In a rare about face the province will be handing tax dollars back to the people.
The city will be receiving almost $20,000 in grants-in-lieu of property taxes from the province under its annual payment.
The $19,923.75 Rossland will receive is “about the same” as previous years, said Tracey Butler, deputy chief administrative officer and corporate officer for the city.
Rossland’s money is calculated for the courthouse, post office and the CBC tower.
Grants-in-lieu of property taxes are distributed annually as a way to reimburse municipalities for services that have benefited government properties, such as sewers, roads and fire protection.
The amounts paid are based on the assessed value of the properties and the municipality's tax rate.
According to the Municipal Aid Act, a grant-in-lieu is payable on land owned by the provincial government—for example, courthouses, provincial government office buildings, ambulance stations and warehouses.
Because schools and hospitals are exempt from paying municipal property taxes, a grant-in-lieu is not payable on these properties.
In addition, highways, forests, parks or land under the control, management or administration of a Crown corporation are also excluded from compensation under the act.
Across the region Castlegar receives $24,843.03, Cranbrook $29,428.45, Creston $14,007.78 and Fernie $2,858.71.
Golden takes home $4,512.46, Nakusp $6,320.30 and Nelson receives by far the largest amount of any Kootenay community at $197,647.80.
Looking slightly north Revelstoke will receive $40,582.51.
Overall, the province distributed approximately $18.2 million in compensation for municipal property taxes to 63 communities throughout the province.
This years' compensation represents an increase of $1.3 million over last year's payments.
Since 2002, the Government of British Columbia has distributed more than $208 million as grants-in-lieu to communities. Each municipality distributes a portion of the funds to its regional district, and those governments use money to help pay for local services.
The funds are distributed electronically on behalf of government by the Ministry of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services.