Skip to content

Islands Trust holding line on property taxes

The Islands Trust Council approved its 2012-13 budget of $6.8 million, resulting in no property tax increase for 2012.

At its meeting last Wednesday on Gabriola Island, the Islands Trust Council approved its 2012-13 budget of$6.8 million, resulting in no property tax increase for 2012. Islands Trust taxes account for approximately 10 to 20 per cent of total property taxes, depending upon other jurisdictions listed on local tax bills.The budget covers the costs of maintaining local and federation-wide services, adding a part-timebylaw enforcement officer and continuing to implement B.C.’s Riparian Areas Regulation in the next term.“The biggest budget decision facing Trust Council was whether to review the Islands Trust Policy Statement using a planning grant of $250,000 from Canada’s Gas Tax Fund,” council chair Sheila Malcolmson said. “Last term, Trust Council applied for the funding to defray the high cost of engaging every local trust area in a review of the Islands Trust’s guiding principles. The new Trust Council carefully considered input from trustees and constituents, and concluded that there was no appetite for such a comprehensive review."The council is a federation of local government bodies that plan land use and regulate development in the Islands Trust area, which is home to 25,000 people and covers the islands and waters between the mainland and southern Vancouver Island. It includes 13 major and more than 450 smaller islands covering 5,200 square kilometres.Denman and Hornby islands are in the Islands Trust coverage area.— Islands Trust