By Roy Wood, Special to the Times Chronicle 

Osoyoos residents face a 7.6-per-cent tax hike for 2025 after town council voted unanimously on Tuesday to give first, second and third readings to the 2025 tax rate bylaw.

According to a report to council from finance director Jim Zakall, the average annual tax bill for a residence in the town will jump from $3,205 to $3,449, an increase of $244. On a monthly basis, the jump is about $20.

The total tax bill is divided almost exactly in half between municipal services and costs, and taxes collected on behalf of other agencies and taxing authorities.

On the municipal side, the average residential tax hit includes: $1,179 for municipal services; $302 for the RCMP; $237 for fire protection; $51 for various debt payments; and a few smaller amounts.

As for non-municipal charges, the largest by far is the school tax. Based on recent experience, the town estimates the monthly school portion to be $1,137, while the actual figure won’t be provided by the province until May 10.

Other non-municipal charges include: hospitals at $151; RDOS at $253; regional library at $74; BC Assessment Authority at $26; and a few minor charges.

The total amounts for the various taxing areas include:

  • Municipal costs $4,995,234
  • Policing $1,282,734
  • General debt repayment $33,320
  • Fire hall debt repayment $173,338
  • Fire protection $957,092
  • Schools $4,890,635
  • Hospitals $696,055
  • RDOS $1,298,157
  • Library $314,268
  • BC Assessment Authority $127,536
  • Municipal Finance Authority $679 

The next step for council will be the adoption of the tax bylaw, which will happen at a subsequent meeting, and submitting it to the provincial affairs ministry. Under the Local Government Act, those two steps must be completed by May 15.

Once the budget is approved by the province, the town will calculate and send out tax notices to individual residents. 

According to the tax bylaw, deadline for payment of taxes is July 1, 2025. A penalty of 10 per cent of the outstanding amount will be imposed on tax bills not paid by July 2 at 4 pm.