Some Information on Our Taxes From SIPOA

By Susie Washington Smyth and Ron Hall

At a time when those of us who are property owners on Saturna have just recently received our 2012 B.C. Property Assessment notices and wondering just how much our tax bill will be, it may be timely to highlight some information received from the British Columbia Surveyor of Taxes regarding property taxes paid on Saturna.

SIPOA has been tracking our property taxes since 2006 in order to have a better understanding of what we pay in property tax and how that compares with what we are receiving in the way of government services.

• In 2006 year the total dollar assessment for Saturna Island for that year was $172,855,081, which included 619 properties. Taxes collected for these properties totaled $958,675.
• In 2009, the total dollar assessment for Saturna Island was $242,366,681 for 626 properties. Taxes collected $1,191,531.
• In 2011, the total dollar assessment for Saturna Island was $253,727,998 for 634 properties. Taxes collected $1,283,834.

Please note while property owners have received their 2012 assessment notices, with valuation as of July 1, 2011, the categorized level of taxation for the current year is yet to be issued.

The table below shows taxation for the 2011 year, along with a 3-year trend in taxation and assessment:

Shown below is a table of where our tax dollars went, along with the cumulative increases in each of the taxation categories over the past several years:

It is noteworthy that property taxation on Saturna increased by 34% over the past 6 years. Cumulative inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index in Victoria over that same period was 7%, demonstrating that Saturna taxation has significantly outpaced the rate of inflation.

Please note: As members know, the impact of increased taxes on property owners has been a focus of SIPOA over the past several years. However, it is useful to remember that, in addition to the overall burden of increased taxes by various agencies, the Federal Government has yet to make an appropriate contribution through Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) for the national park lands that comprise almost one-half of Saturna. This is why SIPOA continues to pursue the re-assessment of the Park lands and an increase in contribution through the PILT. Stay tuned for an update on PILTS later this winter.