When Miworth residents go to the polls on Oct. 15, there will likely be a proposed tax hike on the ballot.
On Thursday, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George board of directors approved a plan to hold a referendum in the rural community immediately west of Prince George. The proposed Miworth Community Facilities Establishment Bylaw would see the regional district collect a maximum of $35,000 per year from property owners in the area to fund operations of the Miworth Community Association’s community hall and skating rink.
“I am supportive of taking this effort to the next step and taking it to the community for them to vote on it,” board vice-chairperson and Miworth area director Lara Beckett said. “I am pleased to see us get this far. It has been several years getting to this point.”
The Miworth Community Association has put a lot of work into maintaining the facilities for the community, she added. The association first proposed the creation of a communities establishment bylaw to fund the community hall and skating rink to the regional district in August 2016.
In a report to the board, district manager of community services Meredith Burmaster wrote that if Miworth voters approve the bylaw, the first year tax requisition is estimated at $30,650 – which would result in a roughly $0.2572 tax increase for every $1,000 of assessed property value in the area.
If the $35,000 maximum allowed in the bylaw was collected, it would result in a roughly $0.2937 tax increase for every $1,000 in assessed property value, Burmaster added.
“A public information meeting was held on May 28, 2022 in Miworth, presenting key details of the study including the benefitting service area, method of taxation, taxation impact, and the expected annual operating budget for the first two years of taxation,” Burmaster wrote. “The Miworth Community Association believes there is sufficient community support for the proposal and would like to move forward with the elector assent process to consider establishing a community facilities service.”
If the B.C. Ministry of Municipal Affairs’ inspector of municipalities approves the proposed bylaw going ahead, the district’s plan is to hold the referendum at the same time as the Oct. 15 general municipal election, she added.
