Council approved a 3.30% tax increase for 2023

The council of the City of Salmon Arm approved a budget for the year 2023, including a 3.30% tax increase. The city staff issued the budget proposal from the city’s operational budget, capital needs, and specific referral requests. The proposal also considered a municipal property tax levy from the year 2022, which was $20,038,280. The budget for 2023 lists a $ 20,700,464 municipal property tax levy, including 0,60% estimated revenue from new growth, which is $160,306. The budget also includes a 5% increase in Water and a 7% increase in Sewer User Fees as approved by Council. The total gross budget for the year 2023 is $35,938,553, up $1,623,643 from 2022.

Photo source: www.salmonarm.ca

The local Royal Canadian Mounted Police {RCMP} department operating budget is $7.69 million, {21.42% of a total budget} of which $5,693,047 will be covered by property tax, the rest from other resources. The remuneration count for the twenty-one members of the RCMP will cost $4,085,000, which covers wages, pension, and benefits, an increase of $192,000 from the previous year.

The transportation services will be $5.83 million, reserve transfers $5.77 million, recreation and cultural services $5,26 million, general government services $4.2 million, environmental health &development services $3.35 million, capital expenditures $2.19 million and debt charges $1.64 million.

The impact of the approved budget with the municipal tax increase will be the cost of residential homeowners $10,01 per $100,000 assessed value, and the business $33,24 per $100,000 of assessed value.

   As mentioned above, the city council also approved 5% in water user fees, and 7% in sewer user fees, which is an annual net increase of $33.74.

Commencing 1999, the City approved a three-year permissive tax exemption for each eligible organization. These include religious institutions, historical societies, some recreational facilities, service organizations, and cultural institutions. Permissive tax exemptions are provided at the discretion of the council and must be adopted by bylaw. The total amount of permissive tax exemptions for the year 2023 is $1,181,677.50 including $750,459 in general municipal tax exemptions and $431,218.50 in other government tax exemptions.

For the full 2023 budget plus the 2023- 2027 financial plan click on the link below.

https://www.salmonarm.ca/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/299?fileID=1070

What is necessary to consider are the property assessments, as the numbers on which property tax is based. In Salmon Arm, the average property value in 2023 went up 17% to $688,000, and in 2022 a whopping 35% increase, so over 50% within the last two years. For rural properties within the CSRD district, it was even more. For more information on how the property taxes count see the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAdIipZv5g4&t=130s

Because of the cost of living increases for various reasons, such as a product shortage due to “pandemic” mandates and restrictions, military conflict in Ukraine, permanent speculation of the bankers and investors in real estate, and poor leadership in this country, life in the Shuswap is getting more and more expensive. A lot of families have already dug deep into their pockets, and increasing taxes- don’t even mention utility bills- of a couple of hundred dollars can affect the household budget very negatively. The family will be forced to save money on the things that they can control, such as food, recreational and cultural activities, which is a tragedy for members of our community, especially those with kids.

DB