The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) is asking residents for feedback about its proposed 2025 budget after the board of directors gave preliminary approval.
As it stands, most property tax rates for the CRD are seeing minor increases or staying the same as 2024. Because of significant increases in assessments from new developments, tax revenue for the regional district are expected to increase. That increase will fund operating and maintenance costs that are on the rise as well as going towards capital reserves and projects.
Tax increases are set to be:
Area A
- Red Bluff: 15.93 per cent
- Kersley: 7.58 per cent
Area B
- Bouchie Lake: 8.66 per cent
Area C
- Barlow Creek: 15.98 per cent
Area D
- Wildwood: 7.26 per cent
- McLeese Lake: 7.72 per cent
Area E
- Russet Bluff: 5.04 per cent
Area F
- 150 Mile House: 6.98 per cent
Area G
- 108 Mile Ranch: 5.70 per cent
- Lac La Hache: 9.49 per cent
Area H
- Forest Grove: 5.39 per cent
Area I
- West Fraser: 8.30 per cent
Area J
- Anahim Lake: 7.52 per cent
Area K
- Alexis Creek: 7.60 per cent
Area L
- Lone Butte: 12.18 per cent
- Interlakes: 5.85 per cent
The lowest tax rate is for Alexis Creek, which the CRD estimates will be $529.82 for an average home, whereas Wildwood is set to be the most expensive at $1,671.32 for a home of the same assessed value. The budget website explains that areas of higher development tend to see lower increases, whereas lower development see higher increases. Increases are also affected by the amount of CRD services available in each of those areas.
The budget is slated to give the district $2.49 million in property tax revenue. Most of that funding will go towards:
- Increasing capital reserves for recreation services in the north and central Cariboo, which will ensure funding for future projects
- Financing a loan to replace Firehall 2 in the Quesnel Fringe Fire Protection Area.
- Replacing fire tenders for the Interlakes and Barlow Creek Volunteer Fire Departments, which supply water for firefighting in rural areas
- Funding new staff positions including a second bylaw officer and an information and privacy coordinator.
Information will be made available to residents through the CRD website, social media and advertisements. Flyers will be sent to residents of electoral areas affected by proposed tax rates which could affect their properties.
Residents are able to provide feedback until Feb. 19 by reviewing CRD budgets and plans at cariboord.ca/budget and filling out a survey at surveymonkey.com/r/S983XZB.
The CRD's finance budget committee will receive the results of the survey on Feb. 27.
