An increase in the residential tax base in Lake Country over the past 10 years means individual taxpayers are footing more and more of the overall tax bill in Lake Country.
In 2014, 86.9 per cent of the total taxes collected by the District of Lake Country came from the residential tax base, an increase from a decade ago when 83.4 per cent of the district's taxes came from residents.
"In general the tax base is worse than it was 10 years ago as growth in residential tax base has outpaced growth in the non-residential tax base," stated a report to Lake Country council. "The figure has been fairly stable for the past six years."
District council adopted the 2014 tax rates bylaw at its meeting on May 6, confirming a 3.5 per cent tax increase within the district. The increase still leaves Lake Country with one of the lowest tax rates when compared to neighboring communities.
According to the report, only Summerland has a lower tax rate in 2013 than Lake Country who has the second lowest tax rate at 3.73 followed by Peachland, West Kelowna, Kelowna, Penticton, Coldstream, Salmon Arm and Vernon, who had the highest rate at 5.15 per cent.