value of Terrace homes. neighbourhood to neighbourhood. year ago to nearly $550 million this year. development industry.” thal’s not generally the case. homeowners see litlle or no tax increase. $71,100 to $88,100. will affect his taxes, : be for the year, dispute the assessment. your house against other similar properties. PROPERTY TAX rates paid by Terrace homeowners are gradually coming down. But we’re still among the highest taxed people in the province. Last year, Terrace residential taxpayers were being charged the 24th highest.rate of the 132 municipalities in the province, That’s an improvement from 1996 when we ; were number 16 on the list. f “We're slowly working our way down the fo list,"’ says city councillor David Hull. ‘“We’re if come from being in the top five or six down to i the top 25 or so.”’ { Terrace taxpayers paid $6.63 for every $1,000 i 1997, ; Thal’s 38 per cent higher than the provincial averape of $4.81 charged per $1,000 of residen- Check Out Our Mid - W Blow ncegengitanteat Assessment | value rises by 5 per cent PROPERTY ASSESSMENT notices went out in the mail last week and for the most part show small increases in the The average increase from a year ago was around five per cent for residential properties, but that varies from Total residential assessment rose from $515 million a “This growth reflects higher market values for many properties but also includes subdivisions, rezoning and " ew construction,’ said area assessor Tom Protheroe. “Growth in the assessment roll is less than previous years as lower market demand has affected market trends and the Although homeowners tend to associate property assess- ment increases with the next year’s property tax increase, City council has tended to decrease its taxation rate to offset the effect of assessment increases, so that most But homes that have seen sharp increases — above the average increase — likely won’t escape a tax hike. Sam Horner, an 88-year-old fixed income resident on Greig Ave., opened his notice to find assessors had boosted the value of his small 40-year-old home from “‘T thought it was a misprint or something,’ Homer said. He said he’s certain the more than 20 per cent increase It'll be a couple of months before the city budget is set and residents know exactly what the tax implications will : Property owners who think their assessment doesn’t s -feflect their home’s market value as of July 1, 1997 can You can check the assessment rolls either at the B.C. As- sessment office, or at the library and city hall to compare assessed value in property ‘tax--to-the -city:-in---- | Get Real Sled! out)” SAM HORNER opened his property assessment notice to discover the assess- ment of his smal! 40-year-old Greig Ave. home had gone up $17,000 to $81,100, He's certain that kind of increase means he'll be paying more taxes this year. tial assessed value. On a $150,000 home in Terrace thal works out to $995, City council has maintained a hold-the-line policy on tax rates in recent years. The strategy has been to actually reduce tax rates as residential assessments rise, so that the average home is charged the same amount each year. Hull says it looks like council will again be able to follow that precedent and stave off a tax increase for most people. Council directed staff to attempt to cut costs by five per cent and increase revenues by the same-amount.::-. tee see soho so Awe es ‘T think we might dodge ihe tax rise bullet one more year,”’ Hull added. ; He said thal’s thanks only to continuing new Tax payments slowly easing up construction, with new commercial taxpayers like Canadian Tire and the Real Canadian Wholesale Club helping broaden the city tax base. If big box retailers and other businesses are locating here, is because of the growing market and geography — not any big property tax breaks. The cily charges $24.90 property tax per $1,000 of assessed value on businesses. That's the seventh highest rate in the province and almost double the provincial average of $12.61. The city improved only marginally in that category in the last year, dropping to #7 from #6'in 1996, % He said. there appears to be consensus ‘on council to continue to try to provide tax relief to the business community because it’s the major economic engine of the city. # Y ARCHIC CAT What Snowmobilings All About! nen 5()” ore Cillins News In Brief Campbell target of recall A PETITION has been filed to recall B.C, Liberal leader Gordon Campbell. Robert David Bradley wants to remove Campbell from his Vancouver-Point Grey constituency. Bradley’s petition states Campbell should be recalled because he said during the campaign his party would win the election, a statement that turned out to be false. The statement says Campbell’s “‘constant whining” has been an embarrassment to the riding and recalling him would give voters a chance to clect someone “less boring and more truthful.’ Bradicy needs 14,644 signatures by March 16. Tobacco under siege A FORMER PROVINCIAL NDP leader has been hired to prepare a provincial government lawsuit against the Canadian tobacco industry. Lawyer Tom Berger, the NDP provincial leader in the late 1960s, submitted a proposal along with the law firm of Bull, Housser and Tupper, Berger is also a for- mer B.C. Supreme Court Justice and has been a land claims advocate. Berger and Bull, Housser and Tupper’s proposal was one of 39 submitted to the provincial government last year. The province wants to suc tobacco companies to recover monies spent on health care. Berger also has a northwest connection as he was the lead counsel in the Nisga’a Tribal Council’s Calder court case. That decision sct in motion efforts to settle land claims across Canada. Police seize pot TERRACE RCMP raided a home last week and seized more than $2,000 worth of marijuana, Police say they executed a search warrant at about 9 pm. Jan. 6 ata North Kalum Trailer Park residence, The region’s police dog quickly sniffed out a quarter- pound of “bud”? marijuana, a substantial amount of trafficking paraphernalia and about $500 in cash. One adull male and one adult female resident ate charged with possession for the purposes of trafficking. RCMP Cst. Mark Landry says the scized drugs would be worth between $1,600 and $2,400 on the street, depending on whether it was sold as joints, grams, or in eighth or quarier-ounce baggies. Assistant super retires SKIP BERGSMA, one of two assistant superintendents for the Coast Mountain school district, plans to retire in August. Bergsma has worked for the school district for 22 years. Roger LeClere, chair of the Coast Mountain school district, says the board plans to replace Bergsma, bul wouldn’t say if his replacement will be hired from within the district. The other assistant superintendent is Sharon Beedle who is responsible for schools in Kitimat. She had been was tierged with Terrace last year.“ superintendent of the Kitimat school district until it When 'Bergsina retires, he’ll'be paid’ out any unused | vacation and sick time. In 1995 Bergsma earned $97,000, plus nearly $10,000 in expenses, Terrace CO-OP’s Fashion Connection January 15 to January 17 Men’s Sweaters Selected Style al 50)” ote Reg. Price Selected Ladies Ladies Winter Sweaters Coats Reg. Price Reg. Price Toques Reg. Price Fashion Fabrics Excluding: Quilting Cottons, | Pellon & Broadcloth ee cia: R Fest bad et SE: Men’s Winter 30 ott 30% ote Winter Coats, Gloves, 30” ote Winter Headgear 30” ote Reg. Price Coats Reg. Price Winter Gloves 30” ote Reg. 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