Victoria council seeks new e-bill possibility
The deadline for paying property taxes is around the corner. By July 2, Victoria residents must pay their bill by mail, in person, or through their mortgage company or financial institution.
While taxpayers have many options for paying their bill, the city is stuck with only one option to send out these annual notices: by mail.
Victoria's manager of revenue, Christopher Paine, wants to make another option available for people who request it: sending property-tax bills via email.
Electronic billing is more environmentally friendly, uses less paper and postage and provides better service, he wrote in a report to city council.
Council agreed in principle, but the change won't come so easily. The community charter requires that municipalities mail an annual tax notice in hard copy to each property owner.
On May 22, council endorsed a resolution to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities requesting an amendment to the Community Charter reflecting the greener option.
rholmen@vicnews.com
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