to the budget won’t be decided until next month.

Linda Klassen, the district’s manager of financial services, said that adoption of property taxation rates is a separate process, although an estimate was given to council in March that showed the average homeowner could expect to pay $40 more a year due to a proposed 2.7 per cent increase in the municipal mill rate.

“The estimates were provided earlier to council as part of the budget process, so that they have an idea of the impact to the homeowners,” Klassen said.

“We are now in the middle of finalizing the property tax calculations.”

Klassen said the district has recently received updated property assessments and is waiting for the final tax requisitions from other organizations before making a final decision on property tax rates.

A report is scheduled to come to council on May 4 for further discussion.

Meanwhile, council gave three readings to its solid waste control, collection and disposal bylaw and its sewer user fees amendment bylaw on April 20.

If adopted, Sechelt residents can expect to pay an additional $5 a year in garbage fees and an extra $7 a year in sewer user fees.