No decision yet on tax impact for new conservation fund in the Okanagan Similkameen regional district

PENTICTON – The Okanagan Similkameen Regional District board hasn't decided yet how much a new fund to pay for environmental projects is going to cost taxpayers. 

The board recently approved a 2017 requisition of up to $450,000 for the new Environmental Conservation Fund, but that funding has yet to be included in the 2017 requisition figures, which if funded fully, will add approximately $10 a year to regional tax bills.

The directors briefly discussed the matter at a Dec. 15 board meeting, where the general consensus indicated a preference for funding the new service up to the maximum amount.

The tax implications vary for residents of the regional district who are participating in the service, which Osoyoos, Keremeos and Electoral Areas 'B', 'G', and 'H' have opted out of, but if full funding is requisitioned, approximately $10 per household could be added to taxpayers bills for the single service. The exact amount will not be known until 2017 property assessments are issued in January.

Below is a list of participating municipalities and electoral areas showing the household increases currently estimated for  2017, followed by the projected increase should the board approve full funding of the conservation fund. The increases are based on tax requisitions for an average priced house in each municipality and electoral area:

• Penticton – from $3 to $13
• Summerland – from $2 to $12
• Oliver – from $12 to $24
• Electoral Area “A” – from $97 to $107
• Electoral Area “C” – from $26 to $36
• Electoral Area “D” – from $37 to $47
• Electoral Area “E” – from $97 to $107
• Electoral Area “F” – from $98 to $108

Area 'C' director Terry Schafer and Penticton director Helena Konanz have been advocating for a more moderate funding approach to the conservation fund. Schafer said some of his constituents were already looking at hefty tax increases for 2017.

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