Oliver residents will pay a little less in taxes this year as council met (and surpassed) its mandate for a zero per cent increase in 2013.
Known for his views on fiscal responsibility, Councillor Dave Mattes said he is very pleased with the way council worked together to reach a zero tax increase for the residential sector. Council even worked to get a reduction of approximately five per cent for the business and commercial sectors, he said.
“This involved cutting spending in many small ways in many areas to create a total savings to keep taxes down. It is also important to note we did not raid our reserves or have large service fee increases to balance the budget at zero.”
Mattes said council pulled this off by doing some creative things with the support of Town staff.
“We also are beginning some road improvement and infrastructure (sewer and water pipe) improvements with no tax increase.”
Mattes said the Town is paving the eastside hike and bike trail north of the bridge. “These are items the previous council said could only be done through a $1.2 million referendum.”
The councillor said they are changing parking requirements for downtown developments, and implementing tax holidays for these developments as well.
“We are trying to create an attractive environment for developers to fill the holes on Main Street. We are working to keep our tax rates competitive and fair in tough economic times.”
Mattes acknowledged there are many other areas people would like council to spend their tax dollars on, and after revisiting the Town’s priority list, council may find other desirable items.
“For me, the basics remain important: clean water, good roads, fair taxes, and efficient operations.”
In 2012, the average Oliver residence, assessed at $297,905, paid $461.89 in municipal taxes ($404.91 in general and $56.98 for fire protection).
In 2013 the average Oliver residence, estimated to be assessed at $287,033, will pay $458.92 in municipal taxes ($404.91 in general and $54.01 for fire protection). This is a decrease of $2.97 for the average residence.
Chief financial officer Dave Svetlichny said the average residential property assessment in Oliver has decreased

from $297,905 in 2012 to $287,033 this year, a total decrease of $10,872 or 3.65 per cent.
During recent budget discussions, Oliver businesses got a break when council reduced the business tax multiple from 2.7 to 2.45 (the provincial rate set for all regional districts).
In 2012 the municipal tax rate for businesses was 4.6346 per $1,000 of assessed value. In 2013 the new municipal tax rate is 4.2747 per $1,000 of assessed value. This works out to a 7.7 per cent decrease.
While reviewing the general budget in order to meet council’s mandate of a zero per cent increase, staff were able to identify cuts in expenditures (or delaying projects), Svetlichny said.
The following are items listed in the 2013 final capital plan:
Town office fire alarm/sprinkler system ($40,000); CPR station windows/doors upgrade ($25,000); new roof for council/finance building ($25,000); bucket truck for elevated firefighting ($25,000); fire hall renovation upstairs ($15,000); crew cab forestry truck ($70,000); crane truck ($160,000); loader/backhoe ($80,000); east riverside walkway paving ($190,000); posts for business signage ($10,000); road upgrade/Hillside/Hollow and Veterans Avenue ($333,000); airport taxiway extension ($148,000); and cemetery grave marker improvements ($30,000).