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Sewage plan means Capital Region District taxes will increase 4.2 per cent this year

Capital Regional District taxes will increase about 4.2 per cent this year, but just how much you will pay depends on where you live.

Capital Regional District taxes will increase about 4.2 per cent this year, but just how much you will pay depends on where you live.

The main reasons for the budget increase are the cost of sewage treatment (known as the Core Area Wastewater Treatment Program), a $600,000 grant in aid to the Island Corridor Foundation for repairs to the E&N Rail line, a $2 increase in the per household parkland acquisition levy as well as the implementation of a regional deer management plan.

Depending on the municipality, the costs for sewage treatment — expected to be online by 2018 — will be collected through taxes, user fees or a combination of both.

In some areas, such as Sidney and Central Saanich, CRD property taxes will actually decrease due to retirement of debt. Other areas, including Colwood and Esquimalt, can expect a jump.

Here’s a look at the estimated difference this year in residential property tax for each municipality (including municipal debt costs and Capital Regional Hospital District costs):

UP

• Colwood: (based on an average residential assessed value of $464,433) $522.37 up from $442.59 (18 percent increase)

• Esquimalt: (based on an average residential assessment of $470,286) $631.40 up from $582.08 (8.4 percent increase)

• View Royal: (based on an average residential assessed value of $514,453) $501.26 an increase from $468.02 (7 percent increase)

• Langford: (based on an average residential assessed value of $413,531) $344.42 up from $330.30 (4.2 percent increase)

• Oak Bay: (based on an average residential assessed value of $869,839) $696.16 an increase from $680.87 (2.2 percent increase)

• Metchosin: (based on an average residential assessed value of $585,916) $370.96 up from $365.36 (2 percent increase)

• Saanich: (based on an average residential assessed value of $566,525) $409.17 up from $401.68 (1.8 percent increase)

• Highlands: (based on an average residential assessed value of $626,142) $429.92 up from $427.28 (0.6 percent increase)

• Salt Spring Island: (based on an average residential assessed value of $493.931) $818.17 down from $812.68 (0.6 percent increase)

• Southern Gulf Islands: (based on an average residential assessed value of $392,672) $383.29 up from $379.97 (0.8 percent increase)

DOWN

• Sidney: (based on an average residential assessed value of $427,835) $453.77 down from $530.96 (14.5 percent decrease)

• Central Saanich: (based on an average residential assessment of $592,304) $690.85 down from $725.06 (4.7 per cent decrease)

• North Saanich: (based on an average residential assessed value of $727,950) $815.48 a decrease from $843.64 (3.3 percent decrease)

• Juan de Fuca Electoral Area (based on an average residential assessed value of $397,213) $537.17 a decrease from $549.75 (2.3 percent decrease)

• Sooke: (based on an average residential assessed value of $352,910) $646.94 down from $651.53 (0.66 percent decrease)

• Victoria: (based on an average residential assessed value of $528,455) $440.60 down from $441.97 (0.31 percent decrease)

bcleverley@timescolonist.com