FAQs
Increasing costs for materials, supplies, contracts and other services.
Staffing and operating costs.
The need to maintain, repair or replace aging infrastructure.
New or expanded services and community priorities.
Changes in available grants or other revenue.
Contributions to reserves and other long-term financial commitments.
How are my property taxes calculated?
Property taxes are calculated using a property's assessed value and the applicable tax rate for its property class.
BC Assessment determines property values for property tax purposes. The Village establishes municipal tax rates through its annual tax rate bylaw.
Your property tax notice may also include taxes and levies for other authorities, such as the Province of British Columbia and regional or other taxing bodies. These amounts are separate from the Village's municipal property taxes.
Why do property taxes change?
Property taxes may change for several reasons, including:
The amount required through property taxes depends on the Village's overall financial needs and the revenue available from other sources.
A change in the municipal tax levy does not necessarily mean every property owner's tax bill will change by the same percentage.
What is the difference between assessed value, tax rates and property taxes?
These terms are related, but they mean different things.
Assessed value
BC Assessment determines property values for property tax purposes. A property's assessed value is not the amount of tax the owner pays.
Tax rate
The tax rate is used to calculate property taxes based on a property's assessed value. Municipal tax rates differ by property class and are established through the applicable tax rate bylaw.
Property taxes
The amount payable depends on the property's assessed value and the applicable tax rates. A property tax notice may include municipal taxes as well as taxes and levies collected for other authorities.
Do higher property values mean the Village receives more property tax revenue?
Not necessarily.
The Village determines the total amount it needs to collect through its municipal property tax levy. Changes in assessed values affect how that levy is distributed among properties within the applicable property classes.
If property values across a property class increase at a similar rate, an individual property's assessed value may rise without its share of the overall municipal tax levy increasing by the same percentage.
However, if a property's assessed value changes differently from the average for its property class, its share of the tax levy may change.
The key takeaway: An increase in a property's assessed value does not automatically mean the Village is collecting more property tax revenue overall. The total municipal tax levy and the distribution of that levy both matter.
Why might my property taxes change differently from the municipal tax increase?
An individual property's tax change depends on the applicable tax rate and how its assessed value changes relative to other properties in the same property class.
For example, if the Village's total municipal tax levy increases, an individual property owner's municipal taxes may increase by more or less than that percentage, depending on changes in relative assessed values.
Your total property tax bill may also include taxes and levies for other authorities, such as the Province of British Columbia and regional or other taxing bodies. These amounts are separate from the Village's municipal tax levy and may change for different reasons.
Why are there different charges on my property tax notice?
Your property tax notice includes taxes collected on behalf of several agencies and levels of government. Approximately 50% of your property taxes stay with the Village to fund local services and infrastructure. The remainder is collected and forwarded to other agencies, such as the school district, police services, hospital services, the regional district and BC Assessment.
How does Harrison Hot Springs compare with other communities?
Comparing property taxes between communities can provide context, but the figures do not always tell the whole story.
Communities may differ in the services they provide, their infrastructure needs, population, property values, revenue sources and access to external funding. They may also use different approaches to funding utilities and other services.
A meaningful comparison considers both the amount of tax paid and the services and responsibilities supported by those taxes.
What is the difference between the operating and capital budgets?
The operating budget covers the ongoing costs of running the Village and delivering municipal services, such as staffing, routine maintenance, materials and contracted services.
The capital budget covers larger investments in municipal infrastructure, equipment and assets, such as road improvements, drainage upgrades, water and sewer infrastructure renewal, and major equipment replacement.
Both are important to the Village's financial planning. Capital projects may also create future operating and maintenance costs.
What is the five-year financial plan?
The five-year financial plan outlines anticipated revenues, expenses and financial commitments over a five-year period. It helps the Village plan for ongoing services, future infrastructure needs and other financial priorities.
The plan is reviewed and updated as circumstances change. It provides a longer-term planning framework, but does not guarantee that every proposed project will proceed exactly as anticipated.
How can I participate in the Budget 2027 process?
Community input helps inform the Village's understanding of local priorities and can contribute to budget discussions and decisions.
Visit the Budget 2027 engagement page on Get Into It Harrison to review current information, learn about available surveys and engagement opportunities, and share your priorities for the future of Harrison Hot Springs.
Explore Budget 2027 and have your say!