Letter from Mayor Walt Cobb, City of Williams Lake re: Employer Health Tax Impact
Notification that Williams Lake Council supports the City of Langley in requesting the Province to exempt local governments from the Employer Health Tax.
July 17, 2018
The Honourable Carole James Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier PO BOX 9048 STN PROV GOVT Victoria BC V8W 9E2
Dear Minister / Deputy Premier James:
Re: Employer Heath Tax Impact on Local Government
This is to advise that the City of Williams Lake Council passed the following resolution at its regular meeting held Tuesday, May 29th, 2018:
"That pursuant to the report of the Chief Financial Officer dated May 17, 2018, Council support the resolution of the Council for the City of Langley and request the Province of BC to exempt local governments, regional districts and school boards from the imposition of the EHT to lessen the financial burden on local taxpayers, especially those that are on fixed incomes and further that correspondence to that effect be sent to the Province of BC."
The City of Williams Lake, like many local governments have a limited revenue base that relies heavily on property taxation. The new Employer Heath Tax will put additional cost pressure on the City of Williams Lake (and other BC local governments) that would have to be passed to municipal taxpayers, placing an undue share on lower and middle income British Columbians.
If you have any questions in this regard, please contact the undersigned.
Sincerely,
Mayor Walt Cobb
cc: UBCM Member Municipalities
Document Images
(1)