ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020 | NEWS | A7
Taylor slashes taxes Tom Summer tsummer@ahnfsj.ca Taylor council approved a 95% rate cut for businesses May 11, and a tax cut of up to 33% for most other property owners this year. The changes for the 2020 tax year are intended to offset the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Mayor Rob Fraser. “It’s around to 30 to 33%, depending on what class that they’re in, with businesses cut to 95,” said Fraser, noting regulations don’t allow the district to cut business taxes to zero. The tax decrease totals roughly $950,000. Fraser says the change lets businesses know the district appreciates residents setting up shop in Taylor. “They’re the ones giving back to our community, but if we can’t provide the service, we’re not going to collect the taxes,” he said, noting public safety continues to be a top priority, with the district following health orders from the province. Tax rates, per $1,000 of assessed value, are as follows: -Residential - 2.3311 -Business - 0.2777 -Major Industrial - 28.8260 -Light Industrial - 14.5458 -Recreational - 2.4586 -Farm - 3.4901 -Utilities - 22.3363
Taxes remain due on July 2, however, late payment penalties will not be applied until Oct. 1 for unpaid taxes. The current budget sees revenues of $6.7 million with a capital budget of $1.82 million. The district has budgeted $5.6 million for operating expenses, with $2.2 million in revenue lost compared to 2019. Staff have also been laid off at the district, with remaining staff working reduced hours, saving $630,000 for the remainder of 2020. Despite the setbacks, Fraser said he’s hopeful the 2021 budget will look more like the 2019 budget, once the COVID-19 crisis resolves. Service sales will decrease by $972,000, impacting items such as kids’ camps, the preschool, the community pool, Peace Island Park operations, gold panning, and other recreational programs. It also includes the Lone Wolf Golf Club, which operates on a budget of $660,000, and lease forgiveness for businesses leasing property from the district. Government grants are also being cut by $221,000, including reduced supports from Gas Tax grants, the Peace River Agreement, and PRRD aid. Tax penalties were also reduced by $11,000. — Local Journalism Initiative
Transit fares flat, collection resumes Council approved the 20202021 operating and service agreements with BC Transit, which set out fares, services, and budgets for the operation of conventional and handyDART services. Cash fares will remain at $2 for adults, and $1.75 for seniors and students, which have not changed since 2012. Children four years and under ride for free. “I wonder how many people in the community realize we’ve held our transit fees since 2012,” noted Coun. Tony Zabinsky. “I was pleasantly impressed.”
Mayor Lori Ackerman noted it was “to acknowledge that the people who are using transit are using transit for a reason.” Victor Shopland, the city’s general manager of integrated services, said fares went up by 25 cents in 2012 as a matter of convenience, so passengers could drop in a single toonie, and not a dollar and three quarters. “Dropping a toonie in was easy,” Shopland said. Fares are currently suspended due to COVID-19, however, collection is scheduled to resume June 1.
Peace Island Park opening update Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca Peace Island Park may open June 1 in a limited capacity to RVs, but remain closed for day use. Park caretakers and district staff have been working on an operational safety plan that will be presented to Taylor council May 19. Parks manager Mike Farquharson writes in a report that key to the plan is limiting park use to RVS and other selfcontainted camper trailers that have personal washrooms. No public washroom facilities will be open at the park this year, due to concerns about a lack of
staff to clean them at acceptable intervals, and to limit staff exposure, Farquharson wrote. “An important consideration for the PIP caretakers is that if they or their staff start to show cold or flu like symptoms they would have to self-isolate, which would likely result in the closure of PIP during the isolation period,” Farquharson wrote. The plan also prohibits day use at the park due to the planned washroom closures. But, he says it will also be important to limit the number of available sites to maintain physical distancing between camp-
ers. Educating campers about the park safety plan and rules, along with monitor camper activities, will also be key, Farquharson said. “With these considerations in mind the PIP caretakers believe that the proposed operational safety plan for the park would reduce the exposure risks for themselves and their staff to a reasonable level so that the park can be open for some users,” Farquharson wrote. “If these measures are successful, then consideration can be given to allowing more camp sites to open.” editor@ahnfsj.ca