CARSTAIRS - Town council has approved the 2021 tax rate bylaw, with both the residential and non-residential rates remaining unchanged from 2020. The move came by way of motion at the April 12 council meeting.
The residential mill rate is 6.50, the non-residential rate is 8.31330, and the machinery and equipment rate is also 8.313, all unchanged from last year.
Mayor Lance Colby said an increase in overall assessment in 2021 was helpful in keeping the rates at zero.
“We wanted to keep it at zero because everybody is going to through a hard time right now,” said Colby. “We are trying to alleviate those pressures as best we can and still operate the town.
“We don’t want to put any more burden on people than has already been imposed on them with this COVID thing.”
The 2021 Alberta School Foundation Fund residential rate is 2.6114, up slightly from 2020’s rate of 2.582, while the non-residential rate is 3.6867, down slightly from last year’s rate of 3.732.
The Mountain View Seniors' Housing Authority rate is 0.381, compared with 0.385 in 2020, while the Mountain View Regional Waste Commission rate is 0.1612, compared with 0.176 last year.
The policing residential/non-residential rate is 0.19654, compared with 0.140 in 2020, and the designated industrial non-residential rate is 0.077, compared with 0.076 in 2020.
Residential assessment in 2021 totals $560,585,200 non-residential $63,518,330, special residential $1,554,850, machinery and equipment $124,990, senior citizen housing $2,970,610, and exempt property $42,091,050, for a total assessment of $670,845,030.
Council also approved the 2021 budget, which calls for total revenue of $12,029,679 and total expenses of $10,661,822.
“The budget is good and we’ve gone over it several times,” said Colby. “We should be able to move forward with everything we want to do.”
On the operating budget side, legislative expenses, which are costs associated and incurred by municipal council including per diems, total $351,752, including $93,710 in wages, $150,294 in remuneration, $14,929 in public relations, and $12,796 in travel and subsistence.
The mayor will receive $25,760, the deputy mayor will receive $22,411, and councillors will receive $19,835. The full day per diem rate is $360 in 2021.
General administration expenses (budgeted) total $648,942.29, including $233,721 in wages and $49,081 in benefits.
Fire department expenses will be $421,572, including $139,729 in wages and $29,343 in benefits.
Policing expenses total $438,726, including $265,549 in wages and $55,765 in benefits.
Roadway expenses total $704,341, including $232,696 in wages and $48,866 in benefits.
Water expenses for operating the system total $860,838, including $145,751 in wages and $30,607 in benefits.
Community service expenses total $477,920, including $205,691 in wages and $43,195 in benefits.
Golf course revenues total $1,544,852 and expenses total $1,454,347, for a surplus of $90,504.
Arena revenues are $331,800 and expenses are $603,775, for a net deficit of $271,975.
Campground revenues total $89,250 and expenses total $106,240, for a deficit of $16,990.
Library expenses total $248,818 and revenues total $28,866, for a deficit of $219,952.
On the capital side, engineered structures project costs total $1,244,238, including $368,196 for the McDonald Close paving project, $609,041 for the 10th Avenue paving project, and $160,000 for water line replacement.
Vehicles costs are $290,087 for fire department emergency vehicle.
Building costs total $4 million for new fire hall, with Mountain View County contributing $2 million.
