Tax bills on way
Property tax bills will soon be arriving in Squamish mailboxes.
Council adopted the property tax rate bylaw at its council meeting Tuesday.
On average, the residential rate increase is $75 or 3.96 per cent, according to the district, which reported that an increase of 4.5 per cent on average for single-family homes equates to about $110.
The utility class increased on average by 8.93 per cent or average $2,605; the light industrial rate decreased by 0.87 per cent or average $53; business taxes increased by 2.46 per cent or average $157; and recreation property taxes decreased by 0.97 per cent or average $7.
Taxes depend on a number of factors that influence assessed value. If, for example your Garibaldi Highlands home was assessed at $626,000 in 2015 but assessed at $723,000 in 2016, the property tax calculated in 2016 would be $3,187.85, up $59.79 from 2015, according to district staff. A downtown home assessed at $317,400 in 2015 and $392,000 in 2016 would pay $1,728.41, up $142.39.
Figures refer to the municipal and library taxation portion of property tax bills only. Property tax billing is also influenced by other fees and taxes, so exact amounts will vary.
Residential property taxes in Squamish take 64.5 per cent of the property tax burden; the B.C. average is 61 per cent. Utilities account for 7.1 per cent of the tax burden in Squamish as opposed to the B.C. average of 4.5 per cent.
Businesses take 24.7 per cent of the local property tax burden for 2016, while the B.C. average is 20.8 per cent.
The final rates will be applied to all property owner accounts, and tax bills will be sent out at the end of May. Taxes are due by July 4.
Second prize for Squamish tap water
Squamish’s tap water won second place in the “Best of the Best” Tap Water Challenge in Whistler Tuesday at the BC Water & Waste Association annual conference. Hope, B.C. came first.
During Drinking Water Week, May 1-7, the District of Squamish is reminding residents that Vancouver Coastal Health’s guidelines are to “flush until cold.”
VCH recommends running water from taps until the water runs cold to be sure no metals are consumed from tap water.
If water is left to sit for extended periods of time, it can draw out metals, including lead, from fixtures and pipes in homes, according to a district news release. This has been a concern in B.C’s South Coast, Pemberton and northern B.C. communities.
Squamish’s drinking water has a pH level of 7.4, within Health Canada’s guideline of pH between 7.0 and 10.5.
Flushing tap water eliminates any potential for a building’s plumbing pipes to affect water quality, according to the release.
The “flush until cold” protocol is good practice in particular for homes with pregnant women and young children, according to the district.
Telus invests in corridor
Telus announced Wednesday it will invest $4 million in new infrastructure and facilities in the corridor in 2016 to increase wireless and high-speed Internet capacity.
The move will extend fibre-optic infrastructure directly to thousands of homes and businesses, a news release states, “to meet the rapidly growing demand, ensuring customers stay connected at home, at work and on the go.”
Rec fees set
The District of Squamish recreation fees bylaw, with an amendment, passed the first three readings on Tuesday.
The fee increases included in the bylaw for some district recreation services help bridge the gap between what it costs to run and maintain the facilities and the revenue collected, according to Tim Hoskin, district director of recreation services.
An amendment was made to reduce the charge for the artificial turf field to about $6 per hour per child in prime time and $3 per hour in non-prime time after complaints from representatives from Squamish Youth Soccer Association who said fees for youth players using district fields were unfair.
Council had planned to pass the bylaw in March and implement the fees thereafter, but it had deferred the first three readings until Tuesday. The shortfall in fees anticipated will have to be covered in some other way, Hoskin said.
Business climate healthy
An economic development survey undertaken by the District of Squamish in 2014 and 2015 showed 61 per cent of businesses said their business was good or increasing.
The district’s Gary Buxton presented results of the survey, called the Business Walks Project, to council last week at its committee of the whole meeting.
For the survey, district staff met with 58 business owners in the downtown and Valleycliffe to discuss their business issues and concerns.
The biggest challenges for owners included finding employees, which about 33 per cent of respondents indicated was an issue. Local restrictions were a challenge for 22 per cent of owners. Other challenges included lack of customers, lack of space, property taxes and marketing.
Respondents said the best aspect about doing business in Squamish is the location, at about 55 per cent, and 29 per cent said their clientele were the best part.
When asked what could be done to help businesses thrive responses varied, according to the report, but included suggestions such as the need for highway signage and a faster, simpler district approvals process. Other owners said some of the costs, such as utilities and property taxes, should be lower.
About 93 per cent of owners said they did not plan to retire or sell their business in the next five years.
Within the businesses surveyed, 61 per cent of total employees were full-time, 35 per cent were part-time and four per cent were temporary. District staff fielded 99 inquiries from prospective companies looking to relocate or start up a new business in Squamish in 2015.
Shake in the Quake Cottage
Find out what it is like to be in an 8.0-magnitude earthquake by going in the Quake Cottage on Thursday, May 12 from noon to 6 p.m.
The mobile earthquake simulator will be set up in front of Brennan Park Recreation Centre.
The event will also offer opportunities to connect with local emergency services and agencies that work to keep the community of Squamish safe, according to the district.
Emergency kits will be available to purchase for and proceeds from each kit will go to the Howe Sound Women’s Centre.
24-Hour Drum this week
The 24 Hour Drum will be held Friday (May 6). The annual event, hosted by the School District No. 48 Aboriginal Youth Leadership group, is an opportunity for students to share their experiences, stories and concerns with their classmates, teachers, families and community.
Funds raised will be donated to the Res’eau Waternet Project, which is dedicated to helping smaller communities solve water problems, according to a news release about the event.
On Friday, students from Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton will gather at Whistler Secondary School to witness the raising of the Skwxwu7mesh and Lil’wat Nations’ flags on their shared territory. Everyone is invited to an evening presentation and dinner at Whistler Secondary School from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Admission is by donation. To learn more about the event, go to sd48aboriginaleducation.org.
Mental health barbecue
In honour of mental health week, a barbecue is scheduled for outside of Save-on-Foods in downtown Squamish on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Representatives from the Ministry of Child and Family Development, Vancouver Coastal Health and North Shore Schizophrenia Society will be on hand to answer questions around mental illness and how to access local services.
