All electoral areas will see increases in residential property taxes following the second round of budget discussions at the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD). Preliminary residential property taxes increased an average of five per cent.
SCRD taxes rose 7.47 per cent for the District of Sechelt, 7.45 per cent for the Sechelt Indian Government District and 6.27 for the Town of Gibsons. Those amounts reflect a portion of each municipality’s tax bill, however, so the actual increase is lower.
The residential increases are based on an average market value increase and will vary for individual properties. The average Sunshine Coast home saw a 14.8 per cent increase over 2017, putting its estimated value at $655,000.
The capital budget for the SCRD is $17.52 million and operating is $37.83 million, for a total of $55.35 million as determined in Round 1, compared with a total budget of $53.45 million in 2017. Final amounts have yet to be calculated.
Residents will also see minor increases in fees for water service and garbage collection.
In terms of overall taxation, transit, solid waste, docks and a health centre – items SCRD directors called part of “the grand bargain” – factored into Round 2 numbers.
Taxation for transit has increased 16.7 per cent from 2017 because of the transit expansion project, which took effect last year. “We’re now budgeting for a full year impact of that expansion,” said Brad Wing, financial analyst at the SCRD. “There was also a $40,000 deficit from the prior year that was approved through Round 2. But certainly the main driver is the expansion.”
Another big item is the 21 per cent increase in taxes for solid waste, in part because the Sechelt landfill is slated to reach capacity two years earlier than expected, requiring the SCRD to increase contributions to the reserve that will pay for its closure.
A motion to expand island cleanup to include Nelson Island was also carried at the budget talks, requiring $31,000 to be funded through taxation. Service is already provided for Gambier, Keats, Thormanby and surrounding islands.
Howe Sound director Ian Winn said the expanded service is “very valuable” overall.
SCRD chair Bruce Milne agreed. “We simply need to provide it… I go back to the grand bargain. This may seem like too much, but I’m sure for Nelson Island, it only goes a small way to making their fair share equitable.”
Another island-related item to move ahead was $450,000 to be funded through short-term debt to fix the Vaucroft dock, which needs a new float and other repairs. Members of the North Thormanby Community Association petitioned for the repairs at a January infrastructure services committee. According to Wing, taxation will be effected beginning in 2019.
Roberts Creek director Mark Lebbell also invoked the phrase “grand bargain,” in reference to the cost of the repairs. “I’m hoping there’s a big ‘Welcome B, E, F’ sign planned for the dock,” he said. Elphinstone director Lorne Lewis said, “I greatly appreciate funds we get for transit from islands and this is a way to get some of it back.”
Meanwhile, Pender Harbour received $10,000 for its health centre. The money will be used to conduct a comprehensive survey to identify current and future needs as the centre plans for a future expansion.
The preliminary taxation increase for each area is Pender Harbour/Egmont 4.07 per cent, Halfmoon Bay 5.52 per cent, Roberts Creek: 5.78 per cent, Elphinstone 4.64 per cent, and West Howe Sound 4.9 per cent. The numbers are subject to change once final property assessment values are received in April.
Final adoption of the budget is expected for March 22.
