Fraser-Fort George Regional District (FFGRD) directors have adopted a "status quo budget" that will see only minor changes in the bills property owners will pay.
In Prince George, it will be a slight decrease as the owner of a home worth $211,954 will pay $146 to the FFGRD, a $2 decrease from last year.
The rate per $100,000 of assessed value will be $68.98 compared to $73.32 last year when
the average value of a home stood at $200,396 according to B.C. Assessment.
"It's a basic status quo budget," said Prince George Mayor Dan Rogers. "I think that's good, in the short term it helps a little bit, but we still need to do more work in the longer term in services that the citizens of Prince George are paying for that many of the rural residents are enjoying but not contributing to."
Examples include the city's library and recreational facilities.
"Even when you come down to snow removal, we appreciate that many of the rural residents are contributing to the quality of life with their employment but on the other hand we have city taxpayers that are having to pay for the capital and the majority of the operating costs," Rogers said.
But he also stressed progress has been made on that front and noted the FFGRD's contribution to the library has increased over the years.
"I think that at the regional district they understand the challenges we're facing and we're making some progress and we'll continue to work in a cooperative manner over the longer term," he said.
In all, directors approved Thursday a $28-million budget for 2011 - $1 million less than last year's - of which $16.1 million will be funded through property taxation, down $37,878 or 0.23 per cent from last year.
Revenue for the remaining $11.8 million will be funded through fees and charges, parcel tax, reserves, surpluses, grants and other sources.
Prince George property owners will cover $6.9 million of the property tax requisition, a $78,992 or 1.14-per-cent decline from last year.
Region-wide services that all member municipalities and electoral areas pay for amount to $10.5 million, a $131,000 decrease from last year due largely to reductions in administrative costs.
"It's a stable budget and in addition to that the regional district is still able to offer its high level of service and work on a number of projects," FFGRD chair Art Kaehn said. It also leaves the FFGRD with the capacity to apply for grants and leveraged funding from senior levels of government , added Kaehn, who is the director for Electoral Area E (Hixon-Woodpecker).
SIDEBAR
Breakdowns of how the budget will affect the owners of average-priced homes in member municipalities were provided:
- In Mackenzie, the owner of a home valued at $97,377 will pay $70 to the FFGRD, an $11 increase from last year and the rate per $100,000 assessed value is $74.14.
Mackenzie's total requisition will be $346,265, up $2,457 or 0.71 per cent from last year, when the average value of a home was $77,102 and the rate per $100,000 was $73.32.
- In McBride, the owner of a home valued at $106,233 will pay $479 to the FFGRD, up $4 from last year and the rate per $100,000 assessed value will be $450.63.
McBride's total requisition will be $290,198, up $1,783 or 0.62 per cent from last year, when the average value of a home was $105,973 and the rate per $100,000 was $451.34.
- In Valemount, the owner of a home valued at $146,953 will pay $458 to the FFGRD, down $20 from last year and the rate per $100,000 assessed value will be $311.53
Valemount's total requisition will be $487,472, down $4,813 or 0.98 per cent from last year, when the average value of a home was $158,980 and the rate per $100,000 was $299.66.
The levies are over and above the amounts homeowners will pay for the municipal portion of their property taxes. Municipalities collect the FFGRD levy on behalf of the regional district and then forward the revenue to the FFGRD.
Breakdowns for average households in the electoral areas were not provided because the bills can vary within their boundaries due to local service areas for such services as fire fighting. However, the total requisitions and rates per $100,000 for region-wide services were given:
- In Electoral Area A (Salmon River-Lakes), the total requisition will be $651,828, up $2,477 or 0.38 per cent over last year, and the rate per $100,000 for region wide services will be $139.28.
- In Electoral Area C (Chilako River-Nechako), the total requisition will be $752,862, up $20,102 or 2.74 per cent over last year, and the rate per $100,000 for region wide services will be $140.60.
- In Electoral Area D (Tabor Lake-Stone Creek), the total requisition will be $927,906, up $11,036 or 1.2 per cent over last year, and the rate per $100,000 for region wide services will be $164.42.
- In Electoral Area E (Woodpecker-Hixon), the total requisition will be $331,015, down $15,349 or 4.43 per cent over last year, and the rate per $100,000 for region wide services will be $178.04.
- In Electoral Area F (Willow River-Upper Fraser), the total requisition will be $404,875, down $5,518 or 1.34 per cent over last year, and the rate per $100,000 for region wide services will be $182.79.
- In Electoral Area G (Crooked River-Parsnip), the total requisition will be $1,318,711, up $42,887 or 3.36 per cent over last year, and the rate per $100,000 for region wide services will be $125.72.
- In Electoral Area H (Robson Valley-Canoe), the total requisition will be 891,279, down $3,229 or 0.36 per cent over last year, and the rate per $100,000 for region wide services will be $140.73.
