The Finance department is responsible for the administration of and fee collection for municipal taxes and utilities. The department prepares and manages the annual budget, financial statements, and five-year capital plans. Grants-in-aid and the grant writer are also managed under the Finance department, along with tax sales, payroll, and accounts receivable.
Tax notices are issued in mid-May and payment is always due on the 1st working day after the July 1st holiday. Payments not received on or before 4:30 p.m. local time on the due date will have the 10% late penalty applied. The late penalty is legislated by the Provincial Government and cannot be waived. Property owners are responsible to pay their taxes by the due date even if they do not receive a tax notice. If you have not received your tax notice by the 2nd week in June, please call our office for a copy. Utility notices are issued early September and are due on the last business day of October each year. Payments not received on or before 4:30 p.m. local time on the due date will have the 10% late penalty applied.
How To Pay Your Taxes & Utilities
Online with Credit Card
- Credit Card payments are accepted online only through the Online Services portal
- Please take into consideration that online payments can never be processed on the same day and often take 3 or more business days to reach our office
Through your Online Banking
- Online payments can be made through your personal banking site for those who bank at Royal Bank, CIBC or Credit Union
- Search Vanderhoof as the payee, and select Vanderhoof District Taxes or Vanderhoof District Utilities
- Your account number is listed on your tax notice as Roll Number and on your utility notice as Account Number; if your banking institution requires a certain amount of digits to be entered, add as many zeroes as necessary in front of your account number
- Ensure you make your payment with enough time for it to reach us by the due date; online payments can never be processed on the same day and often take 3 or more business days to reach our office
In-Person
- At the Municipal Office, we accept debit, cash, or cheque
- After hours please use the 24-hour drop box beside the front doors of the Municipal Office (cheques only please)
By Mail
- PO BOX 900, Vanderhoof, BC V0J 3A0 – please ensure there is plenty of time for the payment to reach us before the due date; postmarks are not considered to be the date of payment
Please note, payments cannot be made over the counter at your Financial Institution.
Homeowner grants are administered by the Province of BC. More information can be found on their website.
Claim your homeowner grant
The District of Vanderhoof’s infrastructure is the foundation for and provides vital services to the community such as drinking water, sanitation, transportation and recreation. These services contribute significantly to the vitality of the community, as well as to the economy of the region; supporting our vision of being a thriving, diversified and sustainable business community.
As this infrastructure ages, it needs to be rehabilitated or replaced. Failure to plan adequately puts at risk the quality of the services the community currently enjoys, and ultimately could jeopardize the economic foundation enjoyed by residents and tourists. We’re taking important steps to proactively care for this infrastructure in a sustainable manner, through an Asset Management Program.
A set of activities that help plan for the current and long-term investment needs of a community’s infrastructure (also known as assets). Infrastructure includes categories such as roads, water systems, sewer systems and community buildings.
Asset management helps answer questions such as:
- What infrastructure or assets do we own?
- What are our assets worth?
- What condition are they in?
- Where are we deficient?
- What assets will need to be replaced/repaired and when?
- What will it cost?
The District’s grant-in-aid policy is in effect as of the 2020 fiscal year. A grant review and grading process will be applied to all applications to determine eligibility and ranking of key criteria and objectives in the policy before being presented to Council for consideration. Overall the policy is aimed at better facilitating the decision-making process, decreasing dependence on District of Vanderhoof funding, providing a fair and equitable means of providing grants in aid and promoting volunteerism.
Here’s a few things to keep in mind:
- Application deadline: October 31st
- There is only one intake annually; for example, if you are requesting funding for an event in 2025, you must apply for funding by October 31, 2024
- All in-kind requests must follow the grant-in-aid policy/application
- The District will not substantially fund any undertaking
- The policy sets a limit on the amount and number of grants each organization can apply for
- Post-project reporting is required
Please download the application form before filling it out.
Grant-In-Aid Policy
Grant-In-Aid Application Form
The District’s Grant Writer is available to assist non-profit groups in the community in achieving their goals.
The Grant Writer can assist in the following areas:
- Research funding opportunities that work for your organization
- Write grant applications and budgets
- Ensure you meet deadlines and all necessary documents are submitted
- Navigate reporting requirements
Grant-In-Aid Policy
Finance Bylaws
Financial Documents
2021 Financial Statements
2021 Annual Municipal Report
The purpose of the Annual Report is to provide the public with information on the activities and operations of the District for the previous year. Annual reporting provides opportunities for public access to reporting mechanisms and helps meet the information needs of both local government and the public by promoting a greater understanding of municipal responsibilities and priorities. Implicit in this principle is that greater accountability will leave to the promotion of better services and continuous improvement in service delivery as well as improving taxpayer awareness and knowledge of municipal services.
The Financial Plans include the five-year operating and capital budgets for each service area within the District of Vanderhoof.
2022 – 2026 Five-Year Financial Plan
Eligible non-profit groups can apply to receive a property tax exemption. To learn more please view the full document below:
To apply, please download the form and forward it to the Chief Financial Officer
Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw
Revitalization Tax Exemption Application Form
Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw Frequently Asked Questions