Those who attended the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) 2014 budget consultation meeting in the District of 100 Mile House council chambers on Feb. 27 learned there is a proposed 2.4 per cent tax increase, which includes new and improved services.
There was a good turnout for the meeting with more than a dozen members of the general public along with CRD staff and directors, as well as District Mayor Mitch Campsall and Councillor Dave Mingo in attendance.
There are also seven people taking in the session through an online hookup, which was something new the CRD offered to residents who were unable attend the meeting.
CRD chief administration officer (CAO) Janis Bell led everyone through the PowerPoint presentation.
In 2000, she noted, the CRD adopted a 10-year capital plan to avoid borrowing for projects, and by doing so, the Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District (CCRHD) is saving around $1.5 million a year in financing costs.
In 2011, the regional district approved a new plan calling for a reduction in CCRHD taxation each year until the residential tax rate reaches $50 per $100,000 property assessment.
In 2013, the rate was $62/$100,000.
Then, Bell explained, the CRD became aware of the significant costs of two major capital projects on the horizon – the rebuilds of GR Baker Memorial Hospital in Quesnel and the Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake. According to the master plans, she noted they have been costed out at around $150 million apiece.
The CAO said the CCRHD has to pick up 40 per cent of the costs, which is $60 million on each project for $120 million, while the health authorities pick up the remaining $180 million.
Noting the CCRHD has slightly more than $20 million in the bank, Bell added the board decided to put the residential tax rate back up to $70/$100,000 assessment and keep it there until there is a clearer idea of the final costs for these projects and a timeline for when they might happen.
Bell said the board continues to deliberate on how much should be collected in taxes versus what’s reasonable amount of borrowing.
The result, she noted, is around a $1.2-million increase in the tax the CRD will collect this year.
The overall regional district budget will be $41.8 million for 2014.
There will be a tax requisition increase this year of $513,746. Of that, 1.1 per cent is due to inflationary pressure and another 1.3 per cent is for new services.
In new services, there is the $25,000 grant for the South Cariboo Search and Rescue Society, and the South Cariboo Recreation expansion – both brought in through successful referendums.
There are a couple of feasibility accounts that will hold around $110, 000 in case there are studies that need to be done for new services, and then there are some minor increases and decreases that make up the rest of the balance.
