Late penalty considered
Council is set to consider applying a 10 per cent penalty to outstanding balances of late municipal utility taxes.
District staff will bring forward utility bylaws in December, that will ask council to consider the utility fees be treated the same as property taxes for their entire billing process rather than just at Jan. 1st of the following year.
About 90 per cent of property taxes are paid by the due date, according to District of Squamish’s Christine Mathews who presented the plan to council at the first 2017 budget workshop on Nov. 8., but only about half of utility fees are paid on time, she said.
There are currently no consequences for late utility payments until Dec. 31.
Municipalities throughout the province use either a discount or penalty approach to utility fees, Mathews explained.
Being late paying property taxes will also now mean homeowners get dinged 10 per cent all at once, rather than in two five per cent increments.
The change has been made, Mathews said, to put the District of Squamish in line with current provincial legislation.
Property taxes not paid in full by the second business day in July will be charged 10 per cent on the unpaid balance.
Currently the property tax penalty is split five per cent in July and five per cent in August.
District estimates suggest the penalty to late utility payments would add between $40,00- $80,000 to district coffers. The combined property tax penalty will add approximately $45,000, according to staff.
Moonlight and Mistletoe
The Squamish Nation youth leadership group Menkis is hosting this free, winter-themed event on Nov. 25 starting at 7 p.m. at Totem Hall. Activities include demonstrations, artists, musicians, guest speakers, a children’s activity table and vendors selling their various wares. A free shuttle will transport interested individuals from the Hospice lighting of the Christmas tree, which is on earlier in the night at On the Farm, to Totem Hall. For info contact Mara Williams at 604-892-5166.
Almost Santa time
It is almost that time of year again. This year’s Santa Claus Parade takes place at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 on Cleveland Ave. To register a float go to www.downtownsquamish.com/santa-claus-parade/
*Please note this article has been modified since it was first posted to clarify that the property tax change has occurred rather than that it is being proposed.
