Tax penalty revisited
In response to an influx of complaints from Squamish taxpayers, council has decided to revisit the recently installed 10 per cent penalty for any outstanding property tax or utilities balances owing after July 4. Council decided at its committee of the whole to bring back bylaws to an upcoming council meeting and consider dividing the penalty into two five per cent penalties. Council has recommended maintaining the one bill for both utilities and taxes, which was also introduced this year.
For up to date information on the taxes and penalties go to squamish.ca/our-services/taxes-and-utilities/utilities.
Kids are budget priority
The Sea to Sky School District is aiming to put more resources in classrooms during the budgeting process, says trustee and finance committee chair Ian Kent.
During a year-end report to the board of education last month, Kent suggested that while the normal recommended net accumulated surplus is between two and three per cent, the district this past year accumulated between one to 1.5 per cent surplus.
Despite a projected deficit during preliminary budget discussions in the spring, Kent said the district was able to comply with provincial regulations and pass a balanced budget.
He added that while auditing practices recommend generating two to three per cent surplus for contingencies, the committee wanted more money to reach classrooms.
“The money was given for the kids this year,” he told The Squamish Chief.
In 2016, the committee met six times over the course of the year.
As well, a financial audit was completed by the Office of the Auditor General and found the district to be in compliance.
Kent said the province audits every district, adding that it is now simply the Sea to Sky School District’s time.
