The City of Victoria enacted property tax rates this week that will mean property owners in the city face a 3.89 per cent increase in their 2022 tax bills, but those unwilling to take care of their boulevards will face an extra hit.
Council enacted its Boulevard Bylaw that will require property owners who have land that fronts and abuts upon any boulevard maintained by the city to pay $2.50 per square metre for boulevard upkeep and maintenance.
The annual tax, which property owners can avoid by agreeing to mow and maintain their own boulevards, adds up to about $500,000 a year for the city. Victoria has more than 300 kilometres of boulevards, most of which are maintained by property owners. The city offers a maintenance service to mow and edge boulevard grass.
Property owners currently being taxed for the maintenance can opt out of the service. That is done on a per-block basis by presenting a petition signed by owners representing 50 per cent of the assessed property value and 50 per cent of the properties.
Petitions must be submitted before Oct. 1 for consideration of opting out or opting in for the coming year.
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