North Thompson Star/Journal January 09, 2014
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Property taxes and what drives increases
The property assessments for 2014 are out. Some of you will notice that the value of your property has dropped. Since the amount you pay in taxes is dependent on the value of your property, the natural assumption is that your property taxes will drop as the value of your property does. In most cases this will, or may, depending on the will of council, not be true. The reason for this is the district still needs the same, or perhaps more money to operate each year. To set the mill rate and collect the needed money may require an increase in the mill rate. Most people view this as a raise in taxes, but really, the property owner may pay the same dollar amount. Unfortunately, going forward it is very unusual to have mill rates drop when property values go up. Logic would dictate that if there are no new costs to a well run district then the same amount of money would be needed year over year. The mill rates could be dropped if the property values go up. In most cases there seem to be cost increases built into the system and the local
council is required to either make tough decisions or approve tax increases. It is not the growth of a community that drives the costs and consequently the taxes up. Quite the opposite actually. As new residents move in, and more homes are built, the tax rolls grow in value. If the tax structure is well managed, then any extra costs will be covered by these additions. This also presumes that district development charges are designed to cover any additional load on the infrastructure already in place. The setting of these charges is a complicated and daunting task at best. If they are too high a developer may take his money elsewhere. If they are set too low then there is not enough money to upgrade things like water systems. In most cases it is not well done, and local governments find themselves scrambling to find the money to provide services to new developments and maintain the existing system. The whole process could be simple if a town was well planned from the start. The water system would have the right sized
Was driver angry with gas prices? On Jan. 4, Clearwater RCMP were notified that a tractor trailer unit had smashed over the gas pumps of the Husky gas station in Little Fort. The tractor then left the parking lot and was seen heading southbound toward Barriere along Highway 5. The vehicle was not located. However, witnesses obtained the vehicle’s license plate number and provided the information to police. Police contacted the trucking company, which will be contacting the Husky gas station. Police also report that on Sunday, Dec. 22, Clearwater RCMP were told there was an intoxicated male traveling on the highway between Clearwater and Little Fort. The male was stopped and investigation found he was not intoxicated. However, he was in possession of a rifle. The male was charged because he did not possess a valid PAL or POL. The firearm, he said, was a gift for his step father. Unfortunately, if you have a firearm in your possession without the proper documentation, no matter the reason, the gun will be seized and you could face legal consequences.
ayor M e h t s A . sees it.. with District of Barriere Mayor
Bill Humphreys wells, the water lines would be properly laid out and sized for growth, and all the other supporting infrastructure would be similarly done with an eye to orderly growth. This sounds great, but even if things start this way, something always changes. If a new town council comes in and they want to build high density housing where the original plan was for single family homes the planning process goes out the window before the window is even built. Similarly, if a new council places more importance on items like building parks and other projects that they feel essential to the social well being of the residents, then the money left over for fixing and improving water systems, roads and the other boring aspects of a town could be very limited. There needs to be a balance in these issues, and that balance is very hard to find. New communities are given what essentially is start up money in the form of grants for a few years
after they incorporate. How this money is spent can have lasting effects on the community. If high maintenance projects are undertaken, then the cost of these projects will be with the community for the foreseeable future. The money for these costs comes out of taxes after the grants are gone. There are more than a few communities that are struggling with ongoing costs for non-essential services, as they find their community tax base shrinking due to residents moving away, declines in property values and the resultant loss of tax revenue. The District of Barriere is in the process of setting the new water rates based on consumption, and other rates attached to user based services like garbage pickup. I would encourage all residents to check these rates and express your views. Council will also be setting the tax rates in the coming weeks. It is important to have resident feedback on these important issues.
• LEGION NEWS• #242 • Open: Wed. - Sat. 3pm - 11pm (or later!)
IN-HOUSE RAFFLE WINNERS FOR December 28, 2013 1st Draw: 2nd Draw: 3rd Draw: 4th Draw:
Susan Parker, Lisa Quiding, Dawn Rein & Linda Enzmann Linda Enzmann, Cowboy, Colleen Gibson & Jack Butcher David Worthington, Cowboy, Jean Cochran & Jordi Fraser Crystal Chenier, Lisa Quiding, Linda Enzmann & Marie Pratt
Bonus: Lyne Healey • The lucky winner of $59.50 was Jan Cochran
Thanks To our volunTeers Don, Wendy & Denise
FRIDAyS - FREE POOL THURSDAyS - CRIb & DARTS AT 7Pm
CRIB 8 players on Dec. 19 - 1st - Joe Sabyan • 2nd - Terry Vaughan • 3rd - Orm Strom • High Hand - n/a • Skunk - Nina Clearwaters
UPCOMING EVENTS
Jan 11 - Honours & Awards Veterans Dinner & Installation, doors open 5:30pm, roast beef dinner at 6pm
Jan 18 - Al Fortin’s Citizen of the year banquet tickets available at the bar. Jan 21 - Executive meeting 6:30pm/General meeting 7pm
In-House Raffle Every Sat. At 3 PM
STAR/JOURNAL photo: Jill Hayward
Easy does it
North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo Association vice-president Karl Rainer spent most of Dec. 28 and Jan. 2 using his farm tractor to set-up and take-down the arena panels and chutes for the 2013 Farm Kids Fund New Year’s Eve Bullarama at the North Thompson Agriplex. Pictured here is Rainer moving the bucking chutes into a position that was deemed “just right” for the event.
Stay in tune with your community. The North Thompson STAR/JOURNAL – keeping you connected!
Thank 3x3You G. Salle I want to thank those who sent greetings by phone, cards and plaques. Moved from pg 8and hall A big thanks to all who prepared a great dinner
decorators, done so appropriately and to all who came long and short distances to celebrate my 100th birthday. It has been an overwhelming occasion.
Thank you - Manne
C
apsule
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omments
with MICHELLE LEINS
Happy New Year. This first column of the year will focus on changes we can make in our life to make us healthier and happier. One mistake that people often make at this time is to try to make too many changes at the same time. Focus on the one that will have the greatest impact on your life and work on that. This first remark is directed at the 19% of Canadians that still smoke. Quitting smoking is the best and most powerful change you can make in your life. Smoking is the cause of so many preventable diseases. So if you are a smoker, make quitting your number one priority. Most of us don’t exercise enough or don’t exercise at all. If you are one of these people, start the new year with a daily walk. It need only be for 10 minutes to start and increase the duration and intensity as you feel comfortable. Nutritionally, you can’t go wrong with Canada’s Food Guide. Increasing your fruit and vegetable intake, eating red meat moderately (twice weekly is a good maximum), and reducing your fat, salt and sugar intake, can go a long way to making you healthier. Our pharmacists talk to people every day about health. We are a ready source of good, reliable health information. We will be happy to share that information with you. Another good resolution for 2014... visit our pharmacy soon.
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