Special Property Tax Requisitions Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: November 7, 2022 
 
Local Trust Committee Special Property Tax Requisitions 
Frequently Asked Questions 
 
 
WHAT IS A SPECIAL PROPERTY TAX REQUISITION? 
Trust Council can approve a special property tax requisition for a local trust area to fund special 
initiatives taking place only in that particular local trust area. The tax is levied only on the property 
owners of that local trust area. The option to request special property tax requisition is available to all 
local trust committees. 
The tax can be used when a local trust committee (LTC) wishes to take on a large initiative with local 
significance or additional operations.  Although meant to support special projects, initiatives must still 
remain within the legislated jurisdiction of the Islands Trust, and be:  
 a program or service not offered in all local trust areas;  
 an enhanced service level that reflects a unique demand or additional power (authority) that 
Trust Council has delegated to an LTC by bylaw; and/or  
 'not included in the base budget. 
HOW MUCH CAN A LOCAL TRUST COMMITTEE REQUEST? 
There is no limit. Trust Council policy does set a minimum of $5,000 for any single special requisition.  
DOES THERE HAVE TO BE PUBLIC CONSULTATION ABOUT PROPOSED SPECIAL TAX REQUISITIONS? 
Yes. Trust Council policy requires that local trust committees ask the public for feedback in the relevant 
local trust area about the purpose and cost of the proposed special requisition. LTCs are obliged to 
advertise and promote that they are looking for feedback. Trust Council will consider any feedback 
received before it provides final approval or denial of a special requisition. 
DOES EACH PROPERTY OWNER PAY THE SAME AMOUNT FOR A SPECIAL PROPERTY TAX? 
Not necessarily. While the same tax rate for the requisition will be applied across the local trust area, 
the resulting dollar amount collected may be different for each property. The final amount is based on a 
number of factors, including tax rate, the type of property, and the assessed value of a property.  
The Province collects the special requisition tax at the same time and in the same way as the general 
property tax levy that funds the Islands Trust.  
CAN PROPERTY OWNERS “OPT OUT” IF THE INITIATIVE DOESN’T BENEFIT THEM DIRECTLY? 
No. A special levy is requisitioned from all taxable properties on all islands within the local trust area in 
question. A single property or island cannot opt out of a special requisition. 

  Last updated: November 7, 2022 
WHAT HAPPENS IF A LOCAL TRUST COMMITTEE DOESN’T SPEND THE REQUISITIONED FUNDS? 
If any funds are unspent at the end of the fiscal year, they will be put into a special reserve fund for 
future use by the local trust committee. Unspent funds can only be used to complete the special project 
or initiative for which they were collected. In the event the project is complete, the funds can be used 
for other work of the local trust committee, with Trust Council’s approval.  Th

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