NANAIMO – Homeowners in the South Forks Nanaimo River area of the Regional District of Nanaimo have been paying double taxes for over 18 years for a fire hall they’re not going to get, and they want their money back.
A delegation of residents is appearing before the RDN Board this Thursday to demand that the RDN give the money back. An estimated $230,000 is sitting in an RDN bank account titled Nanaimo River Reserve fund, from annual levies that were first imposed in 2005, according to estimates obtained from the South Forks Nanaimo River Community Association (SFNRCA).
“In 2020 we started asking what was the cost of a fire hall and when would we see a fire hall for our community. More delay, still no fire hall,” says SFNRCA Chairman John Campbell. “We ask that the RDN Board vote that the money raised from our community and currently held be returned to the current property owners. This has been delayed far too long already.”
Resident Barbara Cura is presenting the petition. There are 72 properties in the SFNR region of Area C, with Campbell noting “Due to vacations, we were unable to contact all the homes, but we were still able to collect 70 signatures.”
In 2005 the RDN and the South Forks Nanaimo River community agreed to build a fire hall. At this time the cost was estimated at $280,000 and the area residents agreed to a special tax for the 42 properties in the area to cover the cost. The fire hall was not built.
“Between 2005 and 2010 new requirements substantially increased the cost of the building, making it virtually impossible for the community to build a fire hall,” Campbell reports. “The taxes continued and community continued paying.
“Fast forward to now and the community has grown to 72 properties but the fire hall cost has grown to over $3 million – and for just a satellite hall, not a full fire hall,” he adds. “In order to pay for this it was estimated in a feasibility study that it would cost each taxpayer up to an additional $432.64 per $100,000 of assessed value. This would mean that the average property would face an increase in taxes of an additional 150% or an average additional tax of around $5200 on top of existing taxes.”
The SFNR Board believes it makes no sense to build another fire hall at the edge of a fire protection area, since residents are, over all, very happy and appreciative of the coverage provided by the Extension Fire Department.
“Nor does it make sense to ask 72 properties to build a $3 million-plus fire hall,” Campbell adds.
Business Examiner Staff