{"id":18527,"date":"2020-11-03T10:58:38","date_gmt":"2020-11-03T15:58:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/?p=18527"},"modified":"2020-11-18T15:24:36","modified_gmt":"2020-11-18T20:24:36","slug":"campbell-rivers-plan-to-raise-property-taxes-and-cut-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/campbell-rivers-plan-to-raise-property-taxes-and-cut-services\/","title":{"rendered":"Campbell River’s plan to raise property taxes and cut services"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Roy L Hales<\/p>\n

In response to reduced revenues arising from the pandemic,\u00a0the city of Campbell River plans to increase property taxes and either defer or cancel $1.5 million dollars worth of services<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"Campbell<\/a>

The current city council (l to r) Councillors Claire Moglove, Ron Kerr, (former Councillor) Michele Babchuk, Mayor Andy Adams, Councillors Colleen Evans, Charlie Cornfield and Kermit Dahl \u2013 courtesy city of Campbell River website<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"the<\/a>

Map of the 5 Municipalities and 4 Regional ares in the Strathcona Regional District<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 courtesy SRDWhy this is important to us?<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

While this does not directly effect\u00a0Cortes Island<\/a>,\u00a0Quadra Island<\/a>, or the other Discovery Islands, we are in the Strathcona Regional District.<\/p>\n

Close to 80% of the SRD\u2019s inhabitants live in Campbell River.<\/p>\n

Mayor Andy Adams<\/a>, and city councillors\u00a0Charlie Cornfield<\/a>,\u00a0\u00a0Ron Kerr<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Claire Moglove<\/a>\u00a0are all members of the\u00a0Strathcona Regional District Board<\/a>. So was former city councillor Michele Babchuk<\/a>, who will resign after she is sworn in as our representative to the Provincial legislature.*<\/p>\n

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\"Campbell<\/a>

Graph taken from Campbell River news release<\/p><\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Proposed property tax increases<\/h2>\n

City council wants to keep the tax increase to no more than $79 for the average Campbell River home, valued at $442,000.<\/p>\n

This is less than the regular annual tax increase that\u00a0Campbell River<\/a>\u00a0residents experienced in the years prior to 2014,\u00a0\u00a0when Mayor Andy Adams was elected<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Similar tax increases are being implemented in other communities throughout the province.<\/p>\n

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\"Tasx<\/a>

Graph taken from Campbell River news release<\/p><\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Proposed service cuts<\/h2>\n

The proposed cuts include $356,300 from recreation programming, $165,600 from the Campbell River Airport\u2019s payroll and $360,200 across many City departments.<\/p>\n

This week\u2019s Council decisions will be reviewed Nov. 30, when more detailed estimates on new construction values are available from BC Assessment. The budget will be adopted in December, and submitted to the Province before year-end.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the cuts reflect difficult, but necessary decisions, this budget still provides for renewal and replacement of aging infrastructure and funding to support new initiatives. In 2021, there will be a stronger focus on downtown safety, economic development and new maintenance requirements for the Bike Skills Park and Robron Fieldhouse,\u201d said Mayor Andy Adams.<\/p>\n

Links of interest:<\/h2>\n