Surrey businesses have been reaching out to the Surrey Board of Trade after receiving their property tax bills in the mail and they’re not painting a pretty picture.
“Business classes 5 and 6 have faced enormous cost pressures over the last year,” Anita Huberman, CEO of the board, said Thursday. “These property tax increases are unsustainable after businesses experienced an average increase between 2020 and 2021 of 53.9 per cent for class 5 and 39.3 per cent for class 6.”
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She noted that classes 5 and 6 saw an increase of 14.5 per cent and 7.2 per cent last year. And in 2021, some businesses were slammed with property tax increases from 17 per cent up to 86 per cent, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adding to the strain are significant increases in land value assessments, city taxes, regional taxation – utilities, TransLink, etcetera – and school tax, which the provincial government shouldered in 2020 due to COVID-19 but is back in play, and supply chain issues.
“We need a tax climate that is conducive to the success and sustainability of businesses. Over the years, all levels of governments have put significant tax burdens on business, including regulatory burdens that inhibit a business’ ability to grow,” Huberman said.
Consequently, the Surrey Board of Trade has produced a “feedback form” it hopes local business owners will fill out and submit to the board that’s designed to help the organization better understand their tax burden.
“Their input will help us advocate to the government on behalf of Surrey businesses,” Huberman said.
The form can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YZDGWZ7
The deadline is June 16, with survey results to be released by June 22.
tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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