Parcel with home – Willowbrook
2017 taxes 1536.42
2018 taxes 2733.60
Increase in dollars: 1197.18
% increase: 78%
Is that possible ??
Rural Area C Willowbrook has its own small fire department with no partners*
A complete review of a 2017 and 2017 tax form for this resident shows small increases in a number of categories but here is the problem which some think is a mistake:
2017 Willowbrook Volunteer Fire Department 368.36
2018 Willowbrook Volunteer Fire Department 1236.11
Increase 867.75 increase for the fire service
The regional district says there is a capital expenditure need to fix the station and the remainder of the cost is for training volunteers to meet provincial standards.
Couple of questions: Is this a one time charge increase that will lower next year ? This resident was quick to say the WVFD enjoys the full support of residents but concerned about the administration of taxes raised by the Regional District.
Also residents concerned with mounting water rates and a supply of water under a boil water advisory for over a year.
ODN invites other Willowbrook residents to share their tax information.
*In the remainder of Area C and the Town – revenue is raised by the Oliver Rural Fire Protection District and the Osoyoos Indian Band
Mary Maccullough says
We have lived in willowbrook for almost 7 years now, however, this year we were shocked when we recieved our property tax notice. 2017 our taxes for the willowbrook fire dept. was $796.13 (higher than most here as we found out that many other households were paying approx. $450.00 annually) This year we are billed $2565.78 for the fire dept. alone. This brings our taxes from 2017 $2454.58 to $$4649.29. My question is why is there such a large discrepancy from household to household. Who makes these decisions and why are we paying so much more than others?
I would not mind so much if everyone across the board paid the same lower amount and it would be less painful if they staggered the taxes over the years.
Mary and Roger Maccullough
Pat English says
Where is the property line? Is the right of way granted for the right to carry on commerce? Who actually owns the property, not you? So who actually is supposed to be paying the tax? What does the 96 at the end of what looks like a banking account number at the bottom of the remittance mean? What is a remittance?
Donna Arnold says
The “96” on the bottom of the remittance is used to tell the banking system that it is a ‘bill payment’ that is being processed. It is called a “transaction code”
Michelle Weisheit says
I’m happy to pay for the fire protection – I know that without it our house insurance would be significantly higher. What I don’t like is the very little notice of this significant rate increase. I’ve been told that it’s only for this one year however, I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I’d have preferred a smaller increase over a few years.
It’s a hard pill to swallow. Our water bill went from $300 in 2016 to $437 in 2017 and now just over $1,000 in 2018. A 65% increase on my property tax. No drinkable water, 3 roads that are closed down, a sink hole in the road in the one access to Carr Cres getting deeper every day. Not to mention all the out of pocket expenses to my home due to flooding.
RDOS seems to have the authority to increase rates to what ever they want when ever they want, with little to no regard for how this affects the residents. Yet when we call with problems or issues there standard response is – “that’s not our jurisdiction.”
When do the residents voices get heard?
Arthur Riome says
Well…Someone attempted to fix the sink hole today (Jn 7)with $20 worth of “cold patch”
This in no way diminishes the crazy increase in property tax , nor the additional invoice that arrived today in the mail, including….$1000 FOR UNDRINKABLE Water !
Cindy Pellegrin says
I don’t understand why this huge “one time” increase could not be spread out over 2-4 years. According to the draft budget presented to the public at the Willowbrook fire hall on Monday January 29, 2018 it was noted that the average taxes per residential property would be going up $103. They certainly didn’t say that was going to be PER MONTH! (based on my tax bill) It is very hard to digest this ridiculous increase for a volunteer fire service which has -for the most part- a very low call load but I fully appreciate and respect the contributions of the resident volunteers and realize that this is not their doing. With every level of government these days- there appears to be a complete disconnect with the majority of voters. It has also been said that if the “fake” National Park is created then the National Parks Service would be responsible for the fire service in this area. Things that make you go hmmmm….
Nikki MacNaughton says
4 acre parcel with home. 2017: $332 Fire Protection, $1430 Taxes with Home Owner Grant. 2018: $827 Fire Protection, $1789 Taxes with Home Owner Grant. I certainly don’t begrudge the upgrades in capital spending and training but don’t appreciate the lack of consultation or notice of impending increase.
Arthur Riome says
The exceptional increase in property taxes is an INSULT to common sense ( + 1500), and unbelievable!
After saving diligently for the past year to somewhat comfortably submit a tax payment in a timely fashion, NOW THIS ! A year plus of boil water advisory, roads torn up, flooding, diminished property values, almost less than any services of real meaning….and a grossly inflated tax increase to finish off with ??? I am sickened ! (“There will be no problem….people can just not pay their mortgage , nor eat for an month or so” * RDOS * )
Kelly Riome says
Here’s an update. Our taxes went up exactly $1,712.58 over 2017. I just spent a substantial amount of time on the phone to find out who I can dispute this assessment with. I got the run around from BC assessment saying you can’t dispute your property tax increase after January 31. Of course there is no dollar figure on the assessment notice beyond what they think your house and property are worth. When I got down to the regional district level I discovered that the cowards are passing all calls onto Pat Lantz our local fire chief. Willowbrook it is time to feisty again.