Various news outlets are warning of impending tax increase, including increases to property taxes.

Chief financial officer Jim Hendricks presented Kimberly council with a municipal property tax request. The proposed property tax increase will be 5.58%.

Additionally, the City of Cranbrook council last night unanimously agreed to direct city administrative staff to set tax rates for 2022, including an average increase of 2.75% to residential and 0.8% increase to commercial property owners in 2022.

Cranbrook’s total tax increase of the combined 1.75% tax increase plus the one per cent road tax is lower than most other comparable communities in British Columbia in 2022.

Below is a list of municipalities that have publicly proposed the following tax increases:

Campbell River (3.13%);
Kelowna (3.64%);
Creston (3.65%);
Salmon Arm (4.00%);
Squamish (4.10%);
Lake Country (5.88%);
Kimberley (4.71%);
Terrace (5.52%);
Penticton (5.70%);
Vernon (6.88%).

The city’s 2.75% tax levy increase pertains only to the municipal portion of a property owner’s tax bill. The city also collects on behalf of School District No. 5, the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK), Kootenay East Regional Hospital District (KERHD), and B.C. Assessment.

The proposed 2022 tax rates bylaw will be back to council for three readings on May 9 and adoption on May 12.

Coun. Mike Peabody said the proposed tax rate is “a responsible budget.”

Property tax notices for 2022 will be arriving in the mail by mid-May 2022.

Please read the Proposed 2022 City of Cranbrook Tax Rates report.

Article adapted from multiple sources.