2:00pm
Post as a result of concerns about huge increases to rural property taxes for 2026, as posted in a Williams Lake Facebook group -- explanation below:
Later this month (if you haven't received it already) -- rural residents' will begin to receive their 2026 property tax notices from the Province of BC via the Surveyor of Taxes...
By way of background:
The Cariboo Regional District consists of 4 municipalities (Wells, Quesnel, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House) and 12 electoral areas with over 62,000 residents. It has over 124 budgets providing a range of local, sub-regional and regional services
Regional Districts do not have the authority to collect taxes directly. Instead taxes are collected by the Province of British Columbia (Province) for services provided by the regional district. The Province is responsible for collecting taxes in the Cariboo RD's 12 Electoral Areas. The Cariboo Regional District's member municipalities (Wells, Quesnel, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House) collect taxes on behalf of the regional district.
Regional District Services can be explained in this way --
a) Regional Services are provided to all municipalities and electoral areas such as Administration, Libraries
b) Sub-regional services involve two or more jurisdictions such as Recreation, Arts/Culture, Victim Services
c) Local services are only provided to electoral areas and including such things like utilities (water/sewer), streetlights, fire protection, etc,
The 2026 tax notice is from the Province of BC, and includes taxes for schools, roads, policing and regional district services. The following items appear on your tax notice:
a) Provincial School Tax—collected by the Province for providing education in BC. 2026 Provincial School Taxes can be viewed at https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/oic/oic_cur/0124_2026
Provincial Rural Tax—collected to fund provincial services in rural areas including maintenance and snow removal for public secondary roads (not highways or private roads). 2026 Provincial Rural Tax details can be viewed at https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/oic/oic_cur/0125_2026
Police Tax—collected to fund police protection services to all rural property owners. 2026 Provincial Police Taxes can be viewed at https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/oic/oic_cur/0123_2026 (Column 3 - #1 is Residential Rate for 2026)
Local Services Area—local services are listed on your notice for services within a local service boundary, consisting of:
Cariboo RD Local Services - taxes rates for these can be viewed at https://www.cariboord.ca/media/bmnawuf4/2025-vs-2026-comparative-ad-valorem-tax-requisition-rate-details.pdf as well, the Cariboo Regional District's Budget Process can be viewed at https://www.cariboord.ca/regional-government/budget-and-finances/budget-process-and-feedback/
Finally -- each of the Cariboo RD's 12 Electoral Areas had 2026 Budget Flyers mailed to individual property owners. These can be accessed at https://www.cariboord.ca/regional-government/budget-and-finances/budget-2026/
Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District—provides capital funding to Northern/Interior Health Authorities for healthcare in our region on a cost share basis (usually 40% local ratepayers and 60% Province of BC). The Hospital Board is comprised of all members from the Cariboo Regional District Board (16 members) as well as Thompson Nicola RD Area "E" Director Jim Smith. The tax rate for the CCRHD in 2026 will remain the same at $75 per $100,000 of residential property assessment
BC Assessment Authority—a Crown corporation that sets all property assessment values in the province. Its costs are recovered by this tax.
Municipal Finance Authority—coordinates financial borrowing for all local governments in the province.
How are property taxes calculated --
Through the budget preparation process, the Cariboo Regional District determines how much funding is required to deliver services. This total funding amount is provided to the Province of BC, for rural/electoral area taxation, which is responsible for calculating and collecting taxes on behalf of the Cariboo Regional District. The Province uses a formula, which is based on property assessment data, to determine how much tax each property must pay. BC Assessment determines property values and these values are based on property location, size, age and other features such as comparable sales prices and real estate market information
Rural Taxes are due on July 2nd, 2026 and can only be paid at a ServiceBC office in Quesnel, Williams Lake or 100 Mile House. The Cariboo Regional District is NOT able to accept payment for Rural Taxes. You can also pay online at your financial institution or via eTaxBC -- https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/etaxbc If you are looking for different payment options via the Province, contact them at 1-888-355-2700 or via their website at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/property-taxes/annual-property-tax/defer-taxes The Surveyor of Taxes can be contact by phone at 1-888-355-2700'
Finally -- if you had questions about your rural property tax bill as it relates to either Cariboo RD or Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Hospital District Budgets -- you can reach out to your local Cariboo RD Area Director or Municipal Director. To contact them, go to https://www.cariboord.ca/contacts-directory/
No comments:
Post a Comment