Why are Property Taxes / Utilities so high?
The City of Prince Rupert has an infrastructure of roads, utilities, recreational and cultural amenities which would be suitable in a City that had a population of 15,000 – 20,000 citizens. Prince Rupert has this infrastructure because during the heyday of the ocean fishery and pulp mill, the City had a summer population influx which increased the population to 20,000. During this period, Property Taxes on these industries and associated businesses, as well as a larger residential tax base, funded the cost of the infrastructure. Since then, the property tax base (fewer citizens, less business and less industry), has shrunk and our infrastructure has become older. This convergence of a shrinking property tax base and aging infrastructure has resulted in higher costs being shared by a smaller number of taxpayers.
