Habitat for Humanity looks to the city for help on three new builds in 2017

By Timothy Schafer

Grand Forks city council was asked to approve variances and waive fees for two lots on 72nd Ave.

Habitat for Humanity is looking to build three new homes in the city this year but is looking for a little help from the city to get started.

On Monday Habitat for Humanity Southeast B.C. (HFHSEBC) asked Grand Forks city council to approve variances and waive fees for two lots on 72^nd Ave.

Bob Huff, executive director for HFHSEBC, asked the city to provide relief in the development charges, service charges and permit fees associated with building a duplex on one lot and a single family home on the other.

“This will allow our affiliate to save on the costs associated with building the homes,” Huff said in a letter to council.

“Ours is a small affiliate that builds homes using donations from companies, service clubs and individuals and with Gift in Kind product from national donors through HFH Canada.”

Coun. Beverley Tripp asked if the city had given this kind of waiver before.

City staff said a 2010 seven-plex unit built for Habitat for Humanity was given waivers.

“At this time we don’t have official guidance in the Official Community plan saying that, but council may waive that by resolution,” said city senior planner Graham Watt. 

Coun. Neil Krog said he didn’t see a cost of the fees council was being asked to waive, and Thompson agreed.

“Do up a staff report of the costs and,” then we can decide, said Krog.

It was moved to direct staff to write up an estimate of the costs being waived and to bring back the report to council at May 15 meeting for consideration.

Mill rate ground out again

The city has adopted its mill rate for the coming year.

The tax rate for class four (major industry) is increased to collect the same amount of tax revenue as in 2016, while the conversion ratios for the remaining classes are the same as in 2016.

The mill rate, also referred to as the millage rate, is a figure representing the amount per $1,000 of the assessed value of property, which is used to calculate the amount of property tax. 

In Grand Forks the city crafts and drafts its budget — set at $3,698,273 — before it sets the mill rate. Once it has determined the final amount, the city figures out how much of the load the different tax classes will shoulder to total that amount.

Based on the rate adopted in council chambers Monday night, residential property owners will pay the majority of property taxes in Grand Forks at 53.99 per cent (tax rate of 5.0528), while major industry is next at 22.20 per cent (tax rate of 43.6629).

Business shells out 21.02 per cent (12.0762), light industry 1.43 per cent (14.8047) and utilities 1.32 per cent (40.00). Recreation/non profit and farm made up less than one per cent of property value taxes.

Section 197 of the Community Charter requires the city to adopt an annual property value tax bylaw to establish the tax rates for the collection of municipal revenue as provided in its financial plan, as well as the amounts to be collected on behalf of other local governments or public bodies.

The amount of 2017 property tax revenue included in proposed Financial Plan Bylaw is $3,698,273.

The city had established policies regarding property taxation in its annual financial plan and asset management policy which, in general terms, state:

• that tax shifts and redistributions between the classes will only be undertaken after considerable review and phased in gradually over time; and
• in setting tax rates, council will take into consideration the tax rates and conversion ratios of other municipalities and the tax share borne by and conversion ratios for each property class.

The other two options were:

• option one — The tax rate for class four (major industry) is fixed at the same rate as 2016, while the conversion ratios (multiples) for the remaining classes are the same as for 2016. This is consistent with tax rates set over the last three years (2014-2016); and
• option three — The tax rate for class four (major industry) is increased to collect the same amount of tax revenue as in 2016, as in option two, and the rates for classes five and six (light industry and business) are increased slightly more than the increase for residential, recreational and farm rates.