City of Surrey Financial Plan 2020-2024

COMMUNITY PROFILE TAXES, UTILITIES AND ASSESSMENTS

TAXES The Property & Payment Services section generates property tax and utility bills using the current tax and utility rates approved by Council and the assessed market values provided by BC Assessment. Tax rates are set based on property class as prescribed by Provincial legislation. The section is also responsible for collecting taxes for other authorities such as the Metro Vancouver Regional District, the Municipal Finance Authority, BC Assessment, the BC Ministry of Finance (School Tax), and TransLink. Each taxing authority within the region sets its own tax rates. The 2019 total tax rates, inclusive of all taxing authorities, (per $1,000 of assessed value) for the most common property classes are as follows:

 Residential $3.19  Business $10.21  Light Industrial $9.60 *2020 tax rates will be available in May 2020.

Surrey property taxes are due on July 2nd each year. Late payments are subject to a 5% penalty if not paid by July 2nd and a further 5% penalty if not paid by September 2nd. Property & Payment Services City of Surrey

13450 104th Avenue Surrey, BC V3T 1V8 604-591-4181

UTILITIES Utility charges for water and sewer are billed on a utility bill, separate from utility charges for waste collection, which are billed on the Property Tax Notice. In 1998, the City introduced water metering to all newly constructed residential and commercial properties. In 2000, a voluntary metering program began, which allowed for previously built residential properties to have meters installed on request. The majority of single family homes now have a water meter and all commercial and industrial properties are metered. Currently, there are over 71,000 water meters installed throughout the City. This is a giant step towards a full “user pay” system. Water and sewer utilities for residential properties are classified in two billing categories, metered and annual.

Annual flat rate utility accounts are billed in late February and are due by April 2nd of each year. Late payments are subject to a 5% penalty if not paid by April 2nd and a further 5% penalty if not paid by July 2nd.

Metered utility accounts are billed every four months (three times a year) and are based on a meter consumption and a base charge. Payments are due by the 2nd of the following month and late payments are subject to a 5% penalty.

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