The B.C. government has distributed $33,919 to the City of Chilliwack in compensation for municipal property taxes.

Altogether, the Province has distributed nearly $16 million in compensation for municipal property taxes to 56 communities around B.C.

Grants-in-lieu of property taxes are distributed every November and reimburse municipalities for services that benefited government properties, such as municipally run sewers, roads and fire protection.

Grants are issued in accordance with the Municipal Aid Act and are payable on land owned by the provincial government such as courthouses, provincial government office buildings and warehouses.

Schools and hospitals are exempt from paying municipal property taxes and are not part of the grants-in-lieu calculation. Other provincial assets such as highways, forests, parks or land under the control, management or administration of a Crown corporation are also excluded from compensation under the act.

Since 2002, the Government of British Columbia has distributed more than $254 million in grants-in-lieu to B.C. communities. A portion of the funds is paid by each community to its regional district, and both levels of local government use grants to help pay for local services.

Quotes:

John Martin, MLA for Chilliwack –

“Reliable funding from grants-in-lieu serves the people of Chilliwack well by allowing our local government to invest in key programs and services that make our communities ever better places to live, work and raise a family.”

Laurie Throness, MLA for Chilliwack-Hope –

“Grants-in-lieu allow the Province to give back to our municipal governments and to our communities by providing funding to support municipal investments for the benefit of the good people of Chilliwack.”