Maple Ridge received almost $1.2 million in lieu of municipal property taxes along with 62 other communities throughout the province.

Grants-in-lieu of property taxes are distributed every November as a way to reimburse communities for services that benefited government properties, such as municipally-run sewers, roads and fire protection.

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. Since 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 excluded from compensation under the act.

The amounts paid are based on the municipality’s tax rate and the assessed value of the properties.