The Village of Burns Lake was recently granted a $7,206 share in a $16.9 million provincial grant.
A total of 64 B.C. communities, including Burns Lake, were reimbursed by the provincial government for providing services to government properties.
The amounts paid to each community is in lieu of property taxes and based is on the assessed value of the properties as well as the municipality’s tax rate.
According to village chief administrative officer Sheryl Worthing, the $7,206 received is a grant in lieu of property taxes for the Burns Lake Provincial Court building on Hwy. 16.
“Because the building is owned by the government it is exempt from taxation and the province pays the grant in lieu instead of property taxes.”
Worthing said the village receives the grant for the building annually. “If it was privately owned, it would be taxed in same manner as is done with other buildings within the village boundaries,” Worthing said.
Council includes the funding in the property tax revenue budget every year. “The grant is general revenue and is used for general services, it’s not extra funding.”
Last year the village received $7,314 of which $1,890 was forwarded to the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako (RDBN). This year $1,787 will be forwarded to the RDBN.
“The portion going to the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako is the amount they requisition the Village of Burns Lake for their services and functions in 2011.”
Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad said, “I’m pleased to see Burns Lake, Houston and Fort St. James receiving these funds to help provide the services residents and businesses rely on in our area of the province. These dollars will go towards valuable and meaningful local projects.”
