Smithers town Council is looking at a 7.16 percent increase in taxes this year, following a nearly 10 percent increase in property taxes in 2023. However, Mayor Gladys Atrill said the Town worked very hard to keep it under 8 percent for 2024.
A major contribute to the perennial increase in taxation is the growing costs for the RCMP detachment for the town of 5,000 people. Currently Smithers is shelling out $2.3 million per year policing in the community, which Mayor Atrill says the Province needs to start contributing more for.
CICK News talks to Mayor Atrill about this and other factors impacting the town’s budget.
