Allow Regional Districts to Become Taxing Authorities

Whereas regional districts are not taxing authorities and not able to change the tax multipliers, unlike municipalities that are allowed to adjust to swings in assessments between residential and business classes; And whereas municipalities are able to change the multiplier which creates a consistency in taxes from year to year, while regional districts are not; And whereas the taxpayers within a regional district are charged by the Province a 5.25 collection fee, which for the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen is over 900,000: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Ministry to allow regional districts, at their discretion, to become a taxing authority.