Rates Increase Justification
Prepared by: Kwantlen First Nation (the “First Nation”)
August 10, 2021
Justification for the Rates Increase
This year the First Nation’s annual property tax rates will increase in accordance with the First Nation’s 3-year reference jurisdiction transition plan.
The First Nation’s goal is to harmonize its tax rates with the City of Mission, City of Maple Ridge, and Langley Township.
This transition is necessary because the cost of municipal services for taxpayers increased substantially in 2020, after assessed values in Triple Creek Estates (located on Kwantlen Indian Reserve (IR) #2 in Mission) sharply increased in 2020.
Mission currently provides municipal services (including finance administration, engineering/public works, general government services, parks/recreation and cultural services, planning/economic development services, protective services (fire/police), public health services and public transit services) to the residents of Triple Creek Estates. Kwantlen pays Mission for those services using property tax revenues as part of a municipal services agreement between Kwantlen and Mission.
On the reserves outside of Mission, the transition is necessary to facilitate future tax-based agreements with adjacent local governments to provide municipal services to those reserves.