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Lower property assessment doesn’t equal a drop in property tax
SHARP SHOOTER
SHERI REGNIER Trail Times
Property taxes are based on what’s needed to operate a municipality - the annual bill isn’t solely based on property assessment. That means landowners won’t see a lower property tax bill just because Trail land assessments have dropped up to $10,000. “In general, assessed values may go down but the cost of operating the city doesn’t change,” explains Trail Mayor Mike Martin. “As a result of that, there is change to the mill rate.” In fact, Trail council is now tackling a 2.36 per cent tax increase during its first round of budget review. “We gave staff a “In general, directive a month ago to see what they assessed values could do to bring may go down back a budget at less but the cost of than 2.5 per cent, operating the city so they’ve actually doesn’t change.” been able to do that,” Martin said. “It’s a MAYOR MIKE MARTIN good starting point, but now we have to go through all the details and the implications of that.” The annual assessment roll is a tool that is used to distribute taxes between taxpayers and not necessarily to set the level of taxation or changes in taxes, says Ramaish Shah from the Kootenay Columbia region of BC Assessment. “The assessment is used by the municipalities to apportion taxes across different property owners,” he told the Trail Times.“But any change in the level of taxation is up to the municipalities themselves.” Although overall home assessments dropped throughout Trail, Shah confirmed the city’s assessment roll remained relatively stable at $1.106 billion compared to $1.123 billion in 2015. Market fluctuations are a major contributing factor to changes in assessment for the various categories that include residential, light and major industry, utility and commercial properties. Ideally, the city likes to see real growth in the assessment roll, said David Perehudoff, Trail’s chief administrative officer. “In this regard, as costs increase, the current property tax base is required to absorb the costs,” he added. “There is no opCONTINUED ON A3
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Sheri Regnier photo
The Senior Citizens Centre in Trail provides the perfect gathering space for an afternoon of cue sports between friends. Carmin Angerilli (pictured) Tulio Nonis and Mike DiVito challenged each other to a friendly game of pool on a drizzly Tuesday afternoon. MONTROSE
Aging water tanks to be repaired or replaced this year SHERI REGNIER Trail Times
After six decades almost anything will begin to slow down and show signs of age. So a noteworthy update, estimated to cost up to $285,000, is planned for Montrose as the village readies to celebrate its 60th birthday this year. Though Family Fun Day festivities are still under wraps, council did talk water during Monday night’s meeting and approved an $8,400 feasibility review for reservoir rehabilitation.
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108 Cedar Ave
$384,500
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Miral Heights
Fruitvale
settlement, and excessive deflection on the roof of the upper tank doesn’t meet current building code requirements. “Basically this proposal will get us to the next level with some predesign engineering services for the project,” explained Chief Administrative Officer Bryan Teasdale. “It’s highly likely the project would proceed in the fall when water usage is as low as possible. But we need to get everything up and ready to go.” Roof repairs were budgeted in 2015, CONTINUED ON A2 Contact the Times:
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Structural upgrades are required for the village’s two welded steel water tanks: the lower reservoir was built in 1959 with a capacity of 455 cubic metres (m³); the upper 909 m³ reservoir has been in use since 1979. Signs of deterioration are evident on the outside of the powder-coated tanks including cracks and rust on the upper tank. Additionally, the village’s 2010 master water plan noted existing gaps between the floor and base of both tanks, the older reservoir is no longer level after years of
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