The Village of Keremeos has put forward information to council to increase property taxes by 2.5 per cent next year, which is in line with the rate of inflation.
The information was given to council in December, however, the tax rate could still change before it is given final approval in the spring.
Nicolette Keith, the chief financial officer for the village, said it’s to soon to speculate how the proposed tax rate change might affect the average property tax bill because it is based on property assessments, which fluctuate every year.
In a separate budget, the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen is proposing a 17.85 per cent increase for services they supply to the Village of Keremeos, which will be part of residents’ final property taxes.
If the budget is approved in the spring, a resident who owns a property worth $250,000 would pay $465.62, compared to $402.36 under the 2019 rate.
The final tax rate could still change between now and then depending on final board discussions.
John Kurvink, chief financial officer for the regional district, said the proposed tax increase in Keremeos is a result of several services delivered to the village as well as Electoral Area B and Electoral Area G.
These include fire protection, the swimming pool, recreation, a refuse disposal site and the Similkameen Valley Visitor Information Centre.
The Keremeos Review apologizes for any confusion our previous story may have caused and hope that this clarifies the situation.
