Whistler received over half a million dollars from B.C. Hydro this year in school taxes and grants-in-lieu of general property taxes.
The largest portion of that money, $336,795, was school taxes, which the municipality collects on behalf of the provincial government.
Grants-in-lieu of property taxes and other taxes, which the municipality keeps, totalled $220,337.
Crown corporations still do not pay property taxes, although the Liberal government in Victoria has promised to bring in legislation that would require them to pay property taxes.
An additional $316,488 grant-in-lieu of general taxes for dams, reservoirs and generating stations was paid to the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. That total is unchanged from last year.
"These payments show our commitment to our customers, and help provide local municipalities and rural areas with support for school districts, and infrastructure and operations, the building blocks of any strong community," said B.C. Hydro Chair and CEO, Larry Bell.
Province-wide, B.C. Hydro paid approximately $141.8 million in taxes and grants-in-lieu of general taxes for 2003, an increase of approximately $500,000 over the total amount paid in the 2002 calendar year.
The majority of the increase was paid in school taxes.
Of the $141.8 million paid this year, approximately $99 million went to school taxes and $42.8 million for grants and other taxes to local governments (municipalities), regional districts and the province (rural areas).
