Dear Editor:
In response to the July 6 letter to the editor Rising Taxes Wreck Dream, I'd like to point out that the average tax increase on a residential property in 2014 in the district is 2.25 per cent, which includes one per cent dedicated for deferred infrastructure maintenance.The significant overall tax increase that some residences are experiencing this year is due to the eligibility threshold for the $570 Home Owner Grant having been lowered by the provincial government. Over 1,650 district residences were negatively affected by this arbitrary decision, which resulted in more than $940,000 in additional school taxes being paid by district residents to the province. We have expressed our frustration to the province that this has had a significant impact on a number of our residents and that it is unclear to us how this decision supports the province's "families first" agenda.
One of the greatest challenges for municipalities is that the single property tax notice each residence receives includes taxes collected on behalf of the province, regional district and other agencies.
Richard Walton
Mayor District of North Vancouver
