Most of the Terrace city councillors saw an increase in their property taxes this year, unlike last year where the majority of their property taxes decreased.
City council passed its financial plan bylaw May 9, which saw a two per cent increase in taxes.
While all councillors saw an increase in their house assessments and an increase in their property taxes compared to last year, only the mayor saw a decrease in both.
Mayor Dave Pernarowski saw his municipal tax decrease by $45, falling from $1,467 last year to $1,422 this year for his Soucie Ave. residence.
Pernarowski was one of the two members of council last year, along with councillor Leclerc, who saw an increase in assessment and taxes. Last year he paid $226 more in gross property taxes than the year before.
Councillor Bruce Bidgood led the way in paying the most taxes of the councillors, seeing a big jump in assessment for his Maroney Ave. house. He’ll be paying $1,544 this year, which is $162 more than the $1,382 he paid last year.
Councillor Bruce Martindale was next in line. His municipal taxes for his Olson Ave. home rose $105 from $1,173 last year to $1,278 this year.
Councillor Brian Downie’s tax increase came in double digits – he’ll be paying $75 more this year than last year for his Birch Ave. home, a rise from $1,585 last year to $1,660 this year.
Councillor Carol Leclerc’s increase is about the same as her increase last year; this year she’s paying $57 more on her Westview Dr. home compared to the $51 increase she saw last year. She’ll be paying $1,946 this year compared to $1,889 last year.
Of all the increases, councillor Brad Pollard saw the least. He had a $37 increase in municipal taxes for his Lambly Ave. home, moving from $1,523 last year to $1,560 this year.
Collectively, the councillors are paying $9,410 in municipal taxes this year compared to the $9,019 they paid last year.
The city is collecting from 4,864 taxpayers this year. Taxes are due to be paid by 4:30 p.m. on July 4. The city is recommending that cheques not be mailed in due to the Canada Post disruption.
