Williams Lake Mayor and Council are doing “what no other municipalities in B.C. are doing”, reducing their yearly mill rate.
Council approved the Municipal Tax Bylaw during last night’s [Tuesday’s] City Council Meeting. The new bylaw will bring a 3.2 per cent reduction “across the board” to the City’s mill rate.
“Once again, talking to the CBC, the Global. They are not aware of any municipality in B.C have done that,” said Mayor Surinderpal Rathor, also assuring that he could be mistaken.
“Kudos to the Council, to the Staff, and to each and every one of you in the community who came out and told us what they like to, and don’t like to do.”
Mayor Rathor reaffirmed that only the mill rate will see a reduction. Residents of Lake City’s property assessments will be increased by a minimal 5.06 per cent, depending on the property’s value.
Overall, residents will see a rise in their yearly taxes; however, according to the City Staff Report, the mill rate reduction may save the average resident anywhere from $36 to $50 per year.
Councillors Joan Flaspohler and Jazmyn Lyons opposed approving the reduced Municipal Tax Bylaw, but chose not to say anything during this council meeting.
In previous meetings, both Councillor Flaspohler and Lyons voiced concerns about lowering the mill rate. Cautioning that lowering municipal taxes by too much could lead to the City of Williams Lake being in a position where it will struggle to afford needed infrastructure and capital projects, such as road work, and replacing collapsing water towers and waterworks.
The City Council has instructed City Staff to purchase heavy mechanical equipment for capital projects from non-U.S. manufacturers as part of the efforts to manage the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Making it so the initial price for City works is going to be more costly.
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