Property Taxes Property taxation is the primary source of revenue for the District of Mission for general operations which includes police and fire services, parks and recreation, and development services. Your property tax notice also includes user fees that are used to fund water, sewer, and waste management.

For 2016, Council approved a 1.68% increase to the general municipal tax rate. This increase will provide for:

Maintaining existing services

Additional RCMP member

Increasing the transfer to capital reserves to fund future projects

Individual tax increases may be higher or lower than 1.68% depending on the change in your property assessment value over 2015. For instance, BC Assessment indicated an average increase in market values of residential properties was 5.41% over 2015. If your property’s assessed value:

Increased by the average, your general municipal property taxes should increase by approximately 1.68%.

If the change was higher or lower than the average, your general municipal property taxes will vary accordingly.

Council approved a 1% increase in municipal water and a 4% increase in sewer utility user fees. There are no changes to the garbage and recycling user fees.

New for 2016 is a drainage utility system. To fund this utility, a new drainage levy will appear on the property tax notice. Since drainage was part of the general municipal property taxes, the 2016 municipal tax rate has been reduced. Council approved two drainage spending packages for 2016 totaling $198,785.

Key Budget Drivers for 2016

A variety of factors affect each year’s budget process. The net impact of these factors on the 2016 operating budget total $488,967 which represents a 1.68% increase to property taxes.

Operating Expenditures Funded by Taxes

The municipal budget funds a variety of services for a safe and healthy community. Each year, Council aims to find a

balance between affordable taxes and user fees while continuing to maintain the services Mission residents have come to expect.

In 2016, the average home in Mission has an assessed value of approximately $414,500. The total property taxes for the average home is estimated at $2,972 with approximately $1,979 for municipal services, and the remainder going to other taxing authorities.

Parks, Recreation and Culture

13%

Shared Services5%

Engineering and Public Works

17%Police Services

25%

Fire Rescue Services

7%

Development Services

12%

Transfer to Reserves

11%

Administration10%

District of Mission ~ 8645 Stave Lake Street ~ Box 20 ~ Mission, BC ~ V2V 4L9

2016 PROPERTY TAX INFORMATION

Major Changes to 2016 Budget Tax

Impact Staffing related expenditures 2.13%Spending packages, net 1.16%RCMP contract plus 1 new officer 0.64%Contractual and operational increases 0.57%Animal control contract -0.24%Removal of the 2015 FLEX funding -0.69%Various revenue incuding new construction -1.89%

Totals 1.68%

TAXES DUE JULY 4, 2016

HOME OWNER GRANTS & TAX PAYMENTS DUE JULY 4, 2016

mission.ca/property-taxes Email: tax@mission.ca

Drainage Utility Fund

Council has approved a drainage utility system as a user-funded utility. This utility is set up to fund operating and capital components for storm water management. This includes upgrades and maintenance of existing storm drain systems, development of drainage plans, prepare flood control measures and fund major drainage capital improvements and replacements.

Historically, drainage was funded from municipal taxation levy as charged on the property tax notice.

Starting in 2016, a separate drainage levy will be added to the annual tax notice (replacing the drainage portion removed from the municipal taxation levy).

In addition, Council approved two drainage spending packages, which will increase the new drainage levy by 3 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.

What does this mean to the average home owner?

The average assessed home in Mission is $414,500. The 1.68% increase approved by Council will add approximately $31 to your notice.

The 3 cents for the drainage levy spending packages will add approximately $13 for an estimated overall increase of $44 for property taxes to the average home.

Flat Rate Utilities

Included on your tax notice are the Council approved 1% increase ($4.80) to the water user fee and 4% increase ($14.64) to the sewer user fee. There was no increase to the garbage and/or recycling/compost rates.

Residential Water Meters New homes built or existing homes with a new water connection to municipal water service after 2009 will have a water meter installed. These homes will have their water and sewer services billed each November based on consumption.

These homes will have the applicable refuse and/or recycling/compost user fees charged on their tax notice.

Bi-Weekly Garbage Collection Never miss a collection day again. Get e-mail reminders, tweets or app notifications. Visit mission.ca/waste-management to get the My Waste app for your iOS or android device. In addition to getting your collection day reminder, you also get direct access to emergency notifications and recycling information. Check it out today!

Fraser River Heritage Park The maintenance and operational costs of the Fraser River Heritage Park are fully funded within the Parks, Recreation and Culture budget at the same budget level as 2015.

New Mill Pond Water Fill Station Engineering and Public Works will be installing a new secure potable bulk water fill station at Mill Pond. The new station will use a secure key fob to ensure the station is used only by Mission residents and authorized individuals.

Along with the system, the water service is being upgraded to allow for much faster fill-up time, reducing wait times and lineups.

Signage will be installed at Mill Pond to notify users of the fill station of the upcoming change.

Information on the secure key fob and training sessions can be found online at mission.ca or by calling Public Works at 604-820-3761.

Water Restrictions Did you know that Mission is currently in “Stage One” of water restrictions? Check out the enclosed insert for more details or visit ourwatermatters.ca

Payment Options

Can’t make it to Municipal Hall during regular business hours? Don’t have time to wait in line? Why not check out these options:

Online Banking - Use your financial institution’s online banking function to make a payment today or post-date to July 4, 2016. Did you know that you can use this function to set-up reoccurring payments? You choose the dollar amount and the payment frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc.). All pre-payments earn interest.

At Your Financial Institution - Pay in person at your branch and retain your receipt. Home Owner Grants are not accepted at all financial institutions. You may experience long line-ups in the days prior to the July 4th due date.

Drop-Off At Leisure Centre and Municipal Hall - Mission Leisure Centre Reception (during regular hours) and Municipal Hall north & south entrances have drop boxes. The District welcomes cheques post-dated to July 4, 2016. Please, no cash in drop box.

By Mail - The District welcomes cheques post-dated to July 4, 2016. Mail your payment early to avoid a penalty. Envelopes received after July 4, 2016 but post-marked prior to June 17, 2016 will avoid the 10% penalty.

Home Owner Grants

The Home Owner Grant is a provincial government program designed to assist home owners by reducing their property taxes payable on their principle residence.

To determine your eligibility, please refer to the Home Owner Grant information on the back of your property tax notice.

Your Grant is Just a Click Away!

Claim your Home Owner Grant Online

Visit mission.ca/property-taxes and click the link to claim your home owner grant today. You will need your ROLL NUMBER and PASSWORD.

The Home Owner Grant is an annual application and, if eligible, should be submitted even if you are not making a payment.

Completed Home Owner Grants must be received by July 4, 2016 to avoid the 10% penalty.

Property Tax Deferment There are two low-interest provincial loan programs allowing qualifying BC homeowners to postpone payment of annual property taxes on their principal residence.

Regular Senior Deferment Plan

Must be 55 years or older to qualify, and need 25% equity in your home.

Families with Children Deferment Plan

For families who are financially supporting children under the age of 18. You need 15% equity in your home.

Utilities must be paid and home owner grants must be submitted. For more information visit:

mission.ca/property-taxes

Completed deferment application forms including completed home owner grant forms and municipal utility payments must be submitted to the Finance Department by July 4, 2016 to avoid the 10% penalty.

mission.ca/property-taxes Email: tax@mission.ca

Does Your Mortgage Company Pay Your Property Taxes?

It is the property owner’s responsibility to complete the Home Owner Grant application every year (if eligible), and to submit it to the District on or before July 4, 2016 to avoid penalties.

Debit Card Payments

Most financial institutions have daily or per transaction limit on debit payments.

Do you know your limit?

Penalties

A 10% penalty is applied to all outstanding current taxes after July 4, 2016. This includes any unclaimed home owner grants.

Tax Questions??

The tax department is located on the lower floor of Municipal Hall.

For information on any of the topics in this brochure visit: mission.ca/property-taxes

Secondary Dwelling Units A Secondary Dwelling Unit (SDU) program has been implemented by the District.

A secondary dwelling unit is a dwelling unit in addition to the main dwelling unit, used or capable of being used as an independent residence by one or more persons, having sleeping and living spaces, a bathroom and a kitchen.

The existence of an SDU is not determined by the payment of rent nor is it negated by occupancy by family members or property owners. If the facilities for an independent residence exist, then an SDU exists.

Letters have gone out to home owners who have been identified as possibly having a secondary dwelling unit.

If you purchased a home that is being charged for an SDU and you will be using it for your own use, you may qualify for an exemption.

Exemptions expire on December 31st of each year or at the time of a sale.

Check out: mission.ca/secondary-dwellings for additional information and for access to the required forms.

Knotweed Control The District has hired a contractor to

treat knotweed with glyphosate on public lands between June and October this year. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup™, and is currently, the only known effective treatment for knotweed. For more information, please contact Engineering at 604-820-3736 or engineering@mission.ca

Understanding Your 2016 Property Tax Notice

C B A

C - ADDITIONAL GRANT Pay this column and submit a Grant Application if you qualify for the basic grant and you: Are at least 65 years old

this year, OR Receive assistance under

BC Employment & Assistance for Person’s with Disability, OR

Qualify for other additional grant conditions.

B - BASIC GRANT Pay this column and submit a Grant Application if you: Are under 65, are the

registered owner and live in the home, AND

Qualify for the basic grant conditions.

A - NO GRANT Pay this column if you do not qualify for a grant.

mission.ca/property-taxes Email: tax@mission.ca

Fraser Valley Regional District

1%

Fraser Valley Regional Hospital District

3%

BC Assessment Authority

1%

Municipal Finance

Authority>1% Fraser Valley

Regional Library

3%

Drainage Levy3%

Municipal Taxes58%

Provincial School Taxes

31%

Stay Connected! Stay connected to what’s happening in Mission through our Community Events calendar: mission.ca/community-events

Council Meeting Webcast

Watch live or archived Council meetings online at mission.ca/council-meeting-webcast

Mission City Record

Informative updates printed every other week in our local paper.

Social Media

facebook.com/districtofmission

twitter.com/mission_bc

Water Restrictions

Check out ourwatermatters.ca for the latest water restrictions in effect, rebates, water conservation, and more!

Contact us:

tax@mission.ca 604-820-3717

Hours of Operation:

8:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday to Friday

Mailing Address:

District of Mission 8645 Stave Lake Street PO Box 20 Mission, BC V2V 4L9

The Property Tax Notice shows:

Roll number and password;

The due date of July 4, 2016;

The property civic address;

The assessed value and class of your property;

Property taxes charged broken down by School Taxes, Municipal Property Taxes and Other Taxing Authorities;

Flat rate Municipal Utility user fees totaling $1,167.24 per dwelling unit. This is broken down by:

Water = $489.00; Sewer = $382.92;

Garbage = $165.24; and Recyclables/

Compost = $130.08. (Metered water properties will only have garbage and recycling charges)

The gross amount of taxes owing;

The amount of taxes owing if you are claiming the basic grant;

The amount of taxes owing if you are claiming the additional grant;

Any prepaid amount;

Any arrears or delinquent taxes owing; and

The home owner grant application form at the bottom of your notice.

Municipal property taxes (58%)include:

Police Services,

Fire/Rescue Services, Development Services,

Transfer to Reserves, Administration,

Parks, Recreation & Culture, Shared Services, and Engineering and Public Works.

Tax Notices collect the following property tax levies:

HOME OWNER GRANTS & TAX PAYMENTS

ARE DUE JULY 4, 2016