1.5 per cent property tax hike given final approval by Nanaimo council
NANAIMO — Councillors have locked in a 1.5 per cent property tax hike for 2017.
The tax increase and financial plan were officially adopted Monday night. Deborah Duncan, the city’s manager of financial planning, told NanaimoNewsNOW the average homeowner will see their bill increase by about $81 compared to last year. That includes jumps in user fees for things like water and garbage collection.
Staff had recommended a higher increase in property taxes to cover deficits in the snow and ice control budget and extensive road repair caused by the nasty winter, however the Finance and Audit Committee sent them back to the drawing board.
Duncan said they were able to bring the number back down by not creating a new reserve fund as originally recommended.