The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) is adding a new tax in areas G, H and L (surrounding 100 Mile House) to create a South Cariboo Cemeteries function, which will contribute to the District of 100 Mile House cemetery.
In 2018, the maximum rate will be $0.59 per $100,000 on the net taxable value of land and improvements for all of Electoral Areas G, H and L or $15,000, whichever is greater, according to the CRD. However a spokesperson says they likely won’t need that full amount.
According to the District of 100 Mile House, the net annual operating costs were approximately $14,000 over the past five years ending in Dec. 31, 2015.
The District asked the CRD if they would cost-share the cemetery services on a 50/50 basis, meaning that going forward the CRD will contibute about $7,000 a year.
With the maximum taxation being substantially higher it leaves room to contibute if any other South Cariboo cemeteries request funding, according to the CRD.
The CRD received 42 valid signatures looking to go to a referendum, which was short of the 866 electoral responses needed.
Some of those opposed said it was just another tax and that it wasn’t fair to those who would be cremated but would still have to pay taxes for the cemetery.
The tax follows a review of all fees and charges in the District of 100 Mile House, which includes the cemetery bylaw.
According to the review, in the last five year period, 65 per cent of those requiring burial services were CRD residents.
Historically, there’s been a different fee structure for residents versus non-residents for the purchase of plots, with the cost sharing agreement for the cemetery services “all rates would be equalized for all South Cariboo residents,” according to the request.