The Town of View Royal is nearing the end of 2024 budget discussions and town residents can expect at least a six-per-cent property tax increase.

At a committee of the whole meeting on April 9, council members voted to approve the the 2024-2028 financial plan bylaw, which would include a 6.6-per-cent tax increase for View Royal residents, and to go ahead with new tax ratios for recreation properties.

According to the financial plan bylaw, the town is looking to generate $12.2 million through taxation with $8.5 million to be used on capital expenditures.

Four options for the tax ratio were then discussed, with finance director Dawn Christenson recommending that council stick with the status quo B次元官网网址� an equal tax increase for all property classes based on provincial property assessments.

Council members however focused on an option to increase the tax ratio for properties zoned as recreational, which includes an RV park, a casino and a golf course, that would slightly lower taxation for residential-zoned properties.

Coun. Ron Mattson didnB次元官网网址檛 agree with the option, saying thereB次元官网网址檚 no point in changing the ratio without knowing what other municipalities are doing in regards to tax ratios. Coun. John Rogers disagreed because he hoped to lower financial pressure on the townB次元官网网址檚 business class and to encourage businesses to stay and come to View Royal.

The tax-rate option was passed, with Rogers and Mattson voting against. The financial plan bylaw was presented in a council meeting on April 16 and the tax rates bylaw will go through first, second, and third readings in May.

At the council meeting on April 16, Rogers disagreed with the tax increase and hoped for higher taxes to contribute to reserves and asset management.

B次元官网网址淭his isnB次元官网网址檛 about the future without humans. This is about the future with humans, our residents, right now are going through a real tough time with affordability and inflation, so I think we struck the right balance,B次元官网网址� said Mayor Sid Tobias.

Council voted in favour of the first three readings for the financial plan bylaw and the tax increase with Rogers opposed. The final reading will be voted on in a future council meeting.

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