Editor:
Taxpayers of Gibsons - you know that the Town will soon be sending you a bill for your metered water. But did you realize that the proposed plan is to include your sewage usage, sewage and water parcel taxes and garbage tax on the same bill? I didn't think so.
This plan will not significantly affect single-family homeowners, but will have an enormous impact on strata owners. The billing plan currently recommended by Town staff would see the new combined utilities bill sent to strata corporations, who, by law, must share common expenses based on the square footage ratios of strata units. This would engender huge inequities, and would lead to many strata owners having to pay several hundred dollars per year more than single family residences. It would also force strata councils to become bill collectors.
There are about 600 tax-paying strata properties in Gibsons, representing about 1,000 voters. I am sure that when council realizes the failings of the proposed plan, it will work with strata councils to come up with a more equitable billing system that would see all utility bills sent to the users of the utilities - the individual taxpayers, whether in single-family homes or strata units.
To this end, we invite representatives from every strata council in Gibsons to contact us so we can set up a meeting and jointly develop a plan to assist council in developing a better billing system for stratas. Please call 604-886-2114.
Beverly Burgoyne
President, Marina Place Strata Council
