I received my 2015 tax bill this week, and I found that property taxes rose a whopping 8.7 per cent and utility taxes rose 19.2 per cent.
However, the budget notice for 2015 states an increase of 3.6 per cent for the property taxes and a 9.5 per cent increase for the utility taxes.
The brochure, Budget 2015: Explained, provides an explanation of the various Squamish operating costs and sources of revenue. It looks good but it fails to explain why the tax billing is so out of step with the budget.
The 2015 Capital Plan note explains how the $14.84 million is heavily funded from reserves and surplus funds. It ends by stating, “It does aid in maintaining affordability for taxpayers.”
Am I to assume that the surplus and reserve funds are being liquidated to pay down the debt incurred over the Oceanfront development? If not, why are they being used to finance the capital plan? These funds were built up over the years to help offset any unforeseen emergencies.
Donald Christie
Squamish
