Thornhill residents seek signatures opposing tax increase for Terrace's Heritage Park Museum
Residents of Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine frustrated by minimal advertising, limited access to survey
The Regional-District of Kitimat-Stikine is running a survey to establish the levels of support for a small tax increase to fund Heritage Park Museum.
The proposed increase would affect approximately 5,000 people.
Currently, operational funding for Heritage Park Museum comes from the City of Terrace, as well as residents in Electoral Area E, the community of Thornhill, and part of Electoral Area C, which is defined in the survey as “an area westerly to the Exstew River, southerly to the south end of Lakelse Lake, easterly including Chimdemash area to Ste. Croix Creek, and northerly to Goat Creek and the south end of Kitsumkalum Lake.” However, the map in the supporting documents only shows a series of ellipses instead of labels.
“$40,000 is the maximum amount that the Regional-District of Kitimat-Stikine will collect and contribute towards the funding of Heritage Park Museum,” said Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine Communications Coordinator Marta Nelson. “A property with a net taxable value of $300,000 would pay $8.18 per year.”
Some residents, especially those in Thornhill, are skeptical of how the process is being conducted and frustrated by the limited advertising the Regional-District of Kitimat-Stikine has done to promote the survey.
Thornhill resident and regular council attendee Claudette Sandecki expresses even though the increase is only $8 “it’s the principle of the thing” that frustrates her.
Sandecki adds that the only notice she’s seen was a post on the Regional-District of Kitimat-Stikine’s website, noting that some residents do not have internet access.
If 10 per cent of residents oppose the increase, the issue will go to a referendum.
The survey can be found here and will run until March 31 at 4:00 p.m.
Keep Thornhill tax dollars in Thornhill to pay for services here something Terrace uses but doesn’t contribute to
The $40,000 proposed unfair tax should be spent in Thornhill and communities contributing this tax dollars. Terrace contributes nothing to the outlying areas for using their services. Unlike Thornhill and area sending millions through the regional district to Terrace annually.