Begrudging the Area's Over-Governance

Yeah, I do, plain and simple.

I begrudge having to pay taxes to RDNO as a Coldstream resident, even though I realize various "functions" are conducted through the regional district that would otherwise have to be paid--if they were indeed still viable services--through Coldstream.

Plain and simple, RDNO has expanded their offices twice in 15 years to make space for their burgeoning staff.  Have you renovated your house twice in 15 years?  Didn't think so.  And the Coldstream Municipal Hall was built despite people not wanting it to be built.

Property taxes, we all understand, fund a myriad of services.  The more services the public demands, the more we pay.  But unionized staff have collective agreements and generous benefits packages virtually unheard of in the private sector.  And one day--because throughout the entire Province staff pensions are an unfunded liability--we'll all be required to dig deeper into wallets that already threaten to shred.

The 2015 property tax increase is 2 per cent, and the breakdown is shown on the District's pie chart here.

This property's tax notice is complicated because the residence and business are on the same property, compliments of B.C. Assessment's classification structure.

No matter.
It still takes a hell of a lot of golfers--during my "covenanted" six-month operating season--to pay for it.

Read 'em and weep:

Class 1 Residential Local School $512.50
Class 6 Business Basic School $534.18
Class 8 Recreation/Non Profit $1,306.80
Total School $2,353.48
PHOG Basic -$512.50
Net School $1,840.98

Class 1 Residential General Tax $528.22
Class 1 Residential Debt $47.42
Class 1 M.F.A. $0.05
Class 1 Residential NORD $60.61
Class 1 Residential NORD $2.03
Class 1 Residential Hospital $67.53
Class 1 Residential BC Assessment $13.78
Class 1 Residential Parks & Recreation $218.87
Class 1 Residential OK Library $44.31
Class 1 Residential Multiuse $26.12
Class 1 Residential Theatre $35.15
Class 6 Business General Tax $499.81
Class 6 Business Debt $44.88
Class 6 Business M.F.A. $0.05
Class 6 Business NORD $56.69
Class 6 Business NORD $4.56
Class 6 Business Hospital $65.92
Class 6 Business BC Assessment $15.46
Class 6 Business Parks & Rec $204.68
Class 6 Business OK Library $41.93
Class 6 Business Multi-use $24.43
Class 6 Business Theatre $32.87
Class 8 Recreation/Non Profit General $895.44
Class 8 Recreation/Non Profit Debt $80.39
Class 8 Recreation/Non Profit M.F.A. $0.08
Class 8 Recreation/Non Profit NORD $111.59
Class 8 Recreation/Non Profit Hospital $115.67
Class 8 Recreation/Non Profit BC Assessment $23.60
Class 8 Recreation/Non Profit Parks & Rec $92.15
Class 8 Recreation/Non Profit OK Library $75.12
Class 8 Bylaw: 4004 NORD - Septage $35.09
Gross Gen/Other $3,464.50
Residual PHOG -$257.50
Net Gen/Other $3,207.00

Current Tax Payable $5,047.98

"Non Profit is a telling classification," grins Kia, adding "they're sure to get their wish eventually." 

 "Business" may be a misnomer too.