Property taxes

Victoria council, meeting as committee of the whole, will consider a motion on a voluntary reconciliation tax. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria considering voluntary reconciliation tax for property owners

Motion headed to committee of the whole March 24

Victoria council, meeting as committee of the whole, will consider a motion on a voluntary reconciliation tax. (Black Press Media file photo)
Coun. Jack McClintock questioned the use of COVID-19 restart grant money to fund a new position as councillors wrapped up budget discussions in North Saanich. The municipality plans to increase the amount of revenue from property taxes by 3.95 per cent. (Black Press Media file photo)

Use of COVID-19 restart grant fund stirs opposition to North Saanich budget

Owners of typical home will pay an additional $64 in property taxes

Coun. Jack McClintock questioned the use of COVID-19 restart grant money to fund a new position as councillors wrapped up budget discussions in North Saanich. The municipality plans to increase the amount of revenue from property taxes by 3.95 per cent. (Black Press Media file photo)
Late morning view southward over the top of Victoria city hall, as seen from the top of the Fisgard Street parkade. (Don Descoteau/Black Press Media)

Business associations propose solutions to property tax squeezing small business

Taxation on redevelopment potential and unused airspace hurting small business: Downtown Victoria BA

Late morning view southward over the top of Victoria city hall, as seen from the top of the Fisgard Street parkade. (Don Descoteau/Black Press Media)
Police budget increases in Central Saanich currently account for 37 per cent of the overall proposed increase in revenue from property taxes, in the district’s draft 2022 budget. (Courtesy of Central Saanich Police Services)

Central Saanich property tax increase proposed at 4.84 per cent for 2022

Homes with district’s average assessment of $966,700 would pay an extra $104 this year

Police budget increases in Central Saanich currently account for 37 per cent of the overall proposed increase in revenue from property taxes, in the district’s draft 2022 budget. (Courtesy of Central Saanich Police Services)
Coun. Peter Wainwright said a review of the tax multiplier currently favouring residential properties is one of way with which the municipality can help businesses challenged by COVID-19. Council considered, but ultimately rejected plans to drop the review from the 2022 strategic plan following a narrow 4-3 vote. (Town of Sidney/Submitted0

Council set to review businesses’ share of tax load in Sidney

Council keeps review in strategic plan despite concerns over staff workload

Coun. Peter Wainwright said a review of the tax multiplier currently favouring residential properties is one of way with which the municipality can help businesses challenged by COVID-19. Council considered, but ultimately rejected plans to drop the review from the 2022 strategic plan following a narrow 4-3 vote. (Town of Sidney/Submitted0
View Royal Mayor David Screech finds himself annually explaining to residents that property taxes don’t increase or decrease to the same degree as property assessments. With assessments jumping 25 to 30 per cent in his municipality alone, he felt the need to post an explanation on social media. (Black Press Media file photo)

Assessments vs. property tax: Greater Victoria valuations soar, taxes may not

Average increase, municipal budget shape tax increases more than individual assessment hike

View Royal Mayor David Screech finds himself annually explaining to residents that property taxes don’t increase or decrease to the same degree as property assessments. With assessments jumping 25 to 30 per cent in his municipality alone, he felt the need to post an explanation on social media. (Black Press Media file photo)
A home on Stephenson Point Road is one of six residential properties on the road that ranked among the top 10 of Nanaimo’s highest-assessed homes listed by B.C. Assessments in 2022. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo’s top 10 highest-assessed properties for 2022

Market forces lift single-family home assessments 34 per cent

A home on Stephenson Point Road is one of six residential properties on the road that ranked among the top 10 of Nanaimo’s highest-assessed homes listed by B.C. Assessments in 2022. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
This home at 2357 Cornwall Drive was sold by the city for $150,000 at auction. It was assessed at $420,000. BC Ombudsperson filed a report saying the city failed to help a vulnerable person and sold her home over not paying $10,000 property tax. (Logan Lockhart Western News)

Update: Penticton to pay $140K to vulnerable woman who lost home over unpaid taxes

Mayor offers apology to woman who lost her home to the city after not paying $10K in taxes

This home at 2357 Cornwall Drive was sold by the city for $150,000 at auction. It was assessed at $420,000. BC Ombudsperson filed a report saying the city failed to help a vulnerable person and sold her home over not paying $10,000 property tax. (Logan Lockhart Western News)
City of Penticton is being called out for evicting and selling a vulnerable woman’s home at auction for not paying $10,000 in property taxes. (File photo)

Penticton should repay vulnerable woman after home sold to pay property tax: B.C. Ombudsperson

The City of Penticton sold the home after the woman was unable to pay $10,000 in taxes

City of Penticton is being called out for evicting and selling a vulnerable woman’s home at auction for not paying $10,000 in property taxes. (File photo)
Colwood Coun. Gordie Logan in Royal Bay, near the future site of a seniors residence and the Royal B.C. Museum’s new collections and research building. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)

Homeowners balk at Royal Bay property tax exemptions, Colwood councillor pushes back

‘You have to consider more than the property tax a project will generate:’ Coun. Gordie Logan

Colwood Coun. Gordie Logan in Royal Bay, near the future site of a seniors residence and the Royal B.C. Museum’s new collections and research building. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)
A proposal coming to Saanich council tonight (May 31) seeks support for a provincial plan that has potential to raise single-family home tax rates in the district based on climate and financial impacts compared to multi-family residences. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich councillor wants to tie climate impact of single-family homes to municipal tax rates

Early stages move has potential to raise tax rates for homeowners, discussion tonight (May 31)

A proposal coming to Saanich council tonight (May 31) seeks support for a provincial plan that has potential to raise single-family home tax rates in the district based on climate and financial impacts compared to multi-family residences. (Black Press Media file photo)
Karan Yadav, a security guard with Footprints Security, assisted residents at the property tax drive-thru located outside Saanich municipal hall in 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich property tax drive-thru returns, district promotes remote payments

Municipal hall open, but mayor recommends paying online, by mail, at drop-off

Karan Yadav, a security guard with Footprints Security, assisted residents at the property tax drive-thru located outside Saanich municipal hall in 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce has asked Nanaimo city council to consider a commercial property tax freeze to help offset negative financial impacts of COVID-19. (News Bulletin file photo)

COVID-19: Nanaimo considers one-year commercial property tax freeze

Report based on chamber of commerce proposal to ease pandemic stress on business community

The Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce has asked Nanaimo city council to consider a commercial property tax freeze to help offset negative financial impacts of COVID-19. (News Bulletin file photo)
A real estate sold sign hangs in front of a Canadian property Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy

W-shaped recovery would be ‘very severe’ without government assistance: CMHC

The corporation says the COVID-19 pandemic could trigger nearly 50 per cent drop in housing prices

A real estate sold sign hangs in front of a Canadian property Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy
Typical property assessments across Greater Victoria appreciated in 2020, a trend reflected in municipalities across the province. (Black Press Media File)

Home values surge across Vancouver Island

BC Assessment’s 2021 data reveals appreciating values across the region

Typical property assessments across Greater Victoria appreciated in 2020, a trend reflected in municipalities across the province. (Black Press Media File)
A lakeside home on Ross Road is listed as one of Nanaimo’s top 10 highest-assessed residential properties according to B.C. Assessment, which valued it at $2,369,000. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo’s top 10 highest-assessed residential and commercial properties

Owners of single family homes in Nanaimo see assessed values rise five per cent

A lakeside home on Ross Road is listed as one of Nanaimo’s top 10 highest-assessed residential properties according to B.C. Assessment, which valued it at $2,369,000. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
(photo credit/Lyn Hawley)

Zeballos retains tax rates from 2019 to avoid any strain on residents during COVID-19

The council has decided to adopt the 2019 general municipal tax rate for the 2020 tax year

(photo credit/Lyn Hawley)
The Neucel pulp mill in Port Alice has been sent to receivership. (Tyson Whitney)

Bankruptcy underway for Port Alice pulp mill buried in $272 million debt

Mayor sees bright future despite Neucel leaving the village on the hook for $1.8 million

The Neucel pulp mill in Port Alice has been sent to receivership. (Tyson Whitney)