2020 Operating Budget and Tax Shifting
2020 OPERATING BUDGET
Council approved the 2020 Operating Budget that would result in an increase to the average residence (valued at $221,376) of $64.83 or approximately $29.28 per $100,000 of assessment before Council considered the tax shifting options (see below) to achieve strategic goals.
The $64.83 per average residence can be broken down into the following increases:
- $15 – increase for 2 additional RCMP Officers
- $9 – increase for additional bylaw officers
- $9 – increase for the proposed snow reserve
- $2 – increase for driveway entrance clearing
- $2 – increase for the creation of a carbon reserve
- $20 – increase for inflation
- $7.83 – other increases
Next Steps:
The final steps of the budget process will be receiving the final assessments from BC Assessment, reviewing options for 2019 Surplus, setting the 2020 Tax Rates and finalizing the Tax Rate Bylaw and the Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw before the annual May 15th deadline.
TAX SHIFTING
Tax shifting is one way that Council can achieve strategic objectives by shifting the tax base between the various assessment classes. Council approved a tax shift that would shift taxation away from light industry to all other classes, except Major Industry. Council’s intent is to make the light industry tax rate the same as the commercial tax rate over three years. This tax shift will add to the average residence $6.50 or $2.94 per $100,000.
Fire Training Sprinkler Protection Unit
Council approved the purchase of firefighting structural equipment for the Fire Training Sprinkler Protection Unit. The costs for this equipment is to be shared between the City of Quesnel and the northern Cariboo Regional District volunteer fire departments. The City’s portion of the approximate $16,000 Fire Training Sprinkler Protection Unit is up to $3,600.
355 Vaughan Street – Proposed Zoning Amendment
Council approved the first two readings, and set the public hearing, for a proposed zoning amendment bylaw that would permit two dwellings units and a personal service commercial use on the ground floor of the principal building located at 355 Vaughan Street. The Public Hearing is scheduled for 6 pm, Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at City Hall Council Chambers.
Sugarloaf Mountain Multi-Use Pathway – Grant Application
Council approved the submission of a grant application, to the Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant Program, for a Sugarloaf Mountain Multi-Use Pathway totaling approximately $580,000 with the City’s 30% funding portion totaling approximately $174,000. This proposed project would see the upgrade of this section of the trail system to a higher standard than would be achievable without the assistance of this grant funding.
Bylaws
- 1884 – Temporary Borrowing Bylaw – Construction of New Public Works Facility – Final Adoption
- 1886 – Zoning Amendment – 355 Vaughan Street – First and Second Readings AND Public Hearing set for 6 pm, Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Next Meeting
- 6:00 pm – February 25, 2020 – Regular Meeting
- 6:00 pm – March 3, 2020 – Regular Meeting
No comments:
Post a Comment