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Sooke residential property
taxes the third lowest in Capital Region
By Mitch Moneo in Sooke News Mirror July 4, 2001
Despite a higher than anticipated tax increase this year, Sooke
residential propery owners pay less municipal tax than most of
their neighbours.
The Sooke municipal tax rate is now 2.94. Only Metchosin at 2.37
and North Saanich at 2.17 have lower residential tax rates than
the District of Sooke.
In comparison Langford, with the fourth lowest taxed residential
property owners, had a tax rate of 3.5.
Sooke’s current tax rate sits well with Worried Residents
Against Tax Hikes vice-president George OBriain.
But O’Briain fears Sooke council’s initiative to
service the core area with sewers will make Sooke unaffordable.
“Metchosin and North Saanich are rural areas and don’t
have sewer systems. That’s why their taxes are low. If we go
ahead with this sewer initiative our taxes will rise to the point
where no one will want to live in Sooke.”
OBriain notes that many people choose to reside in Sooke and
commute to work in Victoria because housing is affordable.
The estimated average residential tax in Sooke is $1,440,
compared with $1,742 in Langford or $1,871 in Colwood.
OBriain said that if Sooke’s taxes were to increase by the
$629 that council has estimated on its infrastructure grant
application, the average Sooke property owner will pay $2,069 --
considerably more than Langford and Colwood which have more shops
and services and are a closer commute to Victoria.
“It could even be more than that, if (the sewer system’s)
operating and maintenance is added on to that number. I have to
research that.”
Sooke taxes are anticipated to rise by five per cent next year
and another five per cent the following year.
The municipality is doing its best to encourage business in
Sooke. The business tax rate, at 8.03 is the third lowest in the
Capital Region. only Oak Bay with a municipal tax rate at 7.49
and Central Saanich at 7.90 are lower.
After Sooke, Metchosin with a business tax rate of 8.31 and
Langford at 8.80 are the next lowest.
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