Nanaimo City Councillors have officially adopted their financial plan which increases property taxes 7.2 per cent over 2022's rate. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

tax bill

Local Councils lock in 2023 property tax rates

May 9, 2023 | 9:19 AM

NANAIMO — Property tax rates are being locked in across the region ahead of a mid-May provincial deadline.

Councils on the mid-Island either already have, or will this week, adopt their updated financial plans and property tax rate bylaws which set their spending for the months ahead and guide long term funding on larger projects and initiatives.

Nanaimo City Council locked in a 7.2 per cent bump during a special Council meeting on Monday, May 8. It’s comprised of 6.2 per cent for property taxes and one per cent going to asset management.

A considerable portion of the increase is due to a series of public safety initiatives deployed by Council the last year including launch of the Downtown Nanaimo Safety Action Plan and the community safety officers it provides.

Additions to Nanaimo Fire Rescue’s staffing, adding 20 new firefighters in 2023, as well as 15 new RCMP positions over five years were also included.

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The increase will see a typical Nanaimo home pay $178.50 more this year.

Councillors were not unanimous in their support of the rate rise, with a 5-3 vote. Coun. Sheryl Armstrong, Ian Thorpe and Janice Perrino voted against both motions, while Tyler Brown was absent from the meeting and did not vote.

Votes from Mayor Leonard Krog and coun. Paul Manly, Erin Hemmens, Ben Geselbracht and Hilary Eastmure were enough.

Residents of the Regional District of Nanaimo will pay 8.9 per cent more in 2023 than last year, with the RDN’s financial plans solidified mid-March.

The City of Parksville also gave final adoption to their property tax rate bylaw on Monday, cementing a 6.8 per cent increase, of which half a per cent is dedicated for capital reserves.

Again, the move was not unanimously supported with coun. Adam Fras voting against the adoption.

Qualicum Beach town councillors are set to give final reading to their tax increase bylaw and financial plan on Wednesday, May 10.

It’s projected to include a six per cent property tax increase, broken down into 2.8 per cent for municipal operations, 2.5 per cent for asset management and 0.7 per cent for community policing.

Two local communities are bucking the trend of rising tax rates.

Lantzville district councillors have moved ahead with a flat line budget featuring no increase to taxpayers from 2022. Their financial plan was adopted early April.

Several cuts were made after councillors started with a proposed 11 per cent increase, including to parks, policing and traffic projects.

Meanwhile residents in the Town of Ladysmith will pay an average of 1.1 per cent less this year to the Town thanks to a shift in recreation funding.

The Cowichan Valley Regional District offered up nearly $700,000 in funding for use of the Frank Jameson Community Centre opening up an opportunity for councillors to reallocate funds elsewhere.

Final adoption of the Ladysmith financial plan is due Tuesday, May 9.

Tax notices are sent out in late May, while payment is due in each municipality on July 4 with varying penalty and fee structures in place for late payers.

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