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Claim your Home Owner Grant online

• 2010 Five Year Financial Plan - General Revenue Fund - 2.18MB PDF
• 2010 Five Year Financial Plan - Community Forest - 225Kb PDF
• 2010 Five Year Financial Plan - Sewer Fund - 730Kb PDF
• 2010 Five Year Financial Plan - Water System - 1.23MB PDF
• 2010 Five Year Financial Plan - White Valley Parks and Recreation - 450Kb PDF

• 2009 Five Year Financial Plan - 280Kb PDF
• 2008 Financial Statements - 1.0MB PDF

• 2008 Five Year Financial Plan - 275Kb PDF
• 2007 Financial Statements - 980Kb PDF

• 2007 Five Year Financial Plan - 250Kb PDF
• 2006 Financial Statements - 830Kb PDF

All financial matters for the Village are directed through the Finance Department. Headed by the Financial Officer, the department is staffed by 3 individuals who administer the following areas of responsibility:

• Financial Management & Financial Planning - A requirement under the Local Government Act is for the Village to prepare a five-year annual financial plan or budget. In addition there must be a public consultation process prior to the plan being adopted by Council on May 15th. The Village holds meetings where the budget receives a detailed review by Council.

• Cash, Portfolio, and Debt Management - The Village manages cash balances and we are tasked with investing surplus cash to maximize the return on investment, ensuring that the investment is secure and taxpayer's funds are not at risk. The investments must also provide for correct timing to ensure that funds are available as required to meet the Village's commitments.
  
  Our department initiates the required bylaws and supporting information related to long and short term borrowing, maintaining the records related to these borrowings, including the value of sinking funds associated with long-term debt.

• Accounting and Payroll Services - The accounting records for the Village are maintained by our office. We provide periodic financial statements for both internal and external use, prepare the annual budget, and advise both Council and other Departments on budget impacts of current events or upcoming issues.

• Collection of Tax and Utility Fees - We are available all day between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM to receive payment for all fees and charges levied by the Village. These include utility bills, property tax notices, other invoices, business licences, building permits, development fees, and miscellaneous fees. The Village generally accepts cash, cheques and debit cards. Under certain circumstances there may be a requirement for payment by way of a certified cheque or bank draft.
  
  To avoid line-ups, particularly during due dates for taxes and utilities, you are encouraged to drop-off or mail in post dated cheques. However, you must ensure that these payments are received prior to the due date to avoid a penalty.

• Financial Reporting and Analysis - We also liaise with the Council appointed auditors for the complete audit of the financial records and attestation of the accurateness and reasonableness of the annual financial statements
  Cemetery - The Village is responsible for the operation of Cemetery, the sale of cemetery plots, internment permits, marker permits, scheduling burials and the maintenance of burial records. The operation of the cemetery is subject to the Provincial laws and regulations as well as the Village bylaw. The Village bylaw provides for control of plot sizes, headstone markers, flower stands and related items. It also provides for fees for internments and related costs.

• Policy Development and Financial Advice

• Insurance Claims and Risk Management

• ICBC and Motor Vehicle - The Village provides ICBC services for Autoplan renewal, etc. Motor Vehicle transactions such as Drivers Licence renewal. BC ID application, Traffic Fine payments and Road Test study guides are also available.

Dealing with monetary issues can be confusing. We understand. The friendly professionals of the Village of Lumby Finance Department are pleased to help you with your financial needs in a manner that makes sense to you.

How are taxes calculated?

The formula for calculating taxes on property is:

Tax rate x assessed value

The tax rate is expressed as a dollar amount on every $1,000 of assessed value. If the tax rate for residential property is 7, this means that taxes of $7 are charged on every $1,000 of assessed value. Property valued at $100,000 would thus be charged taxes of $700 (100 x $7).

The assessed value of property for tax purposes is determined by the British Columbia Assessment Authority. The Authority is established under provincial legislation, and is independent of the municipality. The Village is not involved in determining assessed values.

Taxation on property is the primary source of municipal revenue. The Local Government Act, which is a Provincial Act, sets out in detail the regulations for property taxation. The amount of money to be raised through taxation is set by Council through the budget process, but other aspects of the taxation process, such as the due date for taxes and the penalty on late taxes, are regulated by the Local Government Act.

Council does not have the power to adjust the taxes on individual properties. The taxes are set by the tax rate which applies to that class of property. For instance, if the tax rate for residential property is 7, then ALL residential properties must be charged this rate.

What is included on my annual Tax Notice?

Your annual tax notice includes ALL property taxes - those imposed by the Village and those imposed by other governing jurisdictions. The Village collects taxes on behalf of others as follows:

All of these tax levies are NOT set by the Village, but are collected by the Village on behalf of those governing jurisdictions. This is more efficient and economical than each of these tax authorities sending individual tax notices. Your Village Council sets the rates only for Village taxes and Local Services Taxes.

The annual Tax Notice has the Home Owner Grant Application form attached. This form MUST be completed each year to claim the grant

When are taxes due?

Property taxes cover the fiscal year - January 1 to December 31 - and are due the first business day in July. Under the Local Government Act, the municipality must charge a 10% penalty on late taxes.

How do I pay them?

Payment can be made by cash, cheque, money order or debit card at the Village Office. Payment can also be made by your mortgage company. Payment by way of post-dated cheque is encouraged. Send the cheque with your completed and signed Home Owner Grant application to the Village Office. Leave plenty of time for mail delivery, as postmarks will NOT be considered as date of payment.

What is the Home Owner Grant? Am I eligible to claim it?

The Home Owner Grant is a grant provided by the British Columbia Government to owners of residential property. The grant must be claimed each year. The application form is attached to the bottom of your tax notice.

The Basic Home Owner Grant is $570. To be eligible, you must:

• be a permanent resident of British Columbia
• be living in the house at the time you claim the grant, and
• be shown on the title as a registered owner.

The grant cannot be claimed on vacant land. Only ONE grant is allowed for each property, and you can only claim the grant once each year. When there are joint owners or multiple owners on title, any ONE owner on the title can claim the grant. If the property is registered to a company, no grant can be claimed. If your mortgage company is paying your taxes, you must still complete the Grant application and ensure it is received by the Village by the tax due date.

An additional grant of up to $275 is available for seniors and persons with permanent physical disabilities. If you are 65 or will be turning 65 during the current year, complete section 2 of the Home Owner Grant application. Please ensure you enter the date of your birth. If you are a person with disabilities, or are the spouse or relative of a person with disabilities and that person lives with you, you may be eligible for the disability grant. The disability must be permanent and must require extensive physical assistance or costly modifications to the home to be eligible. Your doctor must complete the appropriate form to certify the disability. These forms are available at the Village Office.

If the registered owner of the property is recently deceased, a relative may claim the grant, but only if they were living with the deceased at time of death, and are living in the home when they claim the grant.

New owners, whose names are not yet on the property tax notice, must produce a copy of their Certificate of Title when claiming the Home Owner Grant.

For more information, contact the Property Tax Department at (250) 547-2171.