Tax notices should be arriving in the mailboxes of Campbell River property owners before the end of next week, with taxes due by Tuesday, July 4.
Residential property taxes are up 2.5 per cent this year, with 0.75 per cent of that increase going directly towards the city’s capital plan which includes several infrastructure improvement projects.
During financial planning last December, council approved a lengthy list of capital projects including $250,000 in 2017 and $2.97 million in 2019 to replace aging infrastructure along Shoppers Row between St. Ann’s and 11th Avenue. The plan also includes $250,000 in 2020 and $2.21 million in 2021 for similar upgrades on Shoppers Row between 11th Avenue and 13th Avenue.
Municipal taxes are levied annually by the City of Campbell River and go towards services such as roads, water, sewer, storm, fire protection services, RCMP and garbage pick up, among others.
The city also collects taxes on behalf of the School District, Strathcona Regional District, Regional Hospital District, Regional Solid Waste, Regional Library, BC Assessment Authority and the Municipal Finance Authority.
Mark Coulter, the city’s interim finance operations supervisor, said the total amount owing on property owners’ tax bills reflects the taxes collected for those other agencies.
“By provincial law, the city is the designated tax collector for many other government agencies,” Coulter said. “Those amounts on the city’s tax notice labeled Net School Taxes and Net Other Government Taxes are set by other agencies and passed on directly to those agencies.”
The amount of taxes owed is based on those rates, the city’s tax rate, and the assessed value of a home as determined by the BC Assessment Authority.
“The balance owing that property owners will see on their property tax notice depends on the value of their property, and on how much the value of their property changed over the last year,” Coulter said.
For assistance on how to pay property taxes, the city will include with the tax notices a phamplet outlining the different methods of payment available.
“Whichever payment method people select, we remind everyone that, to avoid a 10 per cent penalty, payment and completed Home Owner Grant applications must be received by July 4, 2017,” Coulter adds. “We also remind property owners to check tax notices and water and sewer charges to ensure active or de-activated secondary suites are correctly noted in the property tax calculation.”
Property tax payments can be mailed or paid in person at City Hall. All payments by mail must be received by the July 4 due date to avoid a penalty. Post-dated cheques are accepted. The city will also accept payment by debit card. The city reminds property owners to ensure debit card transaction limits will cover the amount of taxes due. The city cannot accept payment by credit card.
Also included is an application form for the pre-authorized withdrawal system for 2018 property taxes.
Things to remember about the Home Owner Grant:
· If eligible, the provincial grant must be applied for each year.
· Residential property owners can claim the Home Owner Grant without paying property taxes.
· Banks and financial institutions cannot claim the grant on behalf of property owners.
How to apply for the Home Owner Grant:
- Go online to campbellriver.ca and click on Payments under Online Options then launch the Home Owner Grant application from the link on the right hand side of the screen. Use the access code (called Access on your tax notice, beside the folio number).
- Apply in person at City Hall, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, except statutory holidays.
Property owners who have not received a tax notice by June 7 should contact the city’s Finance Department at 250-286-5715.
The City has also published answers to frequently asked property tax questions on its website (campbellriver.ca) under City Services/Property taxes. Paper copies are available at City Hall.
